Oil painting on canvas, Upton House from the South by Anthony Devis, circa 1784, depicting a winter's day with the house seen from across the valley; four men are skating on the lake in the foreground and a horseman accompanied by some hounds is riding in the park beyond; fir trees line either side of the lake and a small classical temple is at the far end. — Upton House from the South by Anthony Devis | © National Trust Images/John Hammond

History

Find out more about people from the past, discover remarkable art and collections and brush up on your knowledge of architecture and gardens.

Christmas tree in the decorated dining room at Lanhydrock, Cornwall

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Christmas traditions from history

From silver charms in Christmas puddings to early advent calendars, learn more about the ways our Roman, Victorian and medieval ancestors prepared for the festive season.

A page from an old Christmas carol hymn book with the words 'Choice carols for Christmas Holidays' written in various old scripts.

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Why do we sing Christmas carols?

Christmas carols are at the very heart of festive tradition. Many of the texts, tunes and conventions of today’s carols owe more to 19th and early 20th-century taste than they do to the medieval period.

Pieces of toast soaked in cider tied to the branches of an apple tree after Wassailing at Saddlecombe Farm, West Sussex

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Wassailing: ritual and revelry

Wassailing is a Twelfth Night Christmas tradition with pagan roots. Find out more about what's involved, including singing, dancing and drinking cider from a wassail cup.

1921 Census records for England on a wooden table with some conservation tools including a magnifying glass

Fill your Christmas with history with Findmypast

In collaboration with family history website Findmypast, we've been exploring the 1921 Census of England and Wales. Did you know that multiple families lived in one residence at the Back to Backs, or that a servant lived with their children in the house at Avebury? This Christmas, look into your own family records with their free trial and see what you can find out about your own family's history. By clicking this link, you’ll access a third-party website. Please see their privacy policy for how they handle your personal data.

Delve into one of the world's greatest collections of art and historical objects. From paintings to sculptures, there’s something for every art lover to discover.

More art and collections

Two caricatures side by side from the collection in the Caricature Room at Calke Abbey, both depicting people braving a blizzard. In the first picture is a women with an umbrella, while the second picture is a man holding onto his hat, while blizzards blow around both of them.

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Advent calendar of Christmas treasures

Get into the Christmas spirit with our Advent calendar of 24 festive objects from the collections in our care. Find out what today's object is and delve into the origins of the Advent calendar.

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12 golden objects to see up close

From goldwork and gilding to goldsmithing and jewellery making, take a look at the ways in which gold has been used in objects in the National Trust’s collections.

A painting of a young man casually lying on the ground in a green woodland glade. He wears ornate blue and white Elizabethan-style trousers and bodice and he has a dark brown beard and moustache. Behind him, in another woodland glade, there are two horses and another figure.

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See great masterpieces in National Trust collections

Masterpieces by Velázquez, Rembrandt, Hieronymus Bosch and El Greco can be seen in the collections at the properties in our care across the UK.

Read the stories of people from history and learn about their connections to the historic places in our care, from Beatrix Potter to the Beatles.

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Garden with river in foreground and house in background in winter, Mottisfont, Hampshire

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Jewish stories at country houses

Some of the country houses in our care tell Jewish stories. As Hanukkah approaches (7–15 December), learn about the lives and homes of prominent Jewish people from the worlds of politics, business and literature – how they integrated into 19th and 20th-century British society, and the obstacles and prejudice they encountered as they did so.

Black and white photo of the Churchills at breakfast in August 1927, at Chartwell, Kent. Photograph by Donald Ferguson, for the painting by Winston Churchill

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Places where people helped change the world

From the first woman MP to sit in Parliament to the rural retreat of a wartime prime minister and the Liverpool terraces that changed music for ever, discover the places in our care where people made history.

Oval framed photographic portrait of Henry, Airmyne and Charles Jenney, aged about 8, 9 and 10. They're shown bust-length, wearing summer clothing. It's signed on the lower right; 'Debenham G.?/Bournemouth/1929'

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Disability histories at the places in our care

This Disability History Month (16 November–16 December), learn about some of the disabled people with connections to the places we look after, the experiences and challenges they faced and the individuals who supported them.

Octavia Hill (1838 - 1912) (after John Singer Sargent) by Reginald Grenville Eves, RA (London 1876 ¿ Middleton in Teesdale 1941)

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Octavia Hill: her life and legacy

One of three founders of the National Trust, Octavia Hill is among the greatest social entrepreneurs in British history and the impact of her life and work is still felt today.

Read up on architecture with in-depth articles about architectural styles, interior design through history and architectural structures.

More architecture

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Interior design through the ages

As fashions change over the eras, so do our homes. Explore the history of British interior design and learn about the centuries of design innovation at the places we care for.

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The history of architecture

Learn how social and technological change have influenced architecture throughout history, and find out where to see examples of each period at the places in our care.

The North Front of Seaton Delaval Hall, Northumberland

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What is Baroque?

Explore the Baroque cultural movement and discover how its opulent, theatrical style swept across Europe in the 17th century, influencing art, architecture and music.

Discover the history of the natural landscapes around you. From glasshouses to sunken lanes, understand more about how these gardens and green spaces were formed.

More gardens and landscapes