Weekender: Christmas experience pops up at country estate
A brand-new Christmas retail centre has been opened at Home Farm, Methley, near Leeds.
The festive shop is the brainchild of Jamie Savile, whose family have owned the Methley estate since the 15th century.
Savile explained: “Choosing a tree from Methley is a special tradition for many local families at Christmas time. Our farm manager planted the first tree in 1996 and now the farm has 18,000 trees being grown at any one time, so there are plenty to choose from.
“This year, however, we are making the Christmas-tree buying experience even more fun for families, with our very own Christmas store, selling Christmas decorations and presents in all shapes and sizes.
Situated near Leeds, on the confluence of the Rivers Aire and Calder, Methley Estate is part of Mexborough Estates owned by the Savile family.
The estate was once home to Methley Hall, which was built in 1588. Having been requisitioned by the army during both the First and Second World Wars, the hall also became subject to significant mining subsidence and extensive dry rot and was demolished in the late 1950s.
Savile added: “In the past, people have said that they love coming to see us at Christmas because it is an authentic experience, as opposed to buying an anonymous tree in a supermarket.
“We believe our new Christmas shop, housed in an historic old barn, will add to this authenticity and make buying a Christmas tree here an enjoyable and memorable experience for all the family.”
