The Bishop's Palace Wells all decked up for Christmas 2021

 The Bishop's Palace in Wells had been handsomely decorated for a couple of weeks leading up to Christmas.  

The table in the entrance hall is said to the one where Bishop Ken gave dinner each Sunday for twelve Almsmen.  Although the top is modern the base is seventeenth century.

A canopy standing on clear legs above the table had greenery, berries, gold sprayed Asparagus setaceus - Lace Fern, and suspended with glass baubles with little cherubs.

Material from the gardens contributed to making some delightful table arrangements and also to cover pillars and arches.  

Up on the first floor in the long gallery where portraits of previous Bishops hang, the Christmas them continues...

With the long table more sumptuously laid out....

with this smaller of three cakes along the table tastefully decorated with an impressed pattern on its icing,

In a side room, let's call it a parlour, which is one of my favourite rooms, Father Christmas's chair was set out, with other decorations.

Children could come and speak with Father Christmas who was established in a room with many Christmas trees and paper angels. On the Monday and Tuesday set aside for this, I saw some family groups leaving the Palace, and the look on the small children's faces was a joy.

Of course who would not want a letter from Santa Clause

Or wish to peep to see where they stood on Santa's list

Maybe after Christmas when he was resting he would return to his embroidery?

The previous week we just happened to visit the Newt where they have a deer park.