A Yorkshire stately home is set to be transformed into a festive Victorian wonderland.
Castle Howard, the historic estate in North Yorkshire, will launch its Christmas event, A Dickens of a Christmas at Castle Howard, on November 12, running until January 3.
The theme celebrates the estate’s connections to Charles Dickens and brings the author’s stories to life through immersive displays, soundscapes and projections.
Matthew Wood, curator at Castle Howard, said: "We’re very excited to display this beautiful piece of history as part of the Dickens-themed installations – perhaps Dickens himself may have travelled in something similar.
"The carriage is a Brougham, a type of enclosed carriage developed in the 1830s by Lord Brougham which was designed to be light, fast and economical, requiring only one horse.
"The carriage has yellow and black livery which was used by the Howard family on their carriages in the Victorian era, and the doors are further decorated with the Howard lion.
"In the 1980s the carriage was found in farm buildings on the estate and was then restored."
This year’s event will feature a Victorian carriage on public display inside the house for the first time.
The carriage was commissioned in 1879 for Rosalind, the 9th Countess of Carlisle, and built by Barker & Co of Chandos Street at a cost of £190.
The Dickensian theme is rooted in Castle Howard’s historical ties to the author.
Dickens visited the area in July 1843 to stay with his friend Charles Smithson, who lived at Easthorpe Hall on the Castle Howard estate.
Eleanor Whaley, a volunteer at Malton Museum, said: "I’m thrilled that Castle Howard is celebrating Dickens this Christmas; it’s fantastic to share the connection to Malton’s history.
"Charles Dickens’ association with the local area began when he befriended Charles Smithson, who ran a legal firm in Chancery Lane in Malton.
"Smithson lived at Easthorpe Hall on the Castle Howard Estate (which sadly no longer exists), where Dickens stayed for several weeks in July 1843.
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"The area had a lasting impression on Dickens, as he recounted in letters that his ‘friends in that part of the country (close to Castle Howard)’ were the ‘jolliest of the jolly.’"
Dickens later revealed to the Smithson family that the office in Chancery Lane inspired Ebenezer Scrooge’s counting house in A Christmas Carol, including its distinctive door knocker.
He also sent a signed copy of A Christmas Carol to Smithson’s widow, dated April 18, 1844.
The book now resides in Malton, having been purchased from a private seller in 2012.
In 2025, the Howardian Hills National Landscape marked its 40th anniversary by installing a Charles Dickens bench on the Castle Howard estate.
Castle Howard has previously hosted award-winning Christmas events, with visitor numbers reaching record highs in 2025.
This year’s Dickensian celebration aims to continue that success by blending the estate’s rich history with one of Britain’s most beloved storytellers.
Castle Howard is one of the country’s most recognised stately homes, set in the Howardian Hills National Landscape.
The house and gardens have been home to the Howard family for more than 300 years and are celebrated examples of English Baroque architecture.
The estate draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year and has featured in productions such as Bridgerton and Brideshead Revisited.
A full programme of Christmas events will run alongside the main installation, including appearances by Father Christmas, themed afternoon teas, and wreath-making workshops.
Tickets for A Dickens of a Christmas at Castle Howard are on sale now.
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