IT’S BEEN a fantastic season at East Riddlesden Hall and it’s now the time of year when we wind down the clocks, pull out the dust sheets and prepare the house for the annual deep clean.

This winter we’ll be taking a closer look at the plaster ceilings, checking for damage and preparing to give them a clean.

The house and gardens are now closed until February, but special Putting the House to Bed tours will run every Saturday and Sunday in November from the 11th.

These 45-minute tours start at 11am and 1pm and they’ll give a curious look behind the scenes at how we prepare the house and collection for the big winter clean.

Booking isn’t needed; just turn up at the shop and the team will show you where to meet. The tours are free but general admission prices will apply for non-National Trust members.

The tea-room and shop will be open every weekend between 11am and 4pm until December 17. New stock has arrived in the shop and we’re pleased to offer a wonderful selection of Christmas cards on sale as well as the new seasonal range of homeware – Winter Twilight.

This range, which includes reed diffusers and candles, is inspired by winter mist and has a fresh winter fragrance reminiscent of fresh evergreen blue spruce and frosted pine.

In the tea-room you can enjoy seasonal recipes and be surrounded by history as you sit under 400 year old beams. Our favourite soup is made with parsnips, apples from the garden and sage from the herb border, and is a sellout every time.

With Christmas fast approaching we really need your help dressing the Great Barn please. There are drop in sessions planned for December 3 and 10 between 11am and noon, and 1pm and 2pm, where we’ll be making garlands and lanterns to create a magical space for our Twilight Christmas event that takes place on December 16 and 17.

Please wrap up warm – these sessions are free but booking is essential.

Our main festive event, A Twilight Christmas, will be held on December 16 and 17 December from 3.30pm to 7pm.

Festooned with sparkling fairy lights, the Airedale Barn is the perfect setting for a Christmas market. There’ll be a great choice of gifts to buy, food and drink to enjoy and festive cheer in abundance.

You can also follow the family trail through the candle lit gardens. A real-life nativity scene in front of the historic house will be the highlight of the afternoon. Gather round to sing carols and meet Dominic the donkey - the star of the show.

The Great Barn, dressed with greenery and filled with seasonal music, will be a great place to meet up with friends and be merry. Find a straw bale, pick up a blanket, a warming drink and sit back to soak up the atmosphere. Tickets are £2 per person, and booking is essential.

Please visit nationaltrust.org.uk/riddlesdenhall or call 0344 249 1895 to book tickets for either event.