• Reference
    HG17/8
  • Title
    Handwritten description of a Christmas Eve tea party given by Mother Music for her numerous descendants and helpers. Possibly written by John William Burgon (1813-1888), friend and brother in law of Charles Longuet Higgins of Turvey Abbey, or possibly by Henry Hugh Higgins (1814-1893), brother of Charles.
  • Date free text
    Not dated
  • Production date
    From: 1840 To: 1893
  • Scope and Content
    Examples from the piece include the Drums being requested to leave their sticks in an umbrella stand until after tea and to be the time keepers; the kettle drums lending their kettles to boil the water for tea, and the Rests, who were a quiet and taciturn family, but often gave first aid when the merriment went on for too long.
  • Level of description
    item