A HISTORIC farmhouse in Witney has been adorned in traditional Christmas decorations ahead a variety of festive events.

Volunteers have spent three days this week decking the halls of Cogges Manor Farm to get the building into the Christmas spirit.

The heritage centre, owned by a charitable trust, is being prepared to host a stir-up Sunday event, a Christmas market and a pantomime over the coming weeks.

Director Colin Shone, who has been working at the farm for the past five years, said Christmas is a particularly special time of year for the house.

He said: “It’s big for any visitor attraction but Christmas does feel particularly like a Cogges thing.

“It’s one of those times of year when everybody in the community comes together, which is very much in the spirit of what Cogges is.

“It’s looking beautiful at the moment. Decorating the venue is a big job being done over three days. The core of the building is 13th century and seeing traditional decorations against that is stunning. It feels like what Christmas is all about.”

On Sunday, the farm will hold a ‘Stir-up Sunday’ event between 10am and 4pm. The day is traditionally when people start making Christmas puddings. As well as making puddings, Cogges will hold activities to teach guests essential skills for a homemade Christmas, from making decorations and gifts to creating other edible festive treats.

The following Sunday the venue will host its pantomime, Robin Hood, in its 17th century barn, with performances at 1 and 3pm. It will be the fifth pantomime hosted by the farm.

The weekend after that, on December 3 and 4, is the Christmas Market, which has been extended across two days due to its popularity last year. There will be over 60 stalls selling food and crafts with an emphasis on the homemade. Mr Shone said the market will offer ‘everything you need for a perfect Christmas’. The market will open from 10am to 4pm on both days.

Mr Shone said that people come from far and wide to events at the farm, but that there is something of a local feel. He said Christmas as Cogges had become a staple of Witney's annual calendar.

He added: “Cogges is here because of support it gets from the local community. We’ve been closed for a few weeks so it’s great that everyone will be coming together for Christmas where there will be a lovely community atmosphere.”

For more details about the events and to book tickets visit cogges.org.uk.