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  Excellent.
  And here is an account of Christmas Day in EASTRY WORKHOUSE
  
  Dover Standard 31 Dec 1887 p.8 col.5: Christmas Day in Eastry Workhouse
  
  The advent of Father Christmas is always looked forward to with keen interest by the inmates of the "big house on the hill", the majority of whom know from past experience that there it is a time of peace on earth, goodwill to all, no matter how it fares or how the storms may loom in the busy world outside. Christmas Day was ushered in by the delivery of letters and handsome Christmas Cards to each one of the inmates, followed by morning and afternoon services at which the Reverends BLAXLAND and SHAW respectively officiated.
  
  The church was very tastefully decorated, as were also the several wards throughout the house. Monday was set apart for feasting and punctually at 12.30 the 298 inmates simultaneously commenced in their several wards to vigorously ply their knives and forks, gradually diminishing the huge joints of smoking roast beef, sufficient however of which remained after the feast for the following day's dinner. A pint of porter was served out to each adult and then followed plum pudding. Thorough appreciation of the good things was everywhere manifest - dinner was in every instance served smoking hot despite the bitterly cold weather and thanks to the energetic and deservedly popular Master and Matron, the able staff, and the bevy of ladies and gentlemen who assisted as carvers and waiters in each ward.
  
  Dessert - oranges, figs, nuts, etc. followed in abundance and in the afternoon a liberal tea was served and a package of tobacco given to each of the men, provided by some generous ladies and gentlemen of the neighbourhood.
  
  The day's festivities closed with three cheers from the inmates for the generous contributors to their comforts and a like mark of acknowledgment followed for the officers for their unremitting attention to the happiness of all under their charge - a well deserved compliment and heartily responded to.
  
  Amongst the busy assistants, to Mr and Mrs AYLING, master and matron, we noticed Mrs and Misses SHAW, Mrs RAE, Miss HASWELL, Miss AYLING, Miss DEVESON, Revd B. BLAXLAND, Messrs BARTON, S. BAYLY, W.BAILEY, JULL, etc. The Hon. W.H. JAMES, MP, W.V.LISTER Esq., JP, Dr LEGGETT, etc. were amongst the visitors to the house during the day.
  
  

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