Miniature steam engines, a choir and a brass band plus a roomful of Christmas craft activities were just part of the Lion Salt Works Museum’s successful first Victorian Christmas last weekend.

All events were free, apart from a production of ‘Letters Through Your Door’, including the opportunity for youngsters to meet Father Christmas in his special Winter Wonderland Grotto.

Entertainment was provided by the Rivendell choir and the City of Chester brass band.

Cabinet member for culture, leisure and wellbeing Louise Gittins said: “The Victorian Christmas was a really warm and festive weekend. With staff dressed in Victorian costume, the sound of carol singing and the brass band ringing round the site plus the excitement and noise of the steam engines, there was a lot to interest everyone. We were delighted with the comments from our visitors, especially the children, about how much they enjoyed the event. The museum’s team is to be congratulated on producing an event with such imagination and creativity.”

The Lion Salt Works was named Best Newcomer at the Marketing Cheshire Awards and won the award for Community Conservation from the Chester Civic Trust.

This follows the Heritage Award it won in the prestigious 2015 North West Regional Construction Awards on June 5, its first day of opening to the public.