Rosie Gilligan meets the housekeeper who is creating a ‘storybook world’ for Christmas at Chatsworth House.
ANET BITTON, head housekeeper at Chatsworth House, keeps some intriguing items in her office. Hanging on the walls I see a painting of Mr Toad dressed as the 4th Duke of Devonshire and a broomstick autographed by J K Rowling. Then I notice a head sitting menacingly on one of the shelves. “That’s Ebenezer Scrooge,” Janet explains. “He’s a relic from last year’s Christmas. Things seem to end up in here when we can’t find anywhere else for them. I never know if we might need them again.”..