- This Christmas, send a real-life example of first ever Christmas card: http://j.mp/OrestoneManorBirthplaceoftheChristmasCard

As the true birthplace of the Christmas card, Orestone Manor, steps forward in 2014 to safeguard the much-loved tradition of sending cards filled with festive goodwill at Christmas time.

There is little doubt we are a nation that cares. The UK sends more greetings cards per head than any country in the world. According to the 2014 Greeting Card Market Report, a staggering £1.29 billion was spent on all types of cards over the past year. So why is there such a decline in Christmas cards being sent?

UK Christmas card sales fell from an estimated 1.7bn in 2008 to under 1bn in 2013, a fall of over 40% in 5 years. Surging Royal Mail postage costs are largely to blame, as is the uptake of social media messaging, which recently has rocketed amongst the older generation.

With 2014's substantial Royal Mail postal increases, Christmas cards sent are expected to fall even further this year - the signs are clear, the tradition may come to a complete end, unless action is taken.

The world's first Christmas card was designed in 1843 by John Calcott Horsley, founder of Orestone Manor, at this exact venue.

Mr Horsley, a professional artist, spent considerable time drawing-up the card at Orestone Manor; his country home nestled beside the English Riviera, in the village of Maidencombe, South Devon. 

Neil and Catherine D'Allen, the modern-day, family owners of Orestone Manor, that nowadays is a luxury hotel & restaurant, strongly believe this annual Christmas card decline is an enormous shame, at a time of the year when sending goodwill and loving messages has so firmly been established for the past 171 years.

To celebrate the birthplace of the Christmas card and actively reverse the declining trend of Christmas cards sent, the luxury Orestone Manor hotel has designed a modern day Christmas card based extremely closely on Mr Horsley's original design, that carries interesting information about the story of the first Christmas card inside. 

Orestone Manor is giving away luxury packs of cards free to all customers staying, dining or enjoying a drink at the hotel in the run up to Christmas.

Customers unable to make it to the hotel can order cards via the hotel's website at www.orestonemanor.com for a small charge, with all profits donated to Cancer Research UK.

Printed lithographically and hand-coloured, the original Christmas card showed three generations of a family raising a toast to the card's recipient: on either side with scenes of charity showing food and clothing being given to the poor.

This symbolism of Christmas, with panels depicting the virtues of feeding the poor and clothing the naked, were complemented with painted sprigs of holly, the symbol of chastity and ivy, symbolic of a place where God has walked, throughout the design.

However, the card was criticized by temperance groups because it pictured a family with wine glasses raised in a toast. Many believe the controversy aided the popularisation of the Christmas card-sending tradition!

Neil D'Allen, family co-owner of Orestone Manor said, 'My wife and I were brought up with the whole process of sending and receiving Christmas cards, seeing them displayed on the sideboard with their kind and benevolent messages.'

'While we believe technology is a wonderful thing, there's something incredibly special and meaningful about getting a Christmas card in the post, especially one modelled on the very first Christmas card that was designed at Orestone Manor by the historic building's founder, John Calcott Horsley.'

'The younger generation find it so much easier to send a text or Skype. This Christmas, it's time to take a stance and support the UK by reintroducing the joy of sending a posted, personally written Christmas card, that's a pleasure to write and wonderful to receive.'

Orestone Manor & its unique history

"A terrific place where guests feel instantly relaxed, don't want to leave and can't wait to come back"

Set in landscaped gardens overlooking Lyme bay and offering some of the finest hotel accommodation and fine dining in South Devon, Orestone Manor is nestled in the stunning coastal village of Maidencombe, just off the coastal road between Teignmouth and Torquay.

This gorgeous, family-run, luxury Hotel, within a stone's throw from the English Riviera, provides some of the most sumptuous accommodation and fine dining across the South West UK region, and comes complete with an incredible history all of its own.

Orestone Manor is the exact setting where 18th Century engineer pioneering legend, Isambard Kingdom Brunel's National Portrait Gallery painting was produced by his brother-in-Law, John Callcott Horsley, the designer of the first ever Christmas card.

Throughout the 1850's, The Manor would have been the setting for many family gatherings, candlelit dinners, music in the parlour, children's games and perhaps croquet on the lawn (croquet is still very much available, on request).   

As well as the history of the hotel, its beautiful landscaped setting, the first-rate service and luxury facilities; Orestone Manor's modern-day owners, the D'Allen family, are keen upholders of tradition and history. For Christmas 2014, Orestone Manor's special Christmas card based on the original design of its former first owner and founder, will carry information on the history of the Christmas card and how it precisely came into existence.

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Orestone Manor - birthplace of the Christmas card, now a luxury country hotel

Orestone Manor has designed a modern day Christmas card based extremely closely on Mr John Calcott Horsley's design, that carries interesting information about the story of the first Christmas card inside.  

This card is based on the design of the very first Christmas card, drawn by John Calcott Horsley at his then home, Orestone Manor, in 1843. Commissioned by Sir Henry Cole, 1000 cards were printed and sold for one shilling each. A few examples of the original cards still remain, and you can see one in the Victoria and Albert museum.

Individual cards have changed hands for over £20,000, if you find one in your attic, take good care of it!

Now a luxury country house hotel & restaurant, Orestone Manor offers guests a suite named after Horsley, and the same glorious views over the English Riviera that inspired his art.