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Path: Photos > England > South East England > Surrey > Polesden Lacey
Tags: UK  England  Surrey  2023  StatelyHome

Polesden Lacey

 

(vero;2023-Nov-21)

Polesden Lacey is a National Trust property located in Surrey, east of Guildford in the village of Great Bookham. The entrance fee to the house and the gardens was 15£ for non-members when we visited in 2023, the car park was 4£ (free for members). Click here for up-to-date visitor information and follow this link to browse the art collection of Polesden Lacey.

The house belonged to Margaret Greville (1863-1942) and her husband Ronald (1864-1908). Theirs was a high profile couple: Ronald was a MP for Bradford East and brought the political and social connections; Margaret, the daughter of a brewery millionaire, brought the money. It is her father who bought Polesden Lacey for them in 1906; Ronald died two years later of pneumonia followed by her father in 1913, leaving her a wealthy heiress. Margaret did not remarry and became a high society hostess, doing nothing with her life but spend her fortune by entertaining the rich and powerful of the day with lavish receptions and presents (with a predilection for royalty), travel the world and buy works of art. As you can read between the lines, we were disappointed: by the vacuity of the character, by her art collection, by the house itself. The best thing is surely its location providing a fantastic view of the surrounding countryside.

We have visited quite a few of those stately homes; they often have an interesting historical connection or outstanding art collections, but there wasn't much here other than the gossip of early 20th-century high society and the fact that King George VI and Elizabeth (Queen Mom) spent two weeks of their honeymoon there. Margaret was so friendly with the latter that she bequeathed her all her jewels which are still in the possession of the Royal family, among others a honeycomb-patterned diamond tiara (known as the Greville Tiara) which was a favourite of Queen Mom, and is now worn frequently by Queen Camilla.

The east facade and the entrance to the house. Photo © Matt Ellery (https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_ellery/),  CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The west facade opening into the gardens. Photo © Martinvl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. The dark and gloomy entrance hall contains an oak staircase and oak reredos of 1682-5 taken from the former church of St Matthew in the City of London, built by Wren in 1665 and demolished ca. 1883. The middle tapestry is a 16th century work from Brussels. Margaret Greville was an avid collector of porcelain and ceramics with many items coming from China or from Chinese influence. Lion made of enamelled and lead-glazed porcelain from Jingdezhen, China (1662-1722). Click here for a full view of the figure. Figure made of porcelain, enamel and lead glaze from Jingdezhen, China (1662-1722). It represents Guanyin, the Chinese version of the Indian Buddhist figure Avalokitesvara, a bodhisattva or enlightened being who remains in the mortal realm to help others. Click here for a full view of the figure. Figure made of porcelain, enamel and gilding from Jingdezhen, China (1662-1722). It represents Guandi, the deified form of Guan Yu, a bean curd peddler and popular hero who is said to have lived in third-century China. Click here for a full view of the figure. Meissen octagonal saucer with gilt rim, decorated with chinoiserie scene ca.1735. Maiolica plate with a figure of Charity accompanied by children. School of Urbino; about 1528-1530. The Tric-Trac Players by David Teniers the Younger (1610-1690). Click here for a full view of the painting. The Card Players by David Teniers the Younger (1610-1690).  Click here for a full view of the painting. Detail of The Introduction by Gerard ter Borch the Younger (1617-1681).  Click here for a full view of the painting. Catherine de Medicis (1519-1589) by Corneille de Lyon (1500/10-1575).  Click here for a full view of the painting. Self-Portrait at the Age of 32 by Frans van Mieris the Elder (1635-1681). Click here for a full view of the painting. Top left: box, ca.1750, Dresden, Germany. Enamel with gold mount, painted on all sides with maps of Greece and Flanders, newspaper cuttings, calendars, and music scores (click here to see details and pictures of the inside) // Top right: box, ca.1750, Germany. Enamel with gold mount, painted with figures in classical landscapes (click here to see details and pictures of the inside) // Bottom: snuff box, ca.1715-74, Tortoiseshell with gold scrollwork in Rococo design, inlaid with gold pins, piqué point, France (click here to see details and pictures of the inside). Shell-shaped box, enamel with gold mount, painted as a shell and with flowers, ca.1750. Used to contain a lady's small personal effects. It opens to reveal painted flowers on the inside of the lid and base. Click here to see details and pictures of the inside Telephone from General Electrics. Material: wood and bakelite. The kitchen. The dining room. The picture corridor. Detail of the Game of Cards by Cornelis de Man (1621-1706). Click here for a full view of the painting. The Alchemist by David Teniers the Younger (1610-1690). Click here for a full view of the painting. The picture corridor. The library. Door leading from the library into the saloon. The side facing the library is decorated with fake books. The saloon. Detail of Unknown Man after Quinten Metsys (1466-1530). Click here for a full view of the painting. Detail of Unknown Woman with a Dog, after Quinten Metsys (1466-1530). Click here for a full view of the painting. Madonna and Child by Bernaert van Orley (1488-ca.1541).  Click here for a full view of the painting. Detail of Unknown Woman, North Italian School, 1490-1500.  Click here for a full view of the painting. The billard room. To the left: an Edwardian cypher brooch, ca.1910, English manufacture. Fashioned as an initial'E' for King Edward VII, mounted in gold and set with calibre-cut Burmese rubies with a rose-cut diamond set crown and similarly set Roman numeral VII // To the right: a metal Coronation medal of Edward VII and Queen Alexandra; the reverse is marked 26 June 1902. The gun room. View towards the estate and the hills of Surrey.


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$ updated from: Basingstoke and Around.htxt Fri 16 Aug 2024 15:40:16 trvl2 — Copyright © 2024 Vero and Thomas Lauer unless otherwise stated | All rights reserved $