Polesden Lacey

We are off to Polesden Lacey today (in real time it was actually last month) and afterwards we are visiting another couple of stately homes but will leave those for another day.

25 miles from central London, Polesden Lacey is a remarkable survival of a small, self-contained agricultural estate which has remained largely intact since the Middle Ages. A substantial house was built on the present site around 1630 to replace a medieval farmhouse. The present building was built in 1880. It was a status symbol for the new rich. In 1906 Polesden Lacey was bought by the Hon. Mr and Mrs Ronald Greville, wealthy and well connected friends of Edward VII. He was the eldest son and heir of 2nd Lord Greville, and his wife Margaret was the sole heiress to an immense brewing fortune.

It's a little wet and drizzly so we will tour the house first and maybe the weather will have cleared by the time we come outside.

Actually when we leave the house it is raining quite hard so although we walk around the gardens our time outside is somewhat limited and my camera kept getting wet.

Taking shelter under the balustrades

Some of the back of the house

The Rose garden looking sorry this time of year

How it looks in the Summer

At least the Dahlias are flowering

An estate cottage

The estate is divided by a public road so at this point this lovely thatched bridge is our way across. Seats on it too if you need a rest and it's dry.

Looking out from the bridge and yes, many of our country lanes are narrow like this

Stepping down into the other side of the garden

On our way back and no, Alan the rain is not stopping

Inside photos curtesy of my guide book.

Mrs Greville's study

The Saloon

French-influenced Italiante theme

The special Tea room

"Tea is at 5 o'clock...and not at 5 minutes past...which means the Spanish Ambassador, who has gone for a walk down the yew avenue, hastily retraces his steps, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer...hurries down the great staircase, and that the various gentlemen rise from their chaise-longues and join the procession to the tea-room. The tea-pots, cream-jugs, the milk-pits and the sugar basins are of Queen Anne silver, the tea service is Meissen; and the doilies, heavily monogrammed, are of Chantilly lace"

"Maggie's teas were terrific, with great Georgian tea-pots and Indian or China, and Muffins and cream cakes and silver kettles sending up their steam, and Queen Mary saying 'Indian, if you please, and no sugar'..."

Unfortunately we are not invited, we will have to make do with the visitors tea-rooms.

The Central Hall

An informal sitting-room

Along the fireplace wall is an intricatley carved reredos (screen behind the altar), originally installed in St.Mathew's, one of Christopher Wren's City churches.



The Duke and Duchess of York (later George VI and Queen Elizabeth) spent part of their honeymoon at Polesden Lacey in 1923.

Hope you enjoyed your visit and are ready to drive with us to both Hatchlands and Clandon Park which are in this vicinity.