This Regency house was extensively remodelled in 1906 by Maggie, who was a well-known Edwardian hostess. Her collection of fine paintings, furniture, porcelain and silver is displayed in the reception rooms and galleries, as it was at the time of her celebrated house parties. The house grounds are spectacular covering 1,400acres, including a beautiful walled rose garden, lawns, ancient woodland and landscape walks. We must return to do the grounds because the temp. was in the 30s and it was just too hot to stroll around.
The future George VI and Queen Elizabeth spent part of their honeymoon here in 1923, and were not the only Royals to experience Margaret's lavish and spectacular house parties. The house is opulent as well as welcoming and it is understandable why nobility escaped to the house with its amazing views over the downs.
Inside the house there's a beautiful golden room with a lovely grand piano, which a member of the public was playing. The dining room was laid with a note about each guest at each place. Mrs. Greville loved her guests and their gossip. She entertained King Edward VII and Winston Churchill. In the Central Hall there is a priceless collection of Majolica ceramics.
Margaret said "I would rather be a Beeress than a Peeress". Grenville and her husband, Ronald, bought the house in 1906 and although he died in 1908, she continued to run the house until her death in 1942. She wanted a house that would be fit for kings and maharajas so she commissioned the architects of the Ritz, Mewes and Davis, to design it to be the epitome of the latest in luxury and comfort, and, as such, was equipped with all the latest innovations such as en suite bathrooms and central heating.
It was interesting to discover that her father, William McEwan was a brewer (you can purchase McEwans beer in the Cowshed) and a self made millionaire and she was in fact illegitimate. Reading between the lines, I believe her mother was already married to another and her father eventually married her mother when he was 58. On his death, he bequeathed everything to his daughter and she in turn, having had no children, left everything to the National Trust. What a treasure it is and well worth a visit.
Mrs. Greville was a woman to be reckoned with. This was a woman who knew what she liked and how things should be done.
This is how the curators of Polesden Lacey would like us to know her:-
Mrs. Greville rose from obscure origins to attain political influence, great wealth and the friendship of royalty. An inveterate traveller and relentless celebrity-hunter, she could be both discreetly charitable and personally waspish. She was one of the most influential hostesses in Europe for nearly four decades. She often aroused strong and contradictory reactions. The diariest, Chips Channon wrote that there was 'no-one on earth so skilfully malicious as old Maggie'. But when she died, the Queen Mother wrote 'I shall miss her very much'.
One of the stories told to us in the dining room was:-
The drunken butler..... Glorious as the setting was, Mrs. Greville's staff would occasionally let her down. On one occasion, it was apparent that the butler was intoxicated. She wrote a surreptitious note saying, 'You are drunk; leave the room at once', summoned the butler and placed it on his salver. He bowed courteously, advanced to the guest of honour, Sir Austen Chamberlain, and presented the note to him. The eminent politician spent the rest of the meal in mystified silence. When she explained the misunderstanding, he replied that it was the first time he had ever been silenced by a drunken butler.
A grand entrance... Every evening at 6 p.m. the footman would lay out drinks on the 17th century refectory table, while the gramophone would play the latest hits by Noel Coward. When she was sure that all her guests were gathered attentively below, Mrs. Greville would descend the staircase slowly, pausing at the landing for maximum impact before completing her entrée among her visitors.
After our visit we continued on to Clive and Rosie's where, just like Mrs. Greville, attention to detail ensured we had a wonderful evening. The food arrived piping hot, while the champagne was chilled,
just as served at Poleston Lacey, a welcome novelty compared with many country house dinners.
I think I would have loved to have stayed for the weekend at Mrs. Greville's place!! Gorgeous house, wonderful food and a whole lot of fun.
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