Polesden Lacey and her infamous mistress

Polesden Lacey's east front. Image from Wikimedia Commons

Described as “a delicious house...” by the young Duchess of York (future Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother) during her honeymoon, Polesden Lacey boasts of glorious views across the rolling Surrey Hills and acres of countryside to explore. It gained fame in the early 20^th century as the home of the famous Edwardian hostess Mrs. Greville, who entertained royalty and the celebrities of her time, but its rich history actually dates back to the medieval times.

An original structure was built on the site of the present house in the 14^th century, which was later demolished after Joseph Bonsor acquired the property in 1824. Thomas Cubitt was commissioned to build a new house, until it changed ownership several times before the estate was bought in 1906 by brewery millionaire William McEwan, as a gift to his lovechild, Margaret, and her husband Captain the Honourable Ronald Greville.

The Grevilles took upon the task of remodeling the house, hiring architects Charles Mewès and Arthur Davis to do the job, while they busied themselves filling their new home with everything fine and elegant to brag about to high society. Two years after moving to Polesden Lacey, Mr. Greville died but Margaret continued hosting lavish parties and balls, which solidified her the reputation as the leading Edwardian society hostess. Mrs. Greville reveled in the company of royalty.  In 1923, she invited the Duke and Duchess of York to spend their honeymoon at Polesden Lacey , where they stayed for two weeks there. The house was featured in a London newspaper, with its photographs published in a large feature article.

Described by society photographer Cecil Beaton as a “galumphing, greedy, snobbish old toad who watered her chops at the sight of royalty and the Prince of Wales’s set, and did nothing for anybody except the rich,” Mrs. Greville died childless in 1942. She bequeathed her jewelry collection (the Greville tiara and the emerald kokoshnik tiara)  to Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother) and left considerable sums to Princess Margaret and Queen Victoria Eugenia of Spain. Polesden Lacey, meanwhile, went to the National Trust  in memory of her father. The bequest not only included the handsome house but also approximately 1,000 acres (400 ha) of land, as well as her collection of paintings and items, which she hoped would form the basis of a future art gallery. The house was finally opened to the public in August 1946.

A fire, however, ravaged the in August 1960, but, thankfully, the collection was rescued by estate workers. Restoration work reached £65,000. The house reopened to the public on 9 June 1962. 

Today, Polesden Lacey is one of the most popular National Trust properties, where guests are lured to its glittering Gold Saloon. Mrs. Greville's extensive art and ceramic collection is also a top attraction. Guests are also taken by the beautiful gardens across seasons. The climbing roses are at their best in June while the winter garden bursts with yellow aconites. Those interested to take long walks will find the property’s four waymarked trails an inviting space, with plenty of space to let off steam on a walk through woodland or over rolling hills.

Inside Polesden Lacey. Image from Wikimedia Commons

Polesden Lacey's rose garden. Image from Geograph

The garden cottage at Polesden Lacey. Image from Geograph