Polesden Lacey

Polesden Lacey is a 1400-acre estate located near Dorking, Surrey which includes two farms, formal grounds and gardens, woodlands, as well as its Regency house, originally completed in 1824 and extensively remodelled in 1906-9 by the Honourable Mrs. Ronald Greville, a well-known Edwardian social hostess.

The villa contains an impressive collection of paintings, furniture, silver, and porcelain (more complete sets than we've ever seen), displayed in the reception rooms and galleries, most located on the ground floor as Polesden Lacey also serves as the National Trust's headquarters. The rooms are set up to display how they might have appeared at the time of her celebrated parties. Most fascinating is the Smoking Room, which now displays invitations, menus, guest lists, letters, photographs (of the future King George IV and Queen Elizabeth on their honeymoon at the estate in 1923, for instance) and other keepsakes, including a list of paintings bought and sold by Mrs Greville in the early part of the last century.

The walled rose garden, landscape walks and particularly the lawns with their idyllic view of the North Downs are also worth exploring. As you can see, the weather was far from settled the day we visited.

Date of Our Last Visit: April 2004