The Drawing Room

We now go through the lobby into the magnificent Drawing Room, the walls of which are hung with crimson damask. It has a beautifully-modelled ceiling and cornice and another of the white marble chimneypieces by Thomas Carter, above which is set the conversation piece of the 3rd Duke and Duchess with their seven children by Johann Zoffany.

The eldest son, who is seen next to his father, became the 4th Duke and is the ancestor of the late Duke. The boy, Lord George, on the extreme right, is the ancestor of the present Duke, whose father, Lt Col George Anthony Murray, was killed in action commanding the Scottish Horse in Italy in 1945.

The racoon in the tree was brought from the West Indies by the children's soldier uncle, Major-General James Murray, who was wounded at Fort Ticonderoga and at Martinique.

Flanking the chimney-piece are full length portraits of John, 4th Duke, and his second wife, Marjory Forbes, both by John Hoppner. Beneath them is a pair of cabinets of the Regency period with Glen Tilt marble tops made by Bullock of Liverpool for the 4th Duke. They are of his favourite larch wood, the extensive planting of which earned him the title of 'the planting Duke'.

Between the windows are three pier glass mirrors with carved gilt frames made by George Cole, identical with that in the Red Room. Amongst the great wealth of furniture here are two gilt settees and twelve chairs by Chipchase bought in 1783, the covers worked by Lady Charlotte, daughter of the 3rd Duke, the girl holding the wreath in the Zoffany picture. One of the two pairs of gilt torcheres with gallery tops is by Chippendale.