The Ballroom

In the vestibule leading into the ballroom is a lighted cupboard lined with crimson damask in which is displayed a fine collection of Chinese porcelain, mostly of the K'ang Hsi period (1662-1722).

The Ballroom was a Playfair addition dating from about 1841 and originally comprised a wide bay window at the far end and ornate ceiling before it was radically altered by Duchess May earlier this century to accommodate the large Gobelins tapestry. The tapestry is from Les Portieres des Dieux series comprising four panels of the Seasons and four of the Elements commissioned by Mansart from Claude Audran the Younger in 1699. A local craftsman was employed to embellish the panelling with carvings in the style of Grinling Gibbons.

The fine collection of furniture in this room includes nine William and Mary highback armchairs and a twin chairback settee from the Duke of Leeds collection, Hornby Castle, a set of six George III giltwood chairs and six James II lacquered and giltwood open armchairs covered in crimson velvet, a pair of George IV massive William Kent design giltwood console tables on dolphin supports and below the smaller tapestry panel, an Italian carved giltwood and porphyry side table of the late 18th century. Below the portrait of the 1st Earl of Roxburghe is an interesting late 17th century Dutch cream-japanned cabinet and to the right a Chinese black-lacquer cabinet also 17th century above which hangs a portrait of Jean Drummond the 1st Earl's second wife. In the window bays are two Louis XIV boulle writing tables. Also of interest are the side tables the most notable of which are the two Queen Anne tables with black lacquer tops one inlaid in mother-of-pearl. The Louis XIV bracket clock surmounted by a figure of 'Time' is by Gribelin and the Louis XV ormolu clock is by Ragot.

On the right as you enter the ballroom hangs a fine portrait by Thomas Gainsborough of the cartographer and navigator Captain Henry Roberts pictured with his right hand resting on a chart of the Sandwich Islands. Because he became ill with palsy, he was replaced as leader of the expedition by Captain George Vancouver who discovered the island named after him.

Other paintings include two portraits of John, 3rd Duke of Roxburghe one by John Hoppner and the other by Gilbert Stuart; two portraits by Sir Joshua Reynolds of Sir James Innes Bt., later 5th Duke and Sir John Thorold 9th Bt; "The trial of Chastity" also by Reynolds. Robert 4th Earl of Roxburghe by Sir Godfrey Kneller and a portrait of Margaret, wife of Henry, Lord Ker by Gerard Soest.