Broadlands

The Drawing Room

Broadlands, on the 3rd Viscount Palmerston's death in 1865, went to his second step-son Lord Mount Temple; on his death to a nephew, Evelyn Ashiey and 2nd son of the 7th Earl of Shaftesbury. In 1907 it passed to his son, Wilfrid Ashley (Lord Mount Temple of Lee) who died in 1939; and it was then inherited by his daughter Edwina who had married Lord Louis Mountbatten in 1922.

Edwina, Countess Mount batten of Burma and before her, Emily, Viscountess Palmerston, were important and influential hostesses here. Both married men of action in world affairs and Edwina became a world figure in her own right.

Lord Mountbatten and Edwina loved the Drawing Room with its intricate ceiling by Joseph Rose the elder inset with oval painted panels by Angelica Kauffman. The Drawing Room continues to be the centre of family life at Broadlands and Lord and Lady Romsey entertain theirguests here.

Like Edwina, Lady Romsey is keen to maintain the 18th century elegance of Broadlands whilst introducing modern concepts of colour and design.

The walls are graced by an impressive collection of 18th and 19th century British portrait painters including Reynolds, Romney, Raeburn, Hoppner and Lawrence. Framed in a distinctive circular mount is the famous Lawrence portrait of Emily, wife of Prim e Minister Palmerston, whose portrait, also by Lawrence, hangs above it. The Wedgewood room also exhibits four 17th century portraits by Sir Peter Lely.