Broadlands

The Wedgwood Room

In the Wedgwood Room the neo-classical friezes and mouldings are, indeed, reminiscent of Josiah Wedgwood's pottery decoration. Rose's plasterwork ceiling and frieze date from 1769, but the rest of the wall-decoration including the chimney-piece, mirrors and built-in pedimented bookcases were added twenty years later by Henry Holland.

Normally this room is used by the family for tea. The Drawing Room , the Saloon, and the Wedgwood Room are used for receptions. They were used for the weddings of Lord Mountbatten's daughters, Lady Brabourne (now 1 Countess Mountbatten of Burma) and Lady Pamela Hicks, and his grandson Lord Romsey who were all married in Romsey Abbey.

During the war Broadlands was used as a hospital annexe, to the Royal South Hants Hospital. The Wedgwood Room and the Saloon were in constant use as wards. Patients could lie in bed gazing at the magnificent ceiling but the delicately moulded wall decorations and the book cases were boarded up. This room's four l 7th century portraits of 'court beauties' are by Sir Peter Lely, an artist much favoured by the court of Charles II. The one near the window is Frances Teresa "La Belle" Stewart, chosen by Charles II to be the model for Britannia on his coins. There are fine inlaid bow- fronted commodes; Empire style chairs; and two painted side tables probably designed by Holland. The delicate blue and white decoration of the room makes a fine setting for the collection of Wedgwood. This was started by the 2nd Viscount Palmerston who was an admirer of Josiah Wedgwood. Among the items displayed is the large portrait medallion of Lord Mountbatten which was struck in 1978.