Broadlands

The Wolfsgarten Room, And Ships Passage

Wolfsgarten was the summer palace of the Grand Dukes of Hesse and the Rhine. It was originally a hunting lodge. Wolves, wild boar and deer roamed the nearby forests and two wolves were kept by the gates. The design of the chintz chosen by Lady Romsey was inspired by an 18th century patterned fabric which still exists at Wolfsgarten.

The paintings in this room include a self portrait of Princess Marie Louise of Baden. She was a sister of Grand Duchess Wilhelmine of Hesse and became the wife of Emperor Alexander I of Russia. Above the fireplace is a painting by Angelica Kauffman of the Holy Family. The east facing windows overlook the 'Capability' Brown landscaped parkland. The ancient Oak Staircase built in the 17th century,-returns to the ground floor. Here 19th century coloured prints present a record of naval men, the ranks they held, and the style of uniform they wore from Nelson's time and after.

Broadlands' association with the Royal Navy began two centuries ago. The young 2nd Viscount Palmerston became a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty (1766). The 3rd Viscount also became a Lord of the Admiralty (1807), was Secretary for War, and for Forei gn Affairs. The Palmerston Room is dedicated to the 3rd Viscount and his interest in country sports.

Moving along the Ships Passage you review Admiral Mountbatten's 50ft-to-the- inch scale model ships. They begin (on the right) with the first ship he joined, the Battle Cruiser LION with her centre gun turret still missing after the Battle of Jutland. This unique miniature 'fleet' also includes the RENOWN in which Sub- Lieutenant Mount batten accompanied his cousin the Prince of Wales as aide on his tours of Australasia in 1920 and the Far East in 1921.

The models of First World War vessels are drawn up in line in floodlit dioramas showing the Firth of Fonh, Spithead and Portsmouth as backgrounds. Second World War vessels are shown in the Grand Harbour, Malta. All are exactly as they were when Lord Lo uis joined them. He went to sea as a 16 year old midshipman and rose to be Admiral of the Fleet. Eventually he became First Sea Lord like his father before him.