Heritage > Historic Houses
Woburn Abbey
The State Saloon
This room is in the centre of the west wing with another superb view to the west and to the east through the double doors into the long gallery which runs along the inside of this wing. The family and their guests would once have 'withdrawn' here from the State Dining Room.This striking and beautiful room is two stories high, its coved and coffered ceiling is richly ornamented and gilded. The walls were, until recently, hung with blue silk damask, but this became very faded and torn and my father in 1973 commissioned Roland Pym to paint the murals which now adorn the Saloon. They illustrate some of the characters and achievements which add colour to the Russell name, also some of the places which have played an important role in the life of the family. The blue silk damask, removed carefully, has been kept and is used for re-upholstering the state furniture which can be seen in some of the rooms of this wing. The ingenious folio bookcase, tables and candlestands in the centre of the room are attributed to Henry Holland. They stood for over 100 years in the Library.
On the south and north sides are two splendid chimney-pieces of white marble, the shelves supported by linked terminal figures at the angels, the friezes sculptured with cornucopias in bold relief and a rams head in the centre. These were carved by John Michael Rysbrack (1694- 1770) a Belgian sculpture. On the centre bookcase, the bronze figure of Sir Fancis Drake, a godson to the 2nd Earl, looks out towards the west, perhaps musing on his sea voyages and regretting the disappearance of the 4th Dukes frigate. There is a small water-colour by Lady El
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