IT IS well known that Polesden Lacey in Great Bookham was for many years owned by Mrs Margaret Greville, the daughter of William McEwan, who had made a large fortune from producing beer for both for home consumption and export, writes Ruth Aldridge.
Her inheritance from him made her one of the wealthiest women in England.
After purchasing the house she was able to improve and update it and also to amass a large collection of art masterpieces, including paintings, china, gold artefacts, furniture and furnishings etc.
She believed in having all the latest amenities and comforts installed in the house to which many famous and important people were invited.
Visits by members of the Royal family occurred and the future King George VI and the Queen Mother spent their honeymoon there.
They must all have appreciated the latest in bathroom and toilet facilities as shown in the pictures.
Such old-style facilities as these may not look glamorous to us now but they must have made a huge difference to the level of comfort which was in keeping with the other luxurious items.
These particular rooms have only been available to visit fairly recently.
We can imagine that the Duke and Duchess of York, as they were then, would have been appreciative of it all but may be it simply reminded them of home.
