Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
legedly, McEwan took solace in the arms of his housekeeper following the death of his
wife, and “Maggie” was the result.) With the assistance of her father's great wealth and
power, Margaret worked her way into London society where she met and married her hus-
band Ronald, who was a friend of King George VI.
This Edwardian country estate had a reputation for over-the-top international entertaining.
Powerful, and at times controversial, for more than three decades Mrs. Greville was
known as the
prima donna
of society hostesses. The central hall was the welcoming spot
for Mrs. Greville's guests. Every evening at precisely 6:00 p.m., the footman set out
drinks and Mrs. Greville waited until her guests were gathered below before descending
the staircase slowly, pausing on the landing for maximum effect.
There are royal romantic connections here as well. Among the long list of rich and famous
internationals that slept and partied at Polesden Lacey, King George VI and the late Queen
Mother (parents of Queen Elizabeth II) spent part of their honeymoon nestled here in the
beautiful North Downs.
Margaret Greville was known for liking her servants and tolerating their occasional bad
behavior. She employed two butlers — Boles and Bacon — who were known for being
frequently intoxicated. During a dinner party, as the story goes, Margaret noticed a butler
was visibly drunk. In an effort to avoid disruption, she scribbled a note on the back of a
place card and handed it to him. The note said, “You're drunk. Leave the room at once.”
The butler placed the note on a silver salver and presented it to an important dinner guest,
who put on his glasses, studied it, and sat in silence for the remainder of the meal.
While enjoying the Edwardian experience of Polesden Lacey, take advantage of 21
st
cen-
tury technology on your tour by using the Polesden Lacey garden app. The app provides
some of the more interesting stories about the house and estate as it tours visitors through
the gardens. No smart phone? No worries — borrow an iPad with the app pre-loaded from
Visitor Reception.
While you're in the gardens, ask about Polesden Lacey's ghosts. There are two that haunt
the estate. On the Nun's Walk just inside the woods, visitors have heard a strange whist-
ling sound, like a whirlwind. Near the ornamental garden, a ghost dressed in a long brown
hooded robe has been spotted on the wooden bridge.
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