Drawing Room

This graceful room was used to entertain guests before and after dinner. A formal reception room with views over Preston Park, it has carved, polished wood doors and decorative ceiling and cornices. Luxurious but also comfortable – it was a place for the lady of the house to spend time with friends, or to do some reading or sewing in the afternoon or evening.

An eclectic interior

The furnishings reflect 19th and 20th-century fashions in interiors. Today, you can see elegant mahogany furniture and Chinese vases, as well as some fine examples of French design, including a pair of Louis XVI candelabra and an 18th-century writing table. French and English traditions come together in a glass-fronted vitrine or display case containing a collection of Wedgewood pottery, while the opulent, gilt-framed mirror and pictures are enhanced by light streaming through large windows.

Arranged for conversation

By today’s standards, the layout of the room may seem cluttered but in the Edwardian era, furniture was deliberately arranged to accommodate people conversing in small groups. Social hierarchy was observed, with the most important individuals sitting close to the fire in winter, and near the windows in summer.

Family photographs and landscape paintings reflect the Thomas-Stanfords’ personal taste, suggesting that this room was also for relaxation.