Polesden Lacey

Polesden Lacey is a Regency-style country house with symmetrical wings framing a central courtyard, its exterior marked by Ionic columns and a façade of pale stone. The property includes rooms furnished with period pieces and surrounded by formal gardens with manicured lawns, hedges, and planted borders.

The house was built between 1821 and 1824 by architect Thomas Cubitt for Joseph Bonsor and underwent significant extensions in the early 1900s under Sir Ambrose Poynter. These additions shaped the building's current layout and scale.

The rooms display collections that reflected the owners' worldly tastes, from paintings to decorative objects gathered across Europe. These pieces show how wealthy families of the time furnished their homes with fine art and crafts from different cultures.

The main rooms are accessed through a grand entrance hall, from which the principal areas of the house spread out logically. The extensive grounds are open for walking, making it easy to explore both the building and the surrounding landscape at your own pace.

The property gained prominence in the early 1900s when it became a favored retreat for London's high society, hosting prominent guests for weekend parties and dinners. This role as a social hub left its mark on how the house was furnished and decorated during that transformative period.

Location: Mole Valley

Official opening: 1824

Architectural style: Regency architecture

Accessibility: Wheelchair limited access

Operator: National Trust

Part of: National Trust

Address: Polesden Lacey, Nr. Great Bookham, Dorking RH5 6BD

Website: http://nationaltrust.org.uk/polesden-lacey

GPS coordinates: 51.25750,-0.37359

Latest update: December 17, 2025 08:44