Start point:- TQ133523
Distance:- 8.55 km; 5.31 miles
Time taken:- 2 hours 47 minutes
Route:-
| Polesden Lacey CP - High Barn - Stars Wood - Six Acres Copse - Pump Pond Wood - Dogkennel Green - Hogden Cottage - Yewtree Farm - Polesden Farm - CP |
This walk was led by a member of Mole Valley Ramblers and with 30 walkers the time taken reflects the numbers present.
The walk took us round the Polesden Lacey estate with many vantage points for view across the surrounding countryside. The smog layer could be seen over London trapped by a temperature inversion.
Polesden Lacey https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/polesden-lacey was owned by Lady Greville.
Her father, William McEwan, was a self-made millionaire. Quiet but fiercely ambitious, he built a business empire out of working man’s ale with exports travelling as far as Australia.
Despite her illegitimate birth, McEwan supported Maggie throughout her life, equipping her with all the trappings a sparkling socialite would need, including Polesden Lacey – her lavish country retreat and party house. Her husband, Captain Ronald Greville, was quite a catch. With friends in high places, like King Edward VII and the inner circle on the Marlborough House Set, he had just the sort of address book an up-and-coming socialite would need to build a star-studded guest list for the perfect Edwardian houseparty.
Her king, His Majesty King Edward VII, was originally Ronnie’s friend. But after Ronnie’s death in 1908, he attended Maggie’s first house party at Polesden Lacey in 1909, thus cementing her place in Edwardian high society.
The walk returns to the house via Hogden Lane which has a stony loose surface, via Yewtree farm and Polesden Farm
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