Saboohi arrived today on the 10.21 at Leeds Station (yippee). Rather than stay in the city we decided to visit Harewood House. The house is magnificent and set in acres and acres of private estate and gardens. When the Queen’s aunt Princess Mary married the Earl of Harewood this grand house became her principle home and there are lots of personal belongings and memories of her around the house. The famous furniture maker Thomas Chippendale, worked at Harewood House for many years and so most of the furniture found here has been made by him. The house is also full to the brim of famous artwork and Turner spent a year at Harewood when he was still a young artist, painting various views of the house for the Earl. Apparently he was paid just £10 per painting! Bargain. The furnishings are lavish and beautifully restored and kept throughout the house and Saboohi felt that it was one of the most beautiful Stately Homes she had visited as regards the presentation of the rooms. It had a very large “Below Stairs” exhibition too with all the kitchens, food preparation rooms, butler’s, steward’s and housekeeper’s rooms accessible and showing what life used to be like for someone “in service”. It was all very interesting.
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