Elveden Hall Tour
Dear Isabella
I meant to write last week but had a lot going on on my return to London.
I just wanted to say that it was soooo lovely to meet you and your team to do the tour of Elveden Hall , which lived up to went way beyond all expectations.
It’s been a curiosity of mine for such a long time and it was so exciting and inspiring to finally get to visit.
The icing in the cake was to also meet Lord Iveagh…oh my, he is so so charming and so obviously passionate about his estate and its long and varied history and in prolonging its legacy. Bravo.
Ok, so much of the Hall is not in a good state of repair and there are some hazards, but I feel one of the other reviewers was very unfair about their analysis of the experience. We must remember, that this is a real, but uninhabited and rather decrepit old home, and seeing in this state rather added to its evocative history and mystery. It’s not meant to be a staged ’ Disneyfied’ experience and I thought it was very well explained that parts of the house were unstable and insecure and we must take great care and not wander off unaccompanied. One must remember this is a ‘private tour of a private home’ and to be able to see ‘literally’ the layers of design and history is a very rare occurrence indeed.
The information about the house being used as a location for a plethora of films and television was also interesting. In particular the Stanley Kubrick 1999 movie ‘eyes wide shut’ famously starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman for which the house seemed like the perfect setting.
I loved seeing the house in its ‘undone’ and honest condition as left after the departure of the Maharaja Duleep Singh, who had transformed it into the ‘Mughal inspired palace’ reminiscent of his Punjabi heritage.
The central marble hallway is especially impressive, initially created by the Maharaja and then renovated/ remodelled by the first Lord Iveagh to form a masterpiece of solid Carrara Marble. It’s breathtaking and astonishing realising that over 700 craftsman created this elaborate design piece.
My friends on the tour also loved it too and we went to the fantastic Elveden courtyard and farm shop afterwards for tea and a scones to compare and share our thoughts.
It was a special day and experience so please do thank Lord Iveagh too for the opportunity.
Jack Pennys paintings were also great and very thought provoking and befitting of the history and past people’s of the hall. I would have loved to buy one of the Swans but sadly a bit out of my budget.
Thank you for an all round wonderful experience.
11 de octubre de 2025
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