T h e  N e w  D i n i n g  R o o m

As designed by Atkinson for William Leveson Gower in 1826, this was the drawing room, but became the dining room in the 1920s, as it is more convenient for the kitchen. It is a well-proportioned Regency room with white marble chimneypiece and stucco cornice decorated with Greek key and lotus flowers. It has recently been redecorated in duck egg blue and white on the advice of Miss Monro. Over the chimneypiece hangs a striking portrait by Alan Ramsay (the Scottish portrait painter) of Mrs. Boscawen the grandmother of William Leveson Gower. She was a friend of Dr. Johnson who spoke very warmly of her: 'I would say that her manners are the most agreeable, and her conversation the best of any lady with whom I have ever had the happiness to be acquainted'. There is also a copy of Reynolds' portrait of Martha Gresham who married William Hoskins, from whom was inherited the set of four paintings of Venice by Canaletto which dominate this room. These wonderful pictures were probably commissioned by Hoskins directly from Canaletto who was resident in London in the 1750s.

They have similar gilt rococo frames to the Wooton Kenwood in the Drawing Room.The furniture includes a set of four Biedermeyer chests of drawers, circa 1830, and stamped by their maker, Kopling. The eighteenth century Dutch chairs round the walls are inlaid with different woods and turkey bone (not ivory). Similar marquetry decoration adorns the display cabinet which is also Dutch. In it are three different mid-eighteenth century Chinese Export tea and coffee services decorated with the Gresham arms.

The production of such china for the English market was a large-scale industry round Canton, and the arms were usually copied from armorial bookplates. The other heraldic china round the room is from a large service made by Daniel of Stoke on Trent circa 1830 showing the Leveson Gower arms.


The Dining Room
Set of four paintings of Venice by Canaletto
T I T S E Y   P L A C E  &   G A R D E N S
  O X T E D,  S U R R E Y