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Pictures of Broadlands

a Historic Building in the town of Romsey, in the county of Hampshire

West Front of Broadlands in Romsey, Hampshire. Historic home of Lord Mountbatten

About Broadlands

This gracious Palladian mansion was the home of the late Lord Louis Mountbatten and the place where the Queen, as the young Princess Elizabeth, together with her husband, Prince Philip, spent the first part of their honeymoon following their marriage almost 60 years ago.

Broadlands is an historic place, since it was transformed from an ordinary 16th-century house into the splendid manor we see today, the house has welcomed the great and the good of each passing era, particularly the years when the house was the family home of the Viscount Palmerston's. The 1st Viscount was responsible for landscaping the grounds and the 2nd Viscount commissioned "Capability" Brown to carry out alterations to the house. It was Brown who shaped the landscape between the house and the River Test, by giving the house a more imposing look and shaping a gentle descent towards the water. Later, Henry Holland, son-in-law and protégé of Brown was instructed to make further alterations, and today the house is largely as he left it, with only minor improvements being made when the 3rd Viscount, Lord Palmerston occupied the house. During the reign of Queen Victoria the 3rd Viscount Palmerston was twice British Prime Minister.

Lord Mountbatten, the grandson of Queen Victoria, came to Broadlands through his marriage to Edwina Ashley, she inherited the estate via her grandfather who had received it from Lord Palmerston's step-son William Cowper, later Lord Mount Temple.

Lord Mountbatten met an untimely death through a merciless IRA bomb attack in 1979. After this the property passed to the present owner, Lord Romsey. In 1988, Lord Romsey commission his uncle, famous interior designer David Hicks to redecorate the interior.

Visitors to Broadlands see an elegant, mellow, yellow-grey brick house with an elegant east-front portico and domed hall designed by Brown in 1768. This domed entrance hall leads to the Sculpture Gallery, both rooms contain parts of the 2nd Viscount Palmerston's collection of antique sculpture from the 18th-century. The neo-classical Dining Room was created by Holland, this has a painting of Emma, Lady Hamilton, by Lawrence and other works of art including paintings by Monnoyer and Van Dyck.

Overlooking the river are three handsome reception rooms, these contain many treasures, particularly the beautifully gilded Saloon, with its fascinating display of Meissen and Serves porcelain arranged by the late Lord Mountbatten's brother-in-law, King Gustav of Sweden. The Wedgewood Room is crammed with pieces of Wedgewood collected by several family members, and the Drawing Room still has original neo-classical pier glasses. Much of the intricate plasterwork to these rooms is the work of Joseph Rose the elder, the rooms also contain mirrors, superb bookcases and interesting portraits of court beauties by Lely.

Lord Mountbatten's ancestors from the House of Hesse are represented with paintings lining the back staircase, this leads to the Oak Room which was transformed into a cinema by Lord Mountbatten. Further along visitors come to another back staircase leading to the ground floor where the passage shows models of ships on which Lord Mountbatten served during his long Naval career.

The Palmerston Room contains Angelica Kauffmann's vivid Grand Tour portrait of the 2nd Viscount showing Mount Vesuvius in the background together with memorabilia commemorating his great career, life and times.

Lord Louis Mountbatten became the last Viceroy of India, and as Earl Mountbatten of Burma, he was Admiral of the Fleet from 1956 to 1965. Visitors to the house will find all periods of Lord Mountbatten's life and times covered by an exciting permanent exhibition in the 17th-century stable block.

Broadlands is open to the public between June and September. A number of annual events are hosted each season, these include the annual game fair, orchestral concerts, the Hampshire Pageant of Motoring, and many others.
Please see below for other recommended attractions and towns to visit near Broadlands.

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Distances and directions shown below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Broadlands

King John's House(0.8 miles, 1.3 km)Pictures
Romsey Abbey(0.8 miles, 1.3 km)Pictures
Hillier Gardens & Arboretum(2.7 miles, 4.3 km, direction NE)Pictures
Ower Country Park(2.9 miles, 4.7 km, direction SW)Pictures
Mottisfont Abbey & Gardens(4.8 miles, 7.7 km, direction N)Pictures
Eling Tide Mill(4.8 miles, 7.8 km, direction S)Pictures
Longdown Activity Farm(5.9 miles, 9.4 km, direction S)Pictures
Farley Mount Country Park(6.3 miles, 10.1 km, direction NE)Pictures
Southampton Maritime Museum(6.9 miles, 11.1 km, direction SE)Pictures
Itchen Valley Country Park(7.0 miles, 11.2 km, direction E)Pictures

All attractions in Hampshire
Complete A to Z of attractions in England

Recommended towns near Broadlands

Totton, in the county of Hampshire (3.8 miles, 6.1 km, direction S)
Totton is a small town lying close to Southampton Water with easy access to the picturesque New Forest National Park, making it a desirable place to stay for anyone wishing to explore both coast and countryside.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Southampton, in the county of Hampshire (6.2 miles, 9.9 km, direction SE)
Southampton has many lovely gardens right in the city centre with picnic tables, flower beds and shady walks. In the spring the rhododendrons are a lovely sight.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Minstead, in the county of Hampshire (7.1 miles, 11.4 km, direction SW)
This is a delightful New Forest village which was once described as "the place where Mint grew" it is a beautiful unspoilt place with a church which looks as though it is shaped from a collection of cottages.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Lyndhurst, in the county of Hampshire (8.2 miles, 13.2 km, direction SW)
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Fritham, in the county of Hampshire (8.3 miles, 13.3 km, direction SW)
Fritham is an idyllic New Forest village, which was mentioned in the Doomsday Book. It is quite off the beaten track in an area where visitors can enjoy a peaceful atmosphere amongst lovely natural surroundings.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Netley, in the county of Hampshire (9.4 miles, 15.2 km, direction SE)
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Winchester, in the county of Hampshire (9.8 miles, 15.7 km, direction NE)
This is an old town which was a tribal town long before the Romans landed in Britain, under their leadership it flourished to become the 5th largest city in the land, and was later heralded as the capital of King Alfred.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Downton, in the county of Wiltshire (11.3 miles, 18.2 km, direction W)
It is one of Wiltshire's loveliest villages, with the River Avon forming a division between the ancient village and the new.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Beaulieu, in the county of Hampshire (11.5 miles, 18.4 km, direction S)
This lovely village is set in the lush greenery of the New Forest where a pretty village street leads to the banks of the Beaulieu River at the point at which it opens up as an estuary.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Brockenhurst, in the county of Hampshire (11.6 miles, 18.7 km, direction S)
Gloriously set, like a jewel in a crown, between woodland and heathland, is the picturesque place called Brockenhurst.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

All towns in Hampshire
Complete A to Z of towns in England

Nearby travel help

Romsey Station(1.0 miles, 1.6 km)
M27 Junction 3(2.4 miles, 3.8 km, direction S)
M27 Junction 2(2.7 miles, 4.3 km, direction SW)
Totton Station(4.2 miles, 6.8 km, direction S)
Southampton Airport(6.5 miles, 10.5 km, direction E)
Bournemouth Airport(20.0 miles, 32.3 km, direction SW)
Broadlands to London(69.7 miles, 112.1 km, direction NE)

Accommodation & Hotels near Broadlands

Hotel Name
Berties(0.7 miles, 1.1 km)
The Shoe Inn(5.0 miles, 8.0 km, direction W)
Holiday Inn Southampton Eastleigh(5.4 miles, 8.7 km, direction E)
The Bartley Lodge Hotel(5.6 miles, 9.1 km, direction SW)
Banister House Hotel(5.7 miles, 9.2 km, direction SE)
New Forest Lodge Hotel(6.0 miles, 9.7 km, direction W)
Southampton City Centre Premier Travel Inn(6.5 miles, 10.4 km, direction SE)
Grand Harbour(6.6 miles, 10.7 km, direction SE)
Holiday Inn Southampton(6.6 miles, 10.7 km, direction SE)
The Star Hotel(6.7 miles, 10.7 km, direction SE)
All of our hotels are available to book online & with special discounts


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