The Trophy Hall

The tutor’s impression

‘On entering the house I found myself in a large corridor facing a big hall where the light falls through a skylight. On the walls of the hall and along those of the corridor were pictures, busts and cabinets of ebony or tortoiseshell inlaid with mother-of-pearl, brass and copper; behind the glass doors of these cabinets was arranged a vast and heterogeneous collection of objects of very unequal value. At the end of the hall was a huge bevelled mirror with a carved and pierced frame. To the right a big gilded timepiece that ticked out the seconds.’

Queen Victoria’s observations

Queen Victoria made an early visit to Eugénie on the 30 November 1870 and Victoria wrote in her diary:

It was a dull, raw, winter’s day.  At the door stood the poor Empress in black, the Prince Imperial and, a little behind, the ladies and gentlemen. Everything was like a French house and there were many pretty things about. She looks thin and pale but still very handsome. The Prince Imperial is a nice boy but rather short and stumpy. We stayed about half an hour. It was a sad visit and seemed like a strange dream.

 

Today the hall showcases over 130 years of achievements by the golfers of Chislehurst Golf Club.

https://youtu.be/zNDzUEvXmVc