Inner hall

This area of the house was originally part of the nunnery cloister and until this century was an open area in the centre of the house. It had been encroached upon in the 19th century for a billiard room and the 8th earl finally roofed over the area in 1909, creating the present room lit by a large skylight. The door cases on the eastern side are from the 1660’s. Dominating the room is a large painting of John William Montague, the 7th earl of sandwich; behind him can be seen the house as it was in the mid 19th century. The fireplace contains the arms of the Montague family; the supporters are a triton and an eagle.

Entrance hall

After the fire in 1830, which badly damaged the northern part of the house, destroying the Tudor great hall, the architect Edward Blore was employed to carry out an extensive rebuilding programme. Outside the main entrance we see the date 1832on the doorway to Blore’s new entrance hall. The fireplace is decorated with the Montagu arms and contains the remains of an effigy of a crusader carved in purbeck marble in early 13th century; This was recovered in modern times from the grounds and may once have been part of a tomb in the nunnery chapel.

Lower landing and staircase

The door-cases and carved panelling are the work of Kennard, joiner to king Charles the second and date from the 1660 when extensive improvements were undertaken by the first earl. The present main staircase replaces and earlier one installed here by Blore in 1832 and was purchased by victor Montagu in the 1950’s from a now demolished house at Rolls Park in Essex, a fortunate find as the carving date from the same period and is very much in the style of Kennard’s work.

During the construction of the 1832 staircase two stone coffins were found containing skeletons of nuns from the early 13th century; judging by the position of the burial of the church door they may well be the remains of prioresses.

The wall on the south side of the stairs was once the outer wall of the nunnery chapel and during 1968 restorations one of the upper windows of the chapel dating from the early 13th century was discovered.

Reception room

This room was originally part of Richard Cromwell’s apartment, probably a bedroom, constructed from the prioress’ lodge which dates from the early 13th century. The Tudor doorway leads into the upper room of the Cromwell tower. The present panelling and windows were probably installed by the fourth Earl of Sandwich in the third quarter of the 18th century along with the balcony outside the double windows, which affords fine views over the lawns.