Beyond the Great Hall is the Blue Drawing-room where hang the portraits of three generations of the Hulse family. They came from Cheshire which no doubt explains their black and white Coat of Arms.
Edward Hulse M.D., F.R.C.P. (1631-1711) Student and later Fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, he graduated M.D. at Leyden and in 1677 was appointed ‘Physician of the Court of the Prince of Orange’ in Holland, a position which he retained later as Court Physician to William III in England.
The portraits of the doctor by John Riley and of his wife Dorothy Westrow by Simon Verelst were painted soon after their marriage in 1672.
Sir Edward Hulse Baronet, M.D., F.R.C.P. (1682-1759) followed his father as a student at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, graduated M.D. in 1711 and was appointed ‘Physician in Ordinary’ to Queen Anne, George I and George II.
Sir Edward bought Breamore and much of the Dodington Estates in 1748 and handed them over to his eldest son, later the second Baronet.
Sir Edward Hulse Baronet (1715-1800) was known as “The Handsome Sir Edward”, possibly in not too complimentary comparison with his father who had become distinctly portly in his old age.
In 1741 he married Hannah Vanderplank, an extremely pretty girl of sixteen by whom he had three sons and five daughters.
It was the second Baronet and his Dutch wife who added much to the decoration of the house, including the Chinese Chippendale mirror over the fireplace and the pair of Regency chandeliers, one of which hangs from the ceiling of this room and the other in the West Drawing-room.
He established the family as agricultural landowners and farmers in Hampshire, being High Sheriff in 1765.
Breamore House
Nr. Fordingbridge
Hampshire
SP6 2DF
Tel: 01725 512858
Email: breamore@btinternet.com
Nr. Fordingbridge
Hampshire
SP6 2DF
Tel: 01725 512858
Email: breamore@btinternet.com
BLUE DRAWING ROOM