Dog or cat?

The view of the Dining Room (now the Macquoid Room) is of particular interest as the room was remodelled in 1939 to incorporate the Macquoid Bequest. The curious object under the dining table, at first sight resembling a cat, is more probably one of the numerous family dogs, most of which are buried in the walled garden. The 1904 inventory describes the room in some detail, and most of the objects can be identified in the watercolour. The muslin and blue rep curtains can be clearly seen, although curiously the salmon-coloured pelmet is omitted; one of the 'ten carved mahogany frame dining chairs in marone (sic) rep' can be seen on the right, while the 'two mahogany frame library chairs with cane seats and backs and leather cushions' are still in the house today.

All the chimneypiece ornaments are mentioned in the inventory: two white china grotesque ornaments with plated candle holders, two blue tear bottles, two oriental vases and covers, openwork clock by Savery (sic) under glass shade on stand. The clock, by J Cox Savory, still survives in the Morning Room. The Butler's mahogany tray and stand, and the 60 inch mahogany circular loo table (for card games) with cover for same, can be seen in the background.

Some of the objects had been removed from the house at the time the inventory was taken: for instance, Mrs Macdonald's will describes the leather screen, dining room table, two oil paintings of Preston, and a sea picture by Vandervelt. Marine paintings were particularly popular in Victorian dining rooms, and the picture can be seen prominently placed above the chimneypiece. The picture was returned to the house following the death of Christiana Macdonald in 1947.