A ROOM WITH HISTORY

Historically, a drawing room is a room in an English country home for spending leisure hours. The name is derived from the 16th century term ‘withdrawing room’, or ‘withdrawing chamber’, and was a room to which distinguished guests could ‘withdraw’, or retire, after an evening meal for privacy or to be entertained. In grander country homes, the room was often lavishly furnished with fine art, textiles and luxurious furniture to impress visitors with the taste and wealth of the owners. Until the mid 20th century, the arrival of brandy or port at a dinner party would signal women to depart to the drawing room, leaving the gentlemen to converse at the table. After a drink, often accompanied by a cigar, the men would rejoin the ladies. This is reflected in Victorian literature, most notably in the works of Jane Austen. Today, the term is not widely in use and tends to refer to homes which have other reception rooms, such as morning rooms, sitting rooms and lounges.