An arcade runs round three sides of the lofty hall, above this there is a gallery where guns, spears, assegais, antlers, racing cups, and beautiful inlaid vases are arranged in profusion. Also regimental trophies, of which he was fond and proud, for he loved his old regiment.
In the billiard-room there are many masterpieces of great value, also in one corner stands a small easel in which reposes a picture entitled “Bill wins,” below is an inscription, explaining the scene at Curraghmore Steeplechases on April 30th, 1874, his wedding having taken place exactly twenty-one years after on April 30th, 1895.
[Illustration: FRONT HALL AT THE DEEPDENE]
One of the ambitions of Lord William’s life was to win the Derby, and he began looking about him for likely winners; it did not take him long to collect some useful horses, though I doubt very much if his racing in England ever gave him as much pleasure as it did in India. His wife was most interested in his horses and was as anxious as he was that he should own the best. She was a kind-hearted woman who did a great deal for the comfort and happiness of all around her, the poor of Dorking are not likely to forget her or her husband, for they closely associated themselves with all the local charities and philanthropic undertakings.
Nothing pleased Lord William better than to have a house full of people; he loved to have some of the old 9th with him. It had been hoped when he settled down to home-life he would take things more easily, but he still continued to cram two or three days’ work into one, just as he did in India, he had not yet found a day quite long enough for all he wanted to do.
On his birthday he always gave all the Dorking school children a treat in the park at Deepdene, entertaining about 1800 of all denominations, and surely no children were ever so entertained before, no expense was spared that would add to their pleasure, and he always took part in the proceedings himself, which added much to the children’s pleasure, while, I believe, he enjoyed it himself thoroughly; he loved to see children happy and hear them laugh. He arranged their races, threw bags full of pennies to be scrambled for, taking particular notice of any child, girl or boy, who after striving was not strong enough to capture any pence amongst the hustling crowd of eager bairns, these he used to reward with pennies privately; he said he could not bear the look of disappointment on their faces when time after time they failed.