Homes of this time had flexible use
of rooms, with the changing needs of the household during the day, in the
course of a year, or over the lifetime of the family. It is difficult to pin
down a single defined use of many of the spaces. The Grange had many public
rooms on the ground floor. This room was one of two “drawing rooms”
that would have been used both for the family and for entertaining. Since
this was the most elaborately decorated room, it seems likely that it was
used for ceremonial occasions and entertaining guests in luxury. The Drewes,
after all, had designed the room for showing off their wealth and connections!
It was later called the “Music Room” by the family, and that might
reflect an early use of the space as well.
The room has fixed decoration – the carvings, the over-mantel, and the
paneling act almost like a stage set. Furniture could be moved in and out
as needed. The room could even have included a grand bed – as it was
quite acceptable to have beds in rooms used for public occasions. Most likely,
the furnishings were of carved wood and would have included one or two large
oak chairs, and a quantity of stools (the main form of seating in the era
was individual plant or joined stools), tables, and chests or a standing press
for storage).
The room would have been lit by sunlight, or candlelight and firelight.
