The location in Hampshire with the beautiful river Test running through it, the gardens and the ancient trees is the first thing that makes you understand why Mottisfont evolved from a priory in 1201 to a country house 800 years later. It attracted society hostess and arts patron, Maud Russell (1891-1982) and her husband to buy it in 1934. Maud surrounded herself with a group of bohemian artists and authors, many of whom had been dubbed the “Bright Young Things” in the interwar years. Maud commissioned the society artist Rex Whistler to decorate the drawing room with tromp l’oeil. This is such a poignant room not only for its beauty but because Rex Whistler completed it just before he died during active service in 1944.
Highlights from the ‘Blog camera roll’
Without further a do, let me take you on a brief tour of the house and garden with some highlights from the ‘blog camera roll’ …
The house at Mottisfont National Trust
Front exterior of National Trust Mottisfont house, Hampshire which began life as Mottisfont priory in 1201. Photo: Charis White
Doorway at Mottisfont House. Photo: Charis White
Columns with ancient spiral design inspired from nature. Photo: Charis White
Gothic style tromp L’oeil painted columns, plasterwork, swag and tail curtains painted by Rex Whistler in the drawing room at Mottisfont House. The NT say “Tucked high in one wall of the Whistler Room is a poignant, secret message from the artist, painted just before he left for active service, where he was killed in the Second World War” . The lighting in here was very low to protect the painting, hence my faded looking picture. Photo: Charis White
Tromp L’oeil painted panel and wall light painted by Rex Whistler for a drawing room at Mottisfont NT. Photo: Charis White
Glamorous, deep buttoned sofa uphoslered with fabulous passementerie. It complements the neutral tromp l’oeil scheme, painted by Rex Whistler at Mottisfont NT. Photo: Charis White
Theatrical curtains – these are real in dark green velvet with faux ermine edging hanging within the clever tromp l’oeil framing of pillared and plastered window treatment with painted swags and tails. The design was completed by Rex Whistler (1904-1944) for Maud Russell before he sadly lost his life in the Second World War. Photo: Charis White
Loving this silvery forest green velvet curtain. The faux ermine completely works here! Mottisfont NT. Photo: Charis White
There are hardly any pieces of Maud Russell’s furniture and accessories left in the house. This butler’s tray and tea set could be hers or it could be dressing by the NT. Either way, It was so elegant and inviting. Must dig out some of Grandma’s tray cloths! Photo: Charis White
20th century silk swags and tails hanging nicely on the fourposter in the white bedroom at Mottisfont NT. Photo: Charis White
The last private owner of Mottisfont House and Garden, Maud Russell from a photo in St Moritz on display in the Morning Room at Mottisfont NT. Maud had a fascinating life and knew so many influential people of the 20th century. I was interested to read this on the Ian Fleming website about her friendship with him. Maud donated the house to The National Trust in 1957 and continued to live there until 1972. Photo: Charis White
This is a lovely example of an enticing, light and bright ‘morning room’. Nicely balanced with focal fireplace with bookcases either side and a gallery of 20th century art on three walls. The bay window at Mottisfont is a beauty and it is equally well framed with mid-century country house style striped pelmet and curtains. Photo: Charis White
Just a selection of the art in the morning room which is part of The Derek Hill Collection. The National Trust say it was “gifted to Mottisfont by the artist Derek Hill, in memory of a long friendship with Maud Russell, this is a permanent display of 20th-century art, including works by L.S. Lowry, Barbara Hepworth and Graham Sutherland. The collection contains some of Hill’s own work, including a pencil drawing of Maud Russell, and paintings of Tory Island. There are also pieces by Modern Movement painters who had inspired him, such as Gwen and Augustus John, Degas, Edwin Landseer and Georges Seurat. Delve into the permanent Derek Hill collection.” Photo: Charis White
The Morning Room at Mottisfont NT. Photo: Charis White
This is a section of wallpaper that caught my eye from the Red Bedroom at Mottisfont. The red ground and design had an Indian feel but was in fact produced by Zuber & Cie in France which the National Trust think may have been distributed by Cole and Son in the 1940s/early 1950s. Photo: Charis White
Gardens at Mottisfont National Trust house and garden
Yew hedges are used in various ways in the garden at Mottisfont NT (here this leads to the walled garden) to create a little botanical drama. Photo: Charis White
Inviting garden room at Mottisfont NT. Photo: Charis White
Despite the drought, this was a very healthy fir tree at Mottisfont NT with fabulous barrel shaped cone in July 2026. Photo: Charis White
Pretty climber in the walled garden at Mottisfont NT. Please let me know if you know what it is?! Photo: Charis White
A pond in the walled garden at Mottisfont NT. Photo: Charis White
Classical sculptures amongst yew hedging in the gardens at Mottisfont NT. Photo: Charis White
The National Trust say: “Geoffrey Jellicoe created elaborate designs for the North garden in 1936, based on Italian Renaissance principles, but Mrs Russell insisted on a much simpler scheme. This is the Lime Walk whose design recalls the columns of the old priory’s cloisters.” Photo: Charis White
The River Test is a chalk stream that runs the length of the garden with paths either side. Trees along the banks create shade which in the heatwave of July 2026 created such a sanctuary under the green canopied walk. Reassuringly, we spotted many trout in this section of the river. Photo: Charis White
Mottisfont Gallery
“Maud Russell made Mottisfont her home in the 1930s, bringing artists here to relax and create works inspired by Mottisfont’s past, including the extraordinary drawing-room painted by Rex Whistler. We continue those artistic traditions today, with a permanent 20th-century art collection and major exhibitions in our top-floor gallery,” says the National Trust.
Pretty, vintage silver plate footed-basket dish. It has a twisted handle with an ancient-inspired spiral design scalloped edge each one of which has an engraved swirl. Lovely beaded detail too. This would make a stylish fruit/canape/bonbon dish or as a jewellery dish for a dressing table. Size is 19.5 cm diameter x 7 cm high including foot. Available now, £20 plus £5 shipping in my vintage online shop.
Vintage metal dish with handle and an ancient spiral edged design inspired by nature, available in my online vintage shop. Photo: Charis White
Thank you
Thank you so much for joining me on this blog tour of National Trust Mottisfont, I hope it has inspired you to make a visit of your own. I will certainly be returning to see the garden again (May/June time) to witness the special rose collection in bloom as well as the lavender. It is one of those properties that there is so much to take in, that you can’t possibly do it all in one visit. It was a lovely day out that families also seemed to be enjoying.
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