The Yellow Room

The Biography of our Founders through the Collections.

This room is devoted to Lady Annie and Sir Merton Russell-Cotes and will feature displays exploring aspects of their travelling, collecting, social and political lives.

The Yellow Room was originally Lady Annie Russell-Cotes' bedroom but on becoming a public museum in 1922 it was transformed into the water-colour room. The wallpaper remained in situ until at least 1935, as did the paintings on the frieze which were revealed during the refurbishment project. Unfortunately, we have no plans or photographs of the bedroom and its furniture during Annie’s period of time here or any evidence relating to the orginal screen or mantlepiece.

However, we have considered the original design of the room by recreating the wallpaper, which was matched from a small sample found behind the light switch, and by selecting a carpet from an early Edwardian pattern.

Click on the floorplan for the virtual tour to explore the Yellow Room further.