Scottish Duchess’s Plans for York House

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 32, 8 February 1937, Page 11

Scottish Duchess’s Plans for York House

A Eoyal Duchess is carrying out the important task of modernising an his toric palacej states a writer in the Daily Telegraph. The work of adapting York House to the requirements of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester has just begun. The Duke and Duchess are anxious to move in. A London homo of their own will prove a great convenience to them. There is no hope, however, of York House being ready until welt into January at the earliest. The Duchess is having new lighting and heating systems introduced throughout this part of St. James’ Palace. Although the ex-King, when Prince of Wales, occupied York House for sixteen years, he never brought it up to date. He decided that it was not worth doing, as, with public duties and weekends in the country, he spent very little time there. Central heating is now being installed in the roception rooms, which occupy the whole of the ground floor and can be thrown into one. It will be invisible, the radiators being let in behind panels painted the same shade as the walls. The old-world fireplaces will be used as well, for the sake of appearance. Forty old-fashioned stoves are being removed from various rooms as a result of the Duchess’s plans for more modern heating systems. The Duchess will probably have Regency crystal candelabra to light her own bedroom. In other rooms she is introducing a certain amount of cornice lighting. The control of the electric switches at the Palace has hitherto been in charge of a footman. They were grouped together in a convenient place, The Duchess has decided to stop this old Royal' custom and to have each room fitted with its own switches so that anyone entering can adjust the light.