Chartwell House | Kent, England

Chartwell House The Winston Churchill Estate

A Photo Essay by James R. Winslow

Chartwell House The Winston Churchill Estate A Photo Essay by James R. Winslow Chartwell, Kent, England Tuesday 2 August 2005

A view of Chartwell House from the gardens below.

Life At Chartwell | Kent, England Purchased by Winston Churchill in 1922, Chartwell was his home from 1924 for nearly 40 years. The setting captivated him immediately: a shallow valley enclosed to the west by Crockham Hill, to the east by Toys Hill, both clothed in ancient beech trees. In the lap of the valley was a modest lake fed by the Chart Well, from which the house set into the western hillside took its name. But most important to Churchill was the panoramic view south over the gentle landscape of the Weald of Kent. Henry VIII is said to have slept in an oak-panelled room (now gone) in the house, while courting Anne Boleyn at Hever Castle. It is only 25 miles from Westminster and could be reached by lunch guests from London in less than an hour by car.

For the first two years after Churchill bought Chartwell, he was out of o!ce, but he was reelected as member from Epping in October 1924. He served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in Baldwin’s cabinet until 1929. Politics dominated life at Chartwell but it was very much a family home for Winston, Clementine and their four young children. Although he demanded absolute quiet when he was working in his study, when that was over he joined in alarmingly strenuous highjinx with his children.

During the 1920’s Chartwell was used mainly as a weekend home (the family lived at 11 Morpeth Mansions in London), but in May 1930 the Conservative Government was defeated. This had been preceded by the Wall Street Crash in October 1929. The house was mothballed and the family moved to the Well Street cottage at the southern end of the garden (now the Administrator’s house).

Churchill’s prolific writing during the 1930’s allowed him to reopen Chartwell and enlarge and improve the garden, build a tennis court, the brick walls, a swimming pool and an island in the lake.

Winston and his wife, Clemetine, ofen took morning tea here with the views of the Kent Valley.

Main Sitting Room Balcony A view of the Sitting Room Balcony from the Gardens below.

Slate Garden Walk Fresh herbs were readily available for cooking, a favorite of the Churchills.

The Orchard Archway An archway flanked by Solomon’s Seal leads to the apple and pear orchard.

Churchill Loved Butterflies Clementine planted the borders with buddleias to encourage the butterflies.

It is said butterflies are attracted to these flowers.

The Golden Rose Garden Walk Created in 1958, this garden was a golden wedding present to the Churchills from their children.

Yellow Hybrid Tea Rose The Golden Rose Garden Walk contains yellow-gold roses planted in two parallel borders.

In Flight This bumble bee seemed to find interest in my picture taking as he poses for the shot.

The Red Hot Poker flowers were vibrant magenta against the lush greenery of the garden.

A Neighborly View Centuries old trees line the estate. Hops drying silos can be seen in the distance.

Lonely Wooden Gate Everywhere you turn on the estate you see a serene place to find solitude, an escape from busy London.

There were plenty of bees to be seen in the gardens.

A view north past the Liliac bushes of the Kent countryside.

“…while it lasts.”

“I think it is very important to have animals, flowers and plants in one’s life while it lasts.”

— Winston Churchill

Churchill said this to his wife, Clementine, and the grounds at Chartwell gave him all these in profusion for over 40 years. Here he could relax completely, build a wall, feed a duck, paint, write, or simply enjoy the scent of a magnolia.

The landscape around Chartwell is ancient, becoming gradually more modern as one approaches the house. Oldest are the gentle hills to the west and east and on to the distant view of the Weald of Kent.

Contact Info Nvisionet Design 708 Village Lane

Jenison, Michigan 49428-8374 (616) 406-6220 Cell http://www.nvisionet.com

Photography by James R. Winslow JamesWinslow@nvisionet.com

Copyright Notice Š2005 James R. Winslow. All rights reserved.

Chartwell House Photographer | James R Winslow