Chartwell in Kent

Chartwell

I visited Chartwell in Kent, the home of Winston Churchill for 40 years.

Chartwell garden

Churchill had been so captivated by Chartwell since the moment he set eyes on the valley, protected by beech woods and by the house set on the hillside, with the most glorious views across the green fields of Kent.

Chartwell garden

Churchill saw so much potential at Chartwell to make his own mark. He saw the possibilities for another lake, swimming pools and water gardens, and he himself would play the role of designer and creator.

Chartwell

He chiefly built the walls of the vegetable garden (pics of that below!) as well as a little cottage for his daughter.

Chartwell

During the first year of the war, Churchill and his wife Clementine spent a few weekends at Chartwell, however, it was deemed unsafe as it was too conspicuous from the air and the house was dustsheeted and closed up for the duration of the war.

Chartwell

Chartwell Winston Churchill

After the war, Clementine reorganised the way in which the family inhabited Chartwell so that only a few servants were required.

Chartwell

In 1946 a group of Winston’s friends and admirers bought Chartwell and presented it to the National Trust with the understanding that Churchill and Clementine should live there for their lifetimes.

Chartwell

They lived happily and took to creating a beautiful garden. After Winston’s death in 1965, Clementine did not wish to continue living at Chartwell and so relinquished it to the National Trust.

Chartwell

Chartwell

I explored the house (although no photography was allowed) but I made up for it in the gardens.

Chartwell gardens

Chartwell garden

Chartwell gardens

Churchill used to watch and admire the butterflies that were attracted to the buddleias.

Chartwell view

Chartwell house and garden

Chartwell gardens

Chartwell gardens

As soon as Churchill took over Chartwell, he began ordering new stock of apple and pear trees to plant. Some were sadly destroyed in the Great Storm of 1987, but replacements of the same old varieties have been planted by the National Trust, together with ‘Winston Apples’.

Chartwell orchard

Chartwell orchard

Chartwell orchard

Chartwell orchard

Chartwell kitchen garden

Chartwell garden

Clematis

The Kitchen Garden was very fruitful in Churchill’s time. It is still so successful that the garden has produced almost 200 heads of lettuce this year alone!

Chartwell vegetable garden

Chartwell vegetable garden

Bees and butterflies were busy hot-desking the beds to ensure a thoroughly nourished garden.

Chartwell vegetable

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Chartwell garden

Chartwell

Chartwell garden

Chartwell

Chartwell Garden

Chartwell gardens

Chartwell gardens

Chartwell gardens

Chartwell

Chartwell pond

Chartwell

Chartwell

Chartwell

Chartwell

I loved the view from the house: green fields rolling into more greenery beyond!

Chartwell

Chartwell

Chartwell gardens

Chartwell

Chartwell

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Winston Churchill, so a visit to Chartwell is a must!

Chartwell house

Information on visiting times can be found on the National Trust website.

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