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Delta, British Columbia, Canada
I took very early retirement from teaching in '06 and did some traveling in Europe and the UK before settling down to do some private tutoring. As a voracious reader, I have many books waiting in line for me to read. Tell me I shouldn't read something, and I will. I'm a happy, optimistic person and I love to travel and through that believe that life can be a continuous learning experience. I'm looking forward to traveling more some day. I enjoy walking, cycling, water aerobics & and sports like tennis, volleyball, and fastpitch/baseball. I'm just getting into photography as a hobby and I'm enjoying learning all the bits and bobs of my digital camera. My family is everything to me and I'm delighted to be the mother of two girls and the Gramma of a boy and a girl. I may be a Gramma, but I'm at heart just a girl who wants to have fun.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

C is for CHURCHILL's CHARTWELL

Last August, I had the privilege of visiting the family home of Sir Winston Churchill that is named Chartwell.  I could go on and describe everything we did, but suffice to say we spent the entire day there.  It was absolutely magnificent!  We were not allowed to take any interior photographs, but I did get lots of the exterior and the grounds.  I found the following online and it says it all, so enjoy reading it and watching my little slideshow that follows. And don't forget to turn up the sound.

Chartwell was the family home of Sir Winston Churchill from 1922 until his death in 1965. The house is situated 2 miles south of Westerham in Kent off the B2026 road.

Churchill loved the house, especially the view over the Weald of Kent. He modernised the originally rather gloomy Victorian mansion by adding a garden wing consisting of three large and attractive rooms. Churchill's wife Clementine made her contribution by choosing the comfortable furniture and floral chintz curtains. The Nemon Statue estate, consisting of 80 acres, gave Winston the peace and tranquility that he loved, and he relaxed by painting in the garden or in his studio and by transforming the grounds with new lakes, and robust brick walls built with his own hands.The Chart Well which rises on the western boundary of the site fed the existing lake and gave the estate its name.

During Churchill's first five years at Chartwell he was Chancellor of the Exchequer; this was followed by what has become known as his wilderness years in the 1930's when he was out of office and did much of his writing to keep the family finances afloat.

 
The Garden With the rise of Fascism in Europe, Churchill passionately argued the case for rearmament, and his inspired leadership during the war years are a permanent part of our history. Chartwell was closed up during the war years, except for the occasional visit. Despite his election defeat in 1945, when the public craved change and a new beginning, he was still widely acknowledged as the greatest living Englishman, and Chartwell Rose Gardensoon became a shrine to to his wartime achievements. In 1947, a group of Churchill's friends purchased the house so that he could continue living there and, in 1966, Chartwell was opened to the public for the first time.

Churchill's beloved view of the weald of Kent from the terrace was spoilt when the great Storm of 16th October 1987 devastated the woodland landscape on the hillside directly opposite. It will be many years yet before it regains its original character.

Churchill was the greatest orator of his day, the greatest leader of the Second World War, the greatest statesman of his age, and the greatest Englishman of the twentieth century, perhaps of all time. The debt owed to Sir Winston Churchill by the free world remains immeasurable. (from here)


Thanks to the charming Mrs. Nesbitt, the creator of ABC Wednesday, and to the charismatic Roger, our current administrator. Together with the team, they cultivate excitement among the contributors and communicate their caring and classy comments.

By the way, I am Canadian!
Click to play this Smilebox slideshow

44 comments:

jill said...

When we where visiting friends in Kent a few years ago we went to Chartwell but it was closed I was so disappointed,we will go again one day.xx

Roger Owen Green said...

sounds like a place i'd like to go

Kay L. Davies said...

Great post for the letter C. Nice of Churchill to have C in his life so often.
K

GaynorB said...

It's many years sine i last visited but I fund the place facinating. Iteresting post, thanks.

Reader Wil said...

Excellent C words, Leslie! Chartwell Is great!

anthonynorth said...

Great post on one of my heroes.

Meryl said...

I love this history and humor in this post! There was an extraordinary exhibit of Churchill's letters and speeches a while back at a local museum and I am quite a fan. Haven't made it to his Chartwell but hope to in the future. Thanks for the great post and have a great week.

photowannabe said...

Oh, I would love to go there myself. Beautiful grounds too. Thanks for all the information.
I love your slideshows.

Hildred said...

I look forward toyour great Smilebox creations each week, Leslie. This was a fine post and a tribute to Sir Winston, - truly a great man.

carol l mckenna said...

Great post and wonderful photos ~ British, of course ^_^

Carol of: A Creative Harbor

Thanks for coming by and commenting ^_^

Wanda said...

Slide show was just amazing. Thanks for a tour I'll never be able to make personally.

Anonymous said...

i read his autobiography. it was quite interesting.


not alone

Anonymous said...

wow, what an honor it must have been to visit his house.

Carver said...

Beautiful shots of a very interesting place.

Lisa said...

Great shots! I sounds like such a lovely place. I would love to go.

Chubskulit Rose said...

I've learned about Winston Churchill in High School.

COINS
Rose, ABC Wednesday Team

Mina Menon said...

Thts a interesying writeup!

Unknown said...

A fun history lesson - thanks!

Chrissy Brand said...

I don't think I have ever been there, looks fascinating- nearby Woodstock is a lovely town.

magiceye said...

This was so beautiful

Gemma Wiseman said...

Churchill lived so closely to his political world! It is surprising that he would have such a place and have any time to enjoy it! The buildings really have character and love the gardens!

SRQ said...

Another nice slideshow -- perfect song choice. Chartwell looks lovely, especially the garden. Happy Wednesday!

betty-NZ said...

I imagine there is so much to do there, even for a whole day. Thanks for the virtual tour!

Hazel said...

Beautiful place! I'd love to visit one day and imagine the man in the biography I read so many years ago.

H. Anastasia said...

I like it that you mentioned the former premier's wife's name - Clementine :)

LONDONLULU said...

I love this choice for C! What a figure he was, and very special to see this side of his life not often seen in the popular imagination. Would love to visit one day!

Joy said...

What a lovely house, I enjoyed your trip around the garden, the view of the statue across the water made it a nice setting. I like Kent, its beautifully rural yet so close to London.

Tania said...

Great post for C. He was a great man and my kids learn a lot about him in school here in Norway.
Great place I would like to visit:-)

Meghan said...

Beautiful estate. Would love to go.

Jeannette StG said...

Am a fan of Churchill. I believe that he was the glue that kept England together through the years of World was II. We could use a man like him as president in the USA!
Thanks for all the info, Leslie:)

Lady In Read said...

great post Leslie.. yes, he was one of the greatest orators ever... would love to visit someday..

Ann said...

What a tranquil place for Mr. Churchill to live after the horrific war. He is one of my heros. Your picture shots of the reflections are very pretty. Your posts always so enjoying.
Ann

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Never been there but always wanted to.

PhilipH said...

I've never been to "Winnie's" home, Chartwell but you've brought it vividly to me - so many thanks for that.
I've been fortunate to live in a splendid Robert Adam stately home, working for the Earl of Haddington and family.
Mellerstain House is in the Scottish Borders and is a relatively unknown gem of an estate.
We are privileged in the UK by having so many fab areas and buildings of great beauty.
We are also lucky to have bloggers like The Pedalogue who put a heck of a lot of work in bringing many such places to us via the web.

Beverley Baird said...

What a great tour of Churchill's home! The flowers are gorgeous!
Great choice for C!
I'm glad to be back and back to visiting you.

Lise said...

Wow, this was very informative, thanks so much!

Melanie Kennelly said...

I had the chance to visit the Cabinet War Rooms while I was in London and came away with a much greater appreciation for the men and women in Britain at the time and of course, for Churchill and his team. Your posts do not disappoint, Leslie. You include so many wonderful tidbits in them that I always learn something.

I really liked how you captured the reflections in the pond in the photos you took. Lovely. And I especially enjoyed the picture of you with the Churchills. :)

See you next week!

mai said...

great word choices for C. it's almost perfect here.. the magnolia grandiflora is stunning!

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