History
Uncover the story of Quebec House
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General Wolfe and Quebec House
General Wolfe and Quebec House
In 1726 Edward Wolfe and his young bride rented this house, then called Spiers. A year later their first son, James was born. When, at 32, James died a hero in the battle of Quebec the house was renamed in his honour.
© Learmont Scrapbook
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The Tudor house
The Tudor house
Originally built between 1530 and 1550 the first building was an L-shaped timber framed house.
© William Webb
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The double pile
The double pile
In the 1630s the layout was altered to create the latest fashion, what historians call a ‘double pile’ house.
© William Webb
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The Georgian frontage
The Georgian frontage
In the 18th century the front wall of the house was replaced with a parapet façade. By the 1880s the house was divided in two and Quebec House West was used as a school.
© William Webb
General Wolfe and Quebec House
The Tudor house
The double pile
The Georgian frontageThe boy born to be a soldier
James Wolfe was born to be a soldier, he received his first commission aged just 14. By the time he was 22 he had been in battle four times, wounded three times had command of his own regiment.
The epic Battle of Quebec
Wolfe commanded the army sent to capture Quebec, A vicious siege led to a desperate plan to capture the city. Wolfe’s army was victorious but he paid the ultimate price.
The death of General Wolfe
Wolfe’s tragic death was immortalised by Benjamin West. This epic history painting became the most popular image of the time. It secured Wolfe’s place in British military history.
Tulips stand guard at the front of Quebec House
© John Rawlinson
Restoration and gift to the National Trust
Almost dilapidated by 1901 Quebec House was bought by Charles Warde. He set about returning the house to its appearance when the Wolfe family lived here. Warde’s ancestors have lived in Westerham since 1731 and had been close friends to the Wolfe family. In 1913 the House was bought by a Canadian couple, Joseph and Charlotte Learmont. They never lived here but intended it as a memorial to General Wolfe. The house became the first house donated to us in 1917.