The legacy of the Churchill's Chartwell Appeal at Chartwell

In 2016, on the 50th anniversary of Chartwell opening to the public, the team at Chartwell launched a £7.1million appeal. Beginning with the purchase of precious Churchill heirlooms on long-term loan to Chartwell, the appeal aimed to increase access to the collection and story of Churchill and open new never-before-seen rooms to the public. In 2020, at the end of the appeal, we're now proud to share all of our achievements that keep Churchill's legacy here at Chartwell for you and future generations to see and enjoy.

The south front view of the house at Chartwell, a National Trust property in Kent
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Thanks to you

The Trust has been able to raise the £7.1million needed thanks to generous support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Royal Oak Foundation, The Lindbury Trust, The Wolfson Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, and The David Webster Charitable Trust, as well as National Trust Supporter Groups, private donors, and members of the public.

Churchill heirlooms

Chartwell is the only place in the world where objects that belonged to Churchill can be seen in their original domestic setting. Crucially then, one of the most important actions of the Churchill's Chartwell Appeal was to begin securing over 1,000 heirlooms on long-term loan to Chartwell, and keeping those personal and historic objects that belonged to Churchill at his family home. These precious heirlooms, many of international significance, are intrinsic to his life and accomplishments, and an important achievement of the Churchill's Chartwell Appeal in order tell the breadth of Churchill's life and character at Chartwell.

Churchill's hairbrush at Chartwell, a National Trust property in Kent

The top 10 appeal objects 

Throughout the appeal we have acquired over 1,000 individual items that belonged to Sir Winston Churchill at Chartwelll. Here are just some of the most precious items that we have saved, still on display here at Chartwell.

Embroided chair belonging to Churchill at Chartwell, a National Trust property in Kent

Churchill's life in objects 

Find out more about the objects we've been able to save for the nation, each one telling a vital story about the life of Churchill.

New rooms and spaces
The newly displayed Sitting Room Annexe with a television in the background playing an introduction video on Chartwell, with interpretation describing the family tree hanging from the wall on the right.

The Sitting Room Annexe at Chartwell 

The Churchill's Chartwell Appeal has allowed us to open, for the first time on permanent display, the Sitting Room Annexe. Once used as a nursery, we're now able to use the space to shine a light on the Churchill children and their experiences growing up at Chartwell.

A replica telephone sits in the foreground with framed pictures hanging from the wall in the background

The Secretaries' Office 

Opening the never-before seen Secretaries' Office, on permanent display, would not have been possible without the Churchill's Chartwell Appeal. Inside, the room explores the working life of the secretaries through hands-on activities and audio from the secretaries themselves recalling their own experiences.

The newly displayed Ante Room with a display of medals in the foreground

The redisplayed Ante Room 

Thanks to the Churchill's Chartwell Appeal we have been able to redisplay the Ante Room, creating a new display of gifts and medals that we secured over the four-year appeal.

" You may be sure that Clemmie and I will do our utmost to invest the house and gardens with every characteristic and trophy that will make it of interest in the future."
- Sir Winston Churchill writing to Lord Camrose from Chartwell, 1945
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The Chartwell studio - a painting easel, chair and paints sits in the foreground with a wall display some of Churchill's works in the background

The Studio Rehang 

Over the last sixty years or so we've been fortunate to have been gifted several Churchill paintings that have gone on to be displayed in the painting studio at Chartwell. Now with a much larger collection of his works and the support of the Churchill's Chartwell appeal we've been able to carry out a major refurbishment to curate the 141 paintings into a display reminiscent of how Churchill would have known the space in the 1960s.

Churchill's bedroom

Chartwell guided house highlights tours 

Thanks to the support of the appeal we've been able to introduce themed highlights tours of the house, written by our Curator. Drawing out the best stories for each theme, these tours weave in Churchill's bedroom which has never-before been open to the public.

Churchill arriving in Geneva, 1946

A history of Winston Churchill in 50 objects 

The appeal has allowed us to curate a permanent exhibition that focuses on the life of Winston Churchill, told through a collection of fifty objects. Bringing the exhibition to the present day, the appeal made it possible for us to explore and track contemporary online discussions surrounding Churchill, and the relevance he still holds today.

Digital developments
A close up of the signatures in the Chartwell Visitors Book, with the entry for Charlie Chaplin visible on the digital version in the background

Digitised Chartwell Visitors Book 

The Chartwell Visitors Book is one of the most unique items in our collection. With thanks to new technology, Churchill's Chartwell Appeal and our dedicated volunteers, we are improving access to this true slice of history as never before.

Audio guides now in use at Chartwell with woman holding and listening with lakes and swimming pool in background

Audio guides at Chartwell 

Discover the stories of Chartwell at your own pace with our audio guides. Choose between different topics to suit your own interests by picking up one of our lightweight devices, free with your normal entry, from our Visitor Centre.

A visitor using the 'touch-wall' projection in the studio

The studio 'touch-wall' at Chartwell 

With thanks to the use of new technology, explore the artwork of Sir Winston Churchill in never-before-seen detail in a new exhibit down in the studio at Chartwell.

Family fun and education
Churchill's miniature paintbox

As a basis for community outreach and education programmes, we were fortunate to be able to select objects from the Chartwell collection and create replicas for the public to handle. Including a miniature watercolour paint box and Churchill’s speech box, we used the handling collection for the first time in October 2018 with a home-educated group of 15 students.

The treehouse at Chartwell, a National Trust property in Kent

Summer family adventures at Chartwell 

In 2018 we opened a new children’s treehouse in the woodlands at Chartwell. Inspired by the treehouse Winston Churchill had built for his children, our two-story treehouse was designed with support from visitors and the community, and expands on our outdoor play areas.

An image of the family leaflet. The front page is an illustration of the brick house gaze up

To help our family visitors to explore the house at Chartwell and discover more about the Churchill family we’re delighted to have been able to introduce new family guides. Drawing on stories from the Churchill family, the guide contains challenges through the eyes of the Churchill children.