Churchill family home open to public for 60th year

Sir Winston Churchill's family home is celebrating 60 years of access to the public.

The National Trust is marking the occasion from 20-21 July at Chartwell country house with live music, dance performances and picnics.

Visitors will also be able to see Sir Winston's gardens and bedroom as part of the guided "Chartwell 60" Highlights Tours.

Katherine Carter, a curator at National Trust, said: "We encourage everybody to grab a picnic, come dressed in 1960s style...and come and spend some time with us in the sunshine."

The National Trust owned the country house for 19 years prior to the death of Churchill, and only had a hand in its presentation in 1965.

Following his passing, the conservation charity worked with his widow Lady Clementine Churchill and their daughter Mary Soames, as well as the Churchills' secretary Grace Hamblin to prepare the house for public presentation.

The house is displayed as it was in the 1920s and 30s when the Churchills and their children were all in residence, the trust said.

Following a 2016 fundraising appeal, Churchill's Chartwell, visitors can also now access the statesman's bedroom, which remained closed for over 50 years after Chartwell initially opened to visitors in 1966.

The appeal aimed to raise £7.1 million to acquire over 1,000 of Churchill's belongings that were on long-term loan to Chartwell.

The trust raised enough money in 2020, and now Chartwell is the permanent home of these heirlooms, many of which are viewable in exhibitions throughout the house.

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