A Visit to Chartwell, Gardens & Landscapes of Sir Winston Churchill's Home

A few members of the HenFeathers team visited Chartwell, located in Kent, England, family home of Sir Winston Churchill. Purchased in 1922, Chartwell was where Winston Churchill spent a significant portion of his life, living there from his early days in Parliament through the end of World War II and beyond. Today, Chartwell is a National Trust property and open to the public. The gardens surrounding the beautiful Chartwell home provide a unique insight into how Churchill used the grounds to relax and appreciate the natural world through some of the most stressful historical events in human history.

Chartwell house vine side view

Chartwell house hillside view

Chartwell winding sidesteps

Chartwell house entrance

Chartwell house entrance bench and planters

Chartwell house gate right

Chartwell vine framed bench and pathway

Chartwell butterfly house and planters

The gardens at Chartwell are not only a place of beauty but also an essential part of Churchill�fs personal well-being. At Chartwell, Churchill would often retreat to the garden for relaxation and reflection, he viewed the gardens as a sanctuary. His personal involvement in the design and maintenance of the grounds was considerable, and the dynamic and varied landscape shows his deep connection to nature.

Churchill, His Love for Nature & Gardens as a Retreat

One of the most distinctive features of the Chartwell gardens is the variety of spaces that make up the larger estate. The grounds were designed in a way that reflected Churchill�fs personal tastes and his desire to create a serene environment in which to escape. The "Walled Garden," with its neatly arranged flower beds, fruit trees, vegetables, and well-maintained paths, is one of the most popular spots for visitors. This area, being enclosed, creates a sense of privacy and intimacy that Churchill appreciated. Here, the combination of formal and informal elements speaks to an appreciation of symmetry and natural beauty.

Churchill used Chartwell to indulge in his passion for gardening, growing flowers, vegetables, and fruit trees. The landscaping and garden areas, including rose gardens, Gavin Jones cascade, Golden Orge pond, terrace lawn, the orchards, and the carefully planned ponds and pool, served as a source of personal enjoyment and as a creative outlet for Churchill.

In addition to the more formal areas of the garden, Chartwell is also home to a beautiful and expansive hillside. The grounds provide sweeping views of the surrounding Kent countryside, which Churchill greatly appreciated. He often took contemplative walks here. The natural beauty of the surrounding landscape provided him with both inspiration and a much-needed respite.

Churchill recognized the gardens reflected life, dynamic, full of color, and constantly evolving. He saw in the natural world a parallel to his own life's journey—full of struggles, but also moments of quiet beauty. Like many of us do, Churchill�fs gardens were a place where he could find solace and tranquility in times of turmoil.

Chartwell marlborough pavilion

Chartwell Lady Churchill pavilion and rose garden

Chartwell pavilion column

Chartwell sloped hillside and tree

Chartwell hedge framed steps

Chartwell Green Doorway with Lady Churchill Garden on the Other Side

Chartwell swimming pool and swans

Chartwell lady churchill rose garden bench

Chartwell lady churchill rose garden from above

Lady Churchill Garden & Pavilion

Chartwell Gavin Jones Cascade (Inspired by Gavin Jones Cascade at the Chelsea Garden Show in 1948)

Chartwell golden orge pond chair

Churchill Contemplation Chair

Hidden Pond with Bamboo

Hidden Pond with Bamboo

Secluded Golden Orge Pond

Side Door Off of the Main House

Chartwell entrance wall bench vine framed left

Chartwell entrance wall flower bed

Chartwell Home from the Hillside

Chartwell countryside

Churchill Art Studio Next to Orchard

Churchill Art Studio Side View

Chartwell orchard right

Chartwell pathway to walled garden flower patch

Red Brick Wall on Pathway to Walled Garden

Red Brick Wall Gate on Pathway to Walled Garden

Pathway to Walled Garden Espalier View

Chartwell pathway to walled garden stairway top

Chartwell pathway to walled garden stairway bottom

Walled Garden Golden Rose Avenue Bench

Golden Rose Avenue in the Walled Garden

Chartwell rhubarb forcing pots

Chartwell vegatables

Chartwell marycot pathway

Marycot Childrens Playhouse

Chartwell marycot steps

Walled Garden Espalier

Walled Garden Espalier Pathway

Walled garden vegetable beds

Walled Garden Flowers

Walled Garden Flowers with Espalier Wall

Churchill Plaque in the Walled Garden (Marking Section of the Wall that Sir Winston Personally Built)

Espalier & Gate in the Walled Garden

Extraordinary Vines in the Walled Garden

Chartwell Swan Walking Down to Pond

Chartwell Swan Pair

Chartwell Bridge & Chair, Large Lower Pond

Chartwell Now Open to the Public

As of 1966, the gardens at Chartwell are an oasis the public can come to appreciate, providing a space for reflection and contemplation. They also offer a glimpse into the private world of one of history's greatest leaders. Through the calming power of the gardens, visitors can better understand not only Churchill but themselves.