Churchill's Chartwell

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Welcome to Churchill’s Chartwell

‘A day away from Chartwell is a day wasted’ Sir Winston Churchill Contents:

2 Executive Summary

5 Infographic

6 Project snapshot

8 Securing Churchill’s legacy

10 Re-telling Churchill’s story

12 Engaging our communities

14 Empowering our people

17 Our project hacks

18 Where next

20 Thank you

Executive Summary The Churchill’s Chartwell project was Work has been undertaken to condition This complex, ambitious yet hugely inspired by the opportunity to acquire check, catalogue and conserve the successful project gave the property some of Churchill’s possessions. These collection; a process we shared with team (supported by regional and national are now cared for in perpetuity by the visitors. Alongside this our dedicated colleagues and a team of contractors) the National Trust and will be enjoyed by our team of volunteers has been hard at focus, space and resource needed for the visitors for many generations to come; work researching the new objects and Chartwell to take risks and try new ways safeguarding part of Churchill’s legacy. uncovering new stories. of working.

Page 2 Welcome to Churchill’s Chartwell Visitors now have increased access ranged from formal training, for example • £6.9m project was supported by the through opening up new spaces, objects Making Visits Meaningful training for National Lottery Heritage Fund and stories as well as new ways of volunteers has helped to reduce the • Project vision is to maintain the ‘It’s great to see the National working such as timed ticketing. This has number of complaints at the property presentation of Chartwell as a brought many benefits from deepening and flexible volunteering to investing in Trust responding to much-loved family home for the visitors’ understanding of and resonance the future workforce through heritage suggestions and engaging next 50 years, whilst inspiring a new with Churchill to helping us to provide an traineeships and work placements. generation to engage with Churchill’s with local area.’ improved ‘off season’ offer. Our team at Chartwell now has the history, his love of Chartwell and how Town Clerk Our team have worked with the opportunity to use the energy, ideas and he continues to impact our lives today communities living closest to us, created confidence generated by this project to • Before the project, the visitor new education programmes, worked continue to evolve the way we work and journey within the house which with local people to reinterpret Churchill what’s on offer for visitors. This will help had been the same since it was and his family through artwork and us to deliver the next 45 years of our originally established by Churchill’s exhibitions and taken Churchill out of long-term vision. family in 1966 Chartwell to members of the community

who would not normally be able to ‘[The project has brought] Chartwell kicking and access the property, for example, those in care settings. screaming into a 21st century offer so that its future is secured for a long time and the story is Finally, the project has helped us to invest in capacity and the skills of people both carried on through modern technology.’ at the property and beyond. This has Chartwell team member

Welcome to Churchill’s Chartwell Page 3 Our project in numbers 2,361 1,021 of signatures UR CH CH IL N L A . E Churchill’s researched from J 773 visitors who possessions signed the book secured for future 36% increase generations in size of visitor route in the 27,276 visitors house at Chartwell 3,778 members of the local community have used the Digital Visitors Book 41,999 503 young explored visitors to 3 people were Churchill’s 49 teachers exhibitions story in where communities inspired outreach are helping to inspire sessions told the Chartwell by Churchill to young people through story in their own way get involved in speaking Churchill’s story in public 4,323 62 work children experience and young 7,666 hours given students people learnt by volunteers about Churchill’s legacy gained 773 students got in workshops invaluable experience hands-on with Chartwell’s history 41,643 43% visitors are under 60 76% feel that 95% feel really proud 57% saw are over 60 Chartwell is an that Chartwell and Sir the conservation important part of Winston Churchill history’s of Churchill’s is a part of their community, possessions their community life in action.

Page 4 Welcome to Churchill’s Chartwell Key to infographic: About Chartwell These items were purchased 132 signatures were initially Chartwell was the family home of Sir Winston Churchill and is located close to 1 for the permanent collection indecipherable but volunteer 9 Westerham in Kent. Churchill bought the property in 1922 and it remained the at Chartwell ‘detective work’ means that now only six remain a mystery family home until his death in 1965. Far exceeding the original target Chartwell was a haven for Churchill providing a much needed sanctuary from 2 of 7,500 visitors Adults taking part in outreach 10 sessions the stresses of political life. It was very much a place of fun, peace pleasure and Made up of shorter work great happiness. experience opportunities and As part of the learning 3 A consortium of Churchill’s colleagues purchased Chartwell from the family at a longer work placements 11 programme time when the cost to keep it was prohibitive. They then gave it to the National Of local residents surveyed 15 chattels were then prioritised Trust in 1946 ensuring the house would be safeguarded for the nation as a 4 living within 5 miles of Chartwell, for conservation and 920 permanent legacy to Churchill. April 2020 12 Inscribed Books condition checked, catalogued, researched Welcoming visitors The Secretaries’ Room, Churchill’s and conserved 5 Bedroom and Bathroom and the Churchill’s house, painting studio, garden and surrounding grounds are all open Sitting Room Annex In the exhibition within house at to visitors. There is a purpose built café and reception building from which to Chartwell and some information help visitors plan their visit. We welcome around 250,000 visitors per year. Through a public speaking 13 on the website 6 programme for secondary schools Training videos are also available By using the new high-quality 14 via the Chartwell web pages 7 handling collection in a led- session Hours given by volunteers to project activity. Age stats for Of local residents surveyed 15 entire Chartwell volunteer team. 8 living within 5 miles of Chartwell, April 2020

‘The acquisitions of the chattels meant they are now secure for the nation and will always be on display for the nation.’ Stakeholder

Welcome to Churchill’s Chartwell Page 5 ‘One of the things with books is as more people see them, they see the inscriptions … these are such human touches, the books give a view of people that is directly related to their thoughts and behaviours.’ Project snapshot Curator Our £6.9 million Churchill’s Chartwell project was generously supported by a major National Lottery Heritage Fund grant and a range of other grants, donations and support.

Page 6 Welcome to Churchill’s Chartwell We wanted to focus on reinvigorating the legacy of one of the nation’s greatest statesmen and to safeguard the collection; giving it relevance within the 21st century. Our vision for the project was to maintain the presentation of Chartwell as a much-loved family home for the next 50 years, whilst inspiring a new generation to engage with Churchill’s history, his love of Chartwell and how he continues to impact our lives today. To achieve our ambitious goal we developed three strands to focus on:

Maintain the Actively Preserving the Giving the presentation of engaging legacy of collection a Chartwell and communities Sir Winston resonance in inspire a new in Churchill’s Churchill the 21st century generation with legacy Churchill

The team at Chartwell delivered the A Project Board made the strategic to help us improve our volunteering project with the addition of a dedicated decisions whilst an Advisory Panel programme and interpretation full-time Project Manager and Learning provided expert advice. Support and companies to help with the and Outreach Officer, and a part time advice was provided by a wide range redevelopment of rooms. An specialist Project Curator. Additional support was of regional and national consultancy evaluation consultancy, Heritage Insider provided by internal colleagues and colleagues and several consultants have helped us to understand what external specialists such as a Volunteering and contractors, for example specialist difference our project made and to Development Consultant. conservators to help improve the share our journey. condition of the collection, a consultant

1 April 2015 2 June 2016 January 2017 June 2018 September 2019 March 2020 First round NLHF Round two application Project delivery starts Interim project report New Studio All four new rooms application submitted submission to NLHF complete and circulated interpretation launched now open to visitors

July 2015 September 2016 March 2018 March 2019 October 2019 September 2020 Project development Round two NLHF Timed ticketing Nobel Prize in Outdoor audio Project completion stage begins application pass and daily Highlights Literature tour goes live tours begin re-displayed

Welcome to Churchill’s Chartwell Page 7 ‘I think the Visitors’ Book… making the most of the Securing Churchill’s legacy fantastic research we have Our project was inspired by the opportunity to buy some of Churchill’s possessions and to use them to help deepen audiences’ understanding of and resonance with Churchill. done, this will be used for A collection of 1,021 objects ranging from Churchill’s Nobel Prize in Literature and hundreds of years to come to medal collection to books he was given and even the Visitors Book for Chartwell is now work out who Churchill was.’ owned by the National Trust to care for and share with its visitors in forever. Volunteer

Page 8 Welcome to Churchill’s Chartwell Once acquired, the project then We shared this process with over 40,000 were initially indecipherable but the embarked on a mission to conserve visitors who witnessed the conservation detective work of the team mean that now and better understand the collection. of Churchill’s possessions in action; only six remain a mystery. The team have 15 priority objects in most need were revealing the work it takes to care for given thousands of hours of their time in conserved and 920 inscribed books such a collection. researching the signatures, writing the condition checked, catalogued, biographies and sourcing photographs The Visitors Book is a ‘hero’ object researched and conserved. Volunteers for an informative and interactive digital because it holds signatures from 752 and staff members of the Chartwell team visitors book that current day visitors to industrialists, politicians, iconic actors, were trained by professional conservators Chartwell can now explore. gardeners and even members of the to assess the conservation need of the Royal family who visited the Churchill’s A combination of improved systems, book collection whilst another crack at Chartwell. better information, enriched staff skills, volunteer research team was assembled enlarged, enthused and better trained to find out more about the objects and Our volunteer research team took up the volunteer team and a Heritage Trainees reveal new insights into Churchill and his challenge of researching the signatures scheme has increased our ability to better family’s life at Chartwell. to bring alive the stories of these people. care for and manage the collection. It was not an easy task. 132 signatures

What difference did we make? Heritage is now better identified/recorded

Heritage is now better managed

Heritage is now in better condition

Welcome to Churchill’s Chartwell Page 9 Re-telling Churchill’s story Chartwell was completely remodelled by Churchill to ensure the house met his exact requirements. It was a place for Churchill to work, paint, write and relax with his family as well as entertain close friends and relations away from the pressures of political life. Chartwell provides the perfect setting to engage visitors in the different sides to this national icon and this section explores some of the ways in which this has been achieved through the project.

‘Art studio very, very moving and let us witness more of Churchill.’ Local resident

Page 10 Welcome to Churchill’s Chartwell Our project team have found it helpful The Churchill’s Chartwell project has helped make major steps forward in the ‘The setting, and the decor of to talk to visitors and target audiences quality, range and amount of interpretation available to visitors at Chartwell. when planning and development our new rooms, it gives a real sense of suite of interpretation. This has helped what it must have been like New ‘dressed’ rooms including Treehouse for families Digital Visitors Book us make decisions about content and the Churchill’s Bedroom and to play in as Churchill’s to leaf through when he lived there.’ way we offer interpretation to visitors to Bathroom, Sitting Room Annex children did Stakeholder make sure our stories are conveyed in the and Secretaries Office most engaging and effective ways. Improving the impact Highlights tours of items such as medals and Nobel New ways to tell the story Prize through better of Churchill at Chartwell Family guide display

Conservation in A programme of Action on the community exhibitions visitor route Outdoor audio tour to link the house and garden

Major redisplay and interactive Themed timed tickets to in the art Studio to reveal welcome visitors to the Churchill’s creative side house as a guest of Churchill

Visitors are now spending time in the historic figure. Innovating in this way What difference did we make? new spaces, using the audio guides and to find relevance with contemporary Heritage is better interpreted learning is taking place. Children are using society is business critical for a site their imaginations more and adults are like Chartwell for whose subject People have changed perceptions/ showing an increased interest in the story. matter drops from living memory behaviours within families. We feel the project’s greatest success People have an enjoyable experience has been making the story relevant and relatable to visitors and provoking a deeper emotional connection by using ‘I wasn’t alive during the war, but my parents were... the new interpretation to make history It’s been very important to pass on that living history come alive. We have used the new objects and research from our volunteers to help to children and through them to their parents who us tell a more personal story; giving us have no link of that time. It’s been very worthwhile.’ all a glimpse into the man behind the Volunteer

Welcome to Churchill’s Chartwell Page 11 ‘I have actually taken children from disadvantaged backgrounds and children with dyslexia and just for them to be able to have that chance. They have all started to talk more and the teamwork is great.’ Teacher

Page 12 Welcome to Churchill’s Chartwell Bringing Chartwell to the heart of the community

Our Activity Plan set out an ambitious of and inspired 503 young participants has helped us deliver outreach but has ‘pan-generational’ programme to reach (expanding provision from mainly also proved a valuable asset for enriching communities both the local geographic private schools to ensure pupils at state the visitor experience, for example, to community and the Churchill community schools benefit) with a workshop at provide a focus for our volunteer team to of interest in the UK and beyond. Chartwell, followed by in-school outreach talk to visitors. sessions and culminating in a speech day As part of this we wanted to develop our Community exhibitions have been a competition. learning programme, in particular for Key project high point with nearly 42,000 Stage 4 and above students. In addition Our creative programming and outreach visitors enjoying them (vastly exceeding to INSET for 90 teachers and onsite work has helped to increase awareness our target of 7,500) and thousands more schools sessions, we developed one-week and profile of the Chartwell’s heritage taking part in outreach sessions from work placements consisting of varied amongst the local community. 76% of residents of care homes to mental health tasks across different teams. 61 students local residents polled, feel that Chartwell groups and local schools. gained invaluable skills, confidence is an important part of their community For example, artist Mary Hooper helped and practical hands-on experience life and 95% feel really proud that us to offer an art programme themed of Chartwell as a workplace and the Chartwell and Sir Winston Churchill’s around the impact that painting and National Trust’s work. This came at a vital history is a part of their community. the outdoors had upon Churchill. This moment for some students considering We have built a high-quality handling included a winter trail which, along with their futures beyond school and applying collection with items carefully selected our new outdoor audio guide has helped for university places for their size, shape and tactile nature, to address the seasonal peaks and troughs Churchill’s reputation as a world-class ease of contextualisation and fit with of visitation with increases in winter orator was inspiration for our public our Spirit of Place (avoiding too many monthly visitors between 6 and 20%. speaking programme. This build the skills war-related items). This rich resource

What difference did we make? More people and a wider range of people have engaged with heritage

The local area is a better place in which to live and work

People have learnt about heritage

Welcome to Churchill’s Chartwell Page 13 Page 14 Welcome to Churchill’s Chartwell Empowering our people

The Churchill’s Chartwell project has • Primary and secondary teachers built Our more robust, resilient volunteer helped us empower our people with high- on their own historical knowledge team now participate in a volunteering quality, wide ranging training and skills and skills to engage students in programme which is more varied, development opportunities, for example: Churchill’s story enjoyable and supported. The volunteer team is now bigger (increasing active • 148 volunteers participated in Making • Many members of our staff team volunteer numbers from 265 to 570 Visits Meaningful sessions to develop have noted personal growth and over a variety of roles), better trained, skills in storytelling, listening and development whilst others reported confident, better connected and more engaging with visitors. This has helped feeling a greater sense of pride and a diverse. Individual volunteers benefitted to reduce visitor complaints and feeling of accomplishment. from the project in a range of ways from increase compliments We have also invested in the next well-being, inspiration, purpose and • Collection research volunteers have generation of workforce through motivation to socialising, feeling valued developed their research, writing and Heritage Traineeships, short work and part of a team. summarising skills. Many volunteers experience opportunities and longer A range of new roles were developed now feel confident to carry out the work placements. Heritage Trainees and a focus flexible volunteering research after the project and have have developed skills in conservation, opportunities to attract a wider range of been amazed at what they have been cataloguing and collections management people by fitting with changing lifestyles. able to achieve developed skills in research, A volunteering toolkit and case study are conservation, interpretive design and • Staff and volunteers have gained now available to share in more detail our salvage processes. collections management and care lessons learnt. skills for example, book condition assessments which will help us to look after our unique collection in the future ‘I have had three years of working with schools and What difference did we make? increasing my personal People have volunteered time development. I can now take that into future volunteering People have developed skills roles, it has been valuable for The National Trust is more resilient my learning and development.’ Volunteer

Welcome to Churchill’s Chartwell Page 15 Page 16 Welcome to Churchill’s Chartwell Our project hacks

Hack #1 Put people at the heart of the early stages of developing ideas use a risk You can plan ahead to reduce the impact ensure that people feel that they are project – Building your project team into ‘o’ meter to start a discussion on how of staff members leaving and new ones contributing to something bigger and the core of your wider property team much creative risk and innovation you all needing time to get up to speed with have greater ownership of what you’re (rather than in a stand-alone team) will feel comfortable with. a complex project. For example, make doing together. help to make sure that after the project sure you set-up great handover systems iskometer And of course, don’t forget ends short term staff don’t ‘take the R for project staff before they’re needed. Moderate to say thank you – it goes project momentum with them’ but it is te Mo Think about asking key project staff to ra de a long way. de H ra instead shared across the whole team. o w ig te keep a reflective diary where they can M Lo h

jot down key conversations, things that

Making sure the people who will be there H

w i happen, ideas forming etc as and when g o after the time limited project ends, also h L they occur. Reading this can help provide have ownership of the project, will help a fast-track way for people covering there to be good levels of buy-in to what Low High roles or new staff to get up to speed the project have produced. This is key Hack #3 Gather information to help and understand the project and role to making sure the management and you pick the best solutions for your better than traditional handover notes maintenance of this is easily integrated property. Look far and wide for examples alone. Writing the reflective diary also into the day-to-day work of the property of where audiences are getting engaged has the added benefit of providing an team. Make sure that volunteers, in the ways you want them to. Do opportunity for project staff to reflect stakeholders and audiences have a your own research on what’s right for on how things are going and make ‘voice’ within your project too and that your visitors, talk to them and find out adjustments to approach as well as those voices are diverse to ensure you’re more about how they want to explore providing valuable evaluation data. relevant and representative. your property. Use this information to Hack #5 Communication is king. This model can also help to create a carefully plan what can and can’t be Proactively encourage a flow of stronger ripple effect of the project achieved within the skills, resources, information through meetings, morning within your property and beyond. internal guidelines and information you briefings, newsletters and end of have available to you. Don’t forget to season meetings. Staff, volunteers and ‘[The key to success is] Hack #2 Take creative risks – Exploring try out your ideas again with your target stakeholders all value clear, regular the boundaries of the range, style and audiences to help refine them and make communication without communication especially when a project content of interpretation methods and sure they’re as effective as possible. question! That’s an umbrella is afoot. In particular talk about not just new ways of developing content, such what needs to be done but what you of everything, outreach, staff, as co-production with audiences can Hack #4 Plan for change. Whilst it’s want to achieve and when you hoping to volunteers.’ help to develop fresh new approaches. sensible to try to reduce the amount achieve it by. Relate this back to the long- Embracing creative risk helps to push the of turnover of project staff it’s a fact Chartwell team member term vision for your property to boundaries and try new things. In the of life for any time-limited project.

Welcome to Churchill’s Chartwell Page 17 Where next? Churchill’s Chartwell project has begun our 50-year mission to maintain the presentation of Chartwell as a much-loved family home for the next 50 years, whilst inspiring a new generation to engage with Churchill’s history, his love of Chartwell and how he continues to impact our lives today.

Page 18 Welcome to Churchill’s Chartwell At Chartwell we now have the For example... opportunity to use the momentum • More ways in which visitors can access Chartwell and Churchill’s story generated by this project and the Visitor • Enhanced storytelling with appeal to a wider range of audiences capacity it has built. We can use this offer • Expansion of visitor offer e.g. new rooms and play to continue to evolve the visitor • Put Chartwell more ‘on the map’ with the local community offer and build the resilience of, and • Identified barriers that audiences face and started to address these business case for, the property to see it through the next 45 years of its vision. For example... We would like to continue to the • Chattels held and managed in perpetuity and in better fresh thinking that the project Collection conditions through focussed conservation work helped bring so that we can stay • Improved inventory and digitisation of collections dynamic and keep the visitor • Researching the material culture of the new acquisitions offering sharp. We already have our sights on a next major project to open up more rooms on the visitor route (open stores, exhibition For example... rooms and move the offices). • Property team strengthened and increased experience and skills Capacity • Increased volunteer capacity • Partnerships and relationship with community • Investing in the future workforce

Welcome to Churchill’s Chartwell Page 19 Thank you To the supporters of the Churchill’s Chartwell Project; 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.

To all of the National Trust team of staff and volunteers without whom this project would not have happened – your hard work, passion and dedication were essential project ingredients.

To the Advisory Group for bringing fresh perspectives and expert insights.

Finally to the many individuals and organisations whose support and valued contributions are too numerous to list – a heartfelt thank you.

Main images © National Trust Images//Chris Lacey/Rachael Warren/Sam Milling/ James Dobson/Robert Morris/Kate York/Topfoto

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