Arundells facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Arundells
Front of Arundells from the Close
Location	59, The Close, Salisbury
OS grid reference	SU 14116 29644
Area	Wiltshire
Architectural style(s)	Queen Anne
Owner	Sir Edward Heath Charitable Foundation
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official name: Arundells
Designated	28 February 1952
Reference no.	1254399
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Arundells is a special house in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. It is a Grade II* listed building, which means it's very important historically and architecturally. This beautiful house was the home of Edward Heath, who used to be the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, from 1985 until he passed away in 2005.

Today, you can visit Arundells and its large garden. It is open to the public for five days a week from late March to late October each year.

Arundells: A Historic Home

The House's Long History

Arundells started as a home for a church official, called a canon, way back in the 1200s. Its first known resident was Henry of Blunston, who lived there from 1291 to 1316. Many canons lived in the house over the centuries. One interesting resident was Leonard Bilson, who was put in prison in 1571 for practicing magic.

Later, the house was rented out to other people. Sir Richard Mompesson rebuilt a large part of the house in the early 1600s. In 1752, the house got its current name, Arundells. This happened when the daughter of a later owner married James Everard Arundel.

Schools and Renovations

In the 1800s, Arundells was used as a school for girls, called Godolphin School, and also as a boarding school for boys. Godolphin School moved from Arundells after a serious illness spread in Salisbury.

During the Second World War, the house was used by the Red Cross to store books and wool. After the war, Arundells became very run down. People even thought about tearing it down! But in 1964, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hawkings bought the house and fixed it up.

Sir Edward Heath's Home

In 1985, Sir Edward Heath, who had been the British Prime Minister, bought Arundells. He was 69 years old at the time. He loved sailing, and the house was close to the Solent, a famous sailing area.

Sir Edward hired a famous interior designer, Derek Frost, to update the house. Frost made sure the house looked modern but still respected its old style. He designed special cabinets to show off Sir Edward's many awards. He also created unique furniture pieces that are still in the house today. Arundells was the first home Sir Edward ever owned. He had been Prime Minister from 1970 to 1974 and remained a Member of Parliament until 2001.

In 1993, Sir Edward bought the land the house stood on from Salisbury Cathedral. He did this to help the cathedral raise money for its restoration work.

A Public Legacy

After Sir Edward Heath passed away in 2005, he left Arundells to a charity called the Sir Edward Heath Charitable Foundation. His wish was for the house and everything inside it to be opened to the public. He wanted it to be a place where people could learn about history.

Visiting Arundells Today

Opening the Doors

The ground-floor rooms at Arundells first opened to the public in 2008. Many people visited the house in its first few years. In 2014, the charity opened some of the first-floor rooms for the first time. This included Sir Edward Heath's study, where he worked. His desk actually belonged to an earlier Prime Minister, David Lloyd George!

On the first floor, you can see items like Sir Edward's official boxes and his special banner from the Order of the Garter. The staircase has beautiful hand-painted Chinese wallpaper. It shows scenes from old legends.

Support from Famous Faces

Many important political figures have supported keeping Arundells open to the public. For example, Tony Benn, a former Labour politician, was a close friend of Sir Edward Heath. He said he knew the house and visited Sir Edward there after he retired.

Another famous story involves Roy Jenkins, a friend of Sir Edward Heath since their college days. He once looked out from a guest bedroom at Arundells towards Salisbury Cathedral. He said the view was one of the ten best in the country. Sir Edward Heath famously replied, "Why, what are the other nine?"

Arundells is open to visitors five days a week from late March to early November. It is closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The house also hosts private events, like music performances and talks.

Arundells' Amazing Collections

The house is filled with a unique collection of items that show Sir Edward Heath's life. They reflect his time in public service, his love for art, and his skills in music and sailing. You can see many paintings, drawings, and ceramics from Europe and Asia. There are also sailing items and political souvenirs.

• Art Collection: This includes paintings by famous artists like Churchill, Lowry, and Sickert. There are also beautiful Japanese woodblock prints.
• Asian Art: You can see an 8th-century horse from the Tang dynasty. There's also a 16th-century Ming bowl. Plus, there are two vases from the Qianlong dynasty, given to Heath by Chairman Mao Zedong.
• Music: Sir Edward Heath's own Steinway piano is on display. You can also see other musical items and souvenirs.
• Sailing Memorabilia: This collection includes paintings of boats and photos. There are also models of the five Morning Cloud yachts that Sir Edward Heath raced.
• Political Cartoons: You can see original political cartoons by famous artists. These cartoons show funny moments from Sir Edward Heath's political life. They include his rivalries with Harold Wilson and Margaret Thatcher. They also show Britain joining the European Community in 1973.

Among the many artworks, you can find Yachts at Sea by L. S. Lowry. There are also two paintings by Sir Winston Churchill. Sir Edward Heath received these from Churchill himself in the 1950s. One of them is special because it's signed 'WSC' twice! You can also see works by John Piper, including two views of Arundells. There are also paintings by John Singer Sargent, Augustus John, Walter Sickert, and Ken Howard. The Japanese woodblock prints by Utamaro and Hiroshi Yoshida are also very popular.

The Charitable Trust

Arundells is owned and managed by the Sir Edward Heath Charitable Foundation. This charity was set up according to Sir Edward Heath's will. Its main goal is to keep the house open to the public.

When Sir Edward Heath passed away, he left his property to this Foundation. The house first opened to the public in 2008. At first, it was hard for the charity to make enough money to keep the house running. They even thought about selling it.

However, many local supporters, called the 'Friends of Arundells', wanted the house to stay open. They worked hard to make sure it did. In 2012, a group of Sir Edward Heath's former political advisors stepped in to help. They offered to provide money to cover costs and improve how the house was managed.

This plan was accepted in 2013. Now, Arundells is set to remain open to the public permanently. The Foundation also organizes lectures, seminars, and exhibitions. These events cover topics like Sir Edward Heath's military career, his love for music and sailing, and his role in British politics.

See Also

• Arundell family