Trust trip reveals a box of delights
Trust members much enjoyed an exclusive visit to Sir Edward Heath’s former home in Salisbury; Gillian Livingstone reports
In October, a group of Preservation Trust members ventured forth to visit Arundells House, situated in the Cathedral Close of Salisbury. It was a pleasure and a privilege to have exclusive access to the residence of the former Prime Minister, Sir Edward Heath and to participate in the carefully curated tour of his house and possessions.
Arundells House itself has a fascinating history which is reflected in its distinctive architectural styles. Originally a medieval canonry, it has been restored several times: in 1609 by the parliamentarian, Sir Richard Mompesson, and later in 1718, by the author John Wyndham. Sadly, after World War II, when it was used by the Red Cross to store books and wool, it fell into disrepair. After many years of neglect, the Cathedral Chapter, who were responsible for the Close, felt the only option was demolition. In 1964, the leasehold was sold for a token amount to Mr and Mrs Robert Hawkings who undertook extensive refurbishment and rescued the building: a story that may be familiar to members of the Preservation Trust.
Sir Edward Heath’s association with Arundells began in 1985 when it appears he made the purchase on impulse; it was the first and only property he owned. (When his tenure as Prime Minister ended in 1974, he was effectively homeless, and the civil service proposed using Kensington Palace to house him and other former PMs.) The interior designer, Derek Frost was tasked to modernise the house while maintaining the style of the Queen Anne original. He also designed the cabinets to present the trophies and awards, which form a significant part of any tour.
Leaving an enduring legacy was important to the former Prime Minister. When he died in July 2005, the estate valued at £5 million was bequeathed to the Sir Edward Heath Charitable Foundation with two main objectives. The first was to preserve the house and its contents as a place of historic interest.
The signed photograph of Fidel Castro in the drawing room, the gift of two 18th century vases from Chairman Mao and a barometer from President Nixon are a testament to Sir Edward Heath’s place in history and the respect he gained from world leaders of all political complexions.
Heath furnished the house with valuable paintings and ceramics by contemporary and established artists according to his taste and interests, which explains the eclectic nature of his collection. On our visit we saw the five scale models of his yacht, Morning Cloud, three delicate replicas of ships which Napoleonic prisoners of war had made from fragments of bone, and ‘The Inland Sea Series’, a collection of beautiful Japanese woodblock prints by Hiroshi Yoshida, which recreate the gradations of light on a seagoing vessel at different times of the day. (On reflection, there is perhaps a common theme....)
His delight in music was equally evident. We saw the impressive Steinway grand piano in the drawing room and the extensive collection of musical scores and recordings in the library, which with its comfortable chair and pleasant views (pictured above) gave the impression of a more intimate and more frequented space.
Heath made significant, life-long friendships at Oxford and serving in the army: several information boards in the house reveal a little about these enduring relationships. One board relates his perilous journey to Germany in 1939 in the company of fellow graduate, Madron Siegler, ‘who insisted on pulling out his penny whistle, playing once again the same old tunes, I had heard incessantly for the last three weeks.’ They had a ‘flaming row’ but resolved their differences. Siegler was a frequent visitor to Arundells, so much so a room is named after him. Another board tells of Heath’s relationship with his commanding office Major George Chadd, formed during his military service. Heath was best man at his wedding and became godfather to his son Christopher. Chadd recognised Sir Edward’s musical talent, and asked him to form a battery band. They once hid in the back of an ambulance they had ‘borrowed’ to run through some tunes when their signature piece, When You’re Smiling, was overheard by the CO’s driver and they were discovered!
The second objective of the Edward Heath Foundation was to ensure continued public access to the house and gardens. However, the journey from private residence to public asset has not been without difficulties. In 2008, following Heath’s wishes, the ground-floor rooms were opened to the public and over the next four years the house attracted over 45,000 visitors. The original planning permission for the foundation only extended to three years, after which its financial viability was to be assessed. In 2010 the Trustees judged the scheme was not self-financing and decided the only option was to put the property on the market. There was an instant reaction from grassroots activists who formed the Friends of Arundells and appealed to the Charity Commission to delay the sale.
The dispute was eventually resolved through the intervention of Heath’s former political secretary, Peter Batey, who as a successful businessman was able to secure funding in the short term. His efforts gained support from leading political figures, including Tony Benn, who despite their political differences was a close friend and a frequent visitor to Arundells. The Foundation then applied to Wiltshire Council for planning permission to allow the house and gardens to open on a permanent basis.
It seemed that Arundells’ future would be secure – until residents in the Cathedral Chapter raised objections in a letter to the council. They were concerned that continued public access ‘might change the character of the area’ by ‘reinforcing the element of commerciality’. Nevertheless, in 2013, permanent planning permission was granted and Arundells was finally able to continue as a visitor attraction and a centre for charitable activity that would reflect Heath’s interests. A year later, the first-floor rooms were opened, by Douglas Hurd, and visitors could enter Heath’s study with its stately desk which originally belonged to David Lloyd George.
So, is Arundells worth visiting and is it of historic interest? I would say, yes. Apart from the physical presence of intriguing artefacts and memorabilia, there is a clear sense of Edward Heath the person. He was a self-made man from humble origins with an artistic bent, and an ‘old school’ politician who valued friendships over politics and found space and time to pursue his passions. He deserves the legacy that is Arundells.
