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Auction: 26066 - Historical Documents, Autographs and Ephemera
Lot: 1214

Great Britain
Chartwell Manor, Kent
Sir Winston S. Churchill (1874-1965)
1923-1924 The comprehensive detailed working correspondence between the prominent English architect, Philip Tilden (1887-1956) and his clients Winston and Clementine Churchill relating to the rebuilding and extending of Chartwell after its acquisition by Churchill in September 1922 for £5000.
The Tilden archive comprises 13 typed letters from Churchill dating from December 1923 to November 1924. Seven are signed "Winston S Churchill", one is initialled "WSC" and five are signed "WS Churchill". In addition there are numerous letters from Churchill's secretary on his behalf. The letters are written either from 2 Sussex Square W2 or from Chartwell Manor.
The first letter dated 22 December 1923 has an ink drawing by Churchill alongside a typed paragraph referring to an alteration required "to the backdoor entering the kitchen wing tower".
There are ten typed or handwritten letters or notes from Clementine Churchill relating to the ongoing works and "an estimate which is quite enormous", as well as a complaint about a cracked bidet in her bathroom.
The balance of the archive comprises some 280 pages of invoices, correspondence with contractors, suppliers of goods and services. Tilden and his practice managed the entire Chartwell project.
Matters covered involve costs, estimates, Churchill querying or challenging quotes, asking about tax relief and the ongoing progress.
The companies involved were White Allom & Co, G. Jackson & Sons Ltd, with an attached plan "for fibrous plaster columns to the dining room", Shanks & Co. Ltd (sanitary ware), Joseph Stevens & Co (Wine and Spirit Merchants' Engineers), Heal & Son Ltd, Tottenham Court Road, Helsen Brothers, Knight Frank & Rutley (re boiler insurance), Jos.F. Ebner Flooring Specialists, Comyn Ching & Co, (Brass Bronze & Iron Craftsmen), Brown & Sons (builders, plumbers, house decorators), Benham & Sons Ltd (Heating Engineers).
Chartwell was acquired by the National Trust in 1946 with Winston and Clementine Churchill retaining a life tenancy. The house was opened to the public in 1966.
An archive of great historical significance.

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Estimate
£8,000 to £10,000

Starting price
£7500