Churchill, Chartwell & Jock the cat
When Winston Churchill was a schoolboy, he would end letters home by sending love to all his animals, naming them one by one. This love of animals endured throughout the 90 years of his life, and was well known by his family, friends, and associates. He would even receive animals as diplomatic gifts: black swans from the government of West Australia, kangaroos, even a lion that he sadly had to relinquish to London Zoo.
His home, Chartwell in Kent, was a veritable menagerie. Throughout his 40-year residence at the pretty estate, he kept a host of animal friends, including pigs, dogs and goats. But no animal captured Churchill’s heart more than his beloved cat, Jock.
Jock was a gift from Churchill’s dear friend, Sir John ‘Jock’ Colville. Churchill had owned cats before, but the little marmalade feline with four white paws and a white bib demanded special aff ection. He became a huge source of comfort and companionship to Churchill in the later years of his life (he is even pictured sitting on Churchill’s lap in his grandson’s wedding photo), and was at the statesman’s bedside when he died.
1. Katherine, Jock VI's carer 2. Chartwell in the late 19th century, when owned by the Campbell-Colquhoun family 3. A commemorative seat in the garden
Such was Churchill’s fondness for his pet that he wrote a special bequest that a cat of the exact colour and markings should always live at Chartwell. And that is why Jock VI has just arrived at the estate.
‘He is absolutely the King of the Castle,’ laughs Katherine Barnett, the House and Collections Manager, who has care of little Jock. ‘He has the run of 80 acres of beautiful grounds, and hundreds of volunteers adoring him and giving him treats. I think he does know what he’s come into because he’s gained a slightly more authoritative air!’
It must be noted that the previous Jock, Jock V, is still ‘alive and well’, but simply moved on with Katherine’s predecessor. ‘She had had him since he was a tiny kitten, so we decided it would be too cruel to separate them,’ explains Katherine.
Katherine joined the team at the National Trust property at the end of last year, and immediately found herself with the tricky task of finding a new Jock. ‘It was difficult, because the specifi cations are so precise. He had to have the four white paws and a white bib, but also be fairly young so he could adapt to his new grounds. And he had to be good with people.’
After searching in a number of rescue centres, Katherine finally discovered a perfect Jock at the Croydon Animal Samaritans. ‘He had been found earlier this year with paint matted into his fur. It is thought that he had been hiding in a shed from the storms, and knocked something on to himself. He was quite undernourished. Considering the time of year he was found, it is likely that he was an unwanted Christmas gift.’
Happily, the kitten’s fortunes were transformed, and he now holds the important role of fulfi lling Churchill’s posthumous wishes. And his new home would be the envy of many creatures (feline and human alike).
Chartwell sits on the top of a hill, with sweeping views over the Kent countryside. In fact, it is said that neither Churchill nor his wife cared for the architecture of the house, but were both so enraptured by its vista that they bought it anyway.
4. Jock VI assumes his rightful place on Churchill’s knee – a statue by Oscar Nemon, 1990 5. Churchill painted Tea At Chartwell (1928), based on this image 6. Blossom at Chartwell in the Weald of Kent
They moved there in 1924 after two years of extensive renovation. Churchill had high regard for Blenheim Palace, the place of his birth, so endeavoured to turn his own home into a mini version of it. The lakes that lie in front of the house were inspired by Blenheim, and Churchill was greatly involved in their design.
Inside, the house is more homely than grand. The National Trust has maintained it as it would have been in the 1930s when the Churchills lived there, and it really does have a familial, private feel. Churchill’s own paintings adorn the walls and the floral wallpaper chosen by his wife, Clementine, is still bright and cheery.
‘This was his place of comfort and refuge,’ explains Katherine. ‘When he was in London he had the cause of saving Britain on his shoulders, but Chartwell was the place where he would really only host close friends and family.’
A quiet family home it may have been, but there are many hints of great lives having played out there. One of the trinkets is a glass cockerel sent by Charles de Gaulle, given as a token of apology after he and Clementine Churchill had a disagreement during a dinner party. There are personal photos of the Queen in Churchill’s study, smiling during her coronation (when Churchill was still prime minister). There is also a visitors’ book, and one of the enthusiastic comments comes from none other than Charlie Chaplin. Rumour has it that he did his signature walk down one of the corridors to entertain the Churchill children.
From Churchill’s slippers, to his spectacles, to his private collection of books, there are more than 8,000 pieces in the Chartwell collection.
7. Fiona meets Jock VI 8. Churchill's desk with his family photographs and busts of Napoleon and Nelson biscuit Sevres
‘He would come back here and simply be Winston the loved husband and loved father,’ says Katherine. ‘There are countless letters between him and his wife in which they address each other by their nicknames: Pug [him] and Cat [her]. It is easy to forget that there was a man behind the legend.’
In fact, it was Churchill’s ability to inspire personal affection that enabled him to remain at Chartwell until his death. A great man in many ways, unfortunately the handling of money was not one of his strengths, and it seemed that in 1946 he would have to sell his beloved home.
However, his friend Lord Camrose came to the rescue by rallying a consortium of wealthy businessmen who then bought the property. The agreement was that the Churchills could live there until they both died, at which point it would be handed over to the National Trust.
In fact, the National Trust has managed the property since 1965 (Clementine decided to vacate it soon after her husband’s death) and it now attracts 200,000 visitors annually.
And, if they’re really lucky, they might just catch a glimpse of a handsome ginger cat named Jock.
For more information about Chartwell: 01732-868381, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chartwell
Croydon Animal Samaritans: 020-8681 0934 (shop), www.croydonanimalsamaritans.co.uk
His home, Chartwell in Kent, was a veritable menagerie. Throughout his 40-year residence at the pretty estate, he kept a host of animal friends, including pigs, dogs and goats. But no animal captured Churchill’s heart more than his beloved cat, Jock.
Jock was a gift from Churchill’s dear friend, Sir John ‘Jock’ Colville. Churchill had owned cats before, but the little marmalade feline with four white paws and a white bib demanded special aff ection. He became a huge source of comfort and companionship to Churchill in the later years of his life (he is even pictured sitting on Churchill’s lap in his grandson’s wedding photo), and was at the statesman’s bedside when he died.
1. Katherine, Jock VI's carer 2. Chartwell in the late 19th century, when owned by the Campbell-Colquhoun family 3. A commemorative seat in the gardenSuch was Churchill’s fondness for his pet that he wrote a special bequest that a cat of the exact colour and markings should always live at Chartwell. And that is why Jock VI has just arrived at the estate.
‘He is absolutely the King of the Castle,’ laughs Katherine Barnett, the House and Collections Manager, who has care of little Jock. ‘He has the run of 80 acres of beautiful grounds, and hundreds of volunteers adoring him and giving him treats. I think he does know what he’s come into because he’s gained a slightly more authoritative air!’
It must be noted that the previous Jock, Jock V, is still ‘alive and well’, but simply moved on with Katherine’s predecessor. ‘She had had him since he was a tiny kitten, so we decided it would be too cruel to separate them,’ explains Katherine.
Katherine joined the team at the National Trust property at the end of last year, and immediately found herself with the tricky task of finding a new Jock. ‘It was difficult, because the specifi cations are so precise. He had to have the four white paws and a white bib, but also be fairly young so he could adapt to his new grounds. And he had to be good with people.’
After searching in a number of rescue centres, Katherine finally discovered a perfect Jock at the Croydon Animal Samaritans. ‘He had been found earlier this year with paint matted into his fur. It is thought that he had been hiding in a shed from the storms, and knocked something on to himself. He was quite undernourished. Considering the time of year he was found, it is likely that he was an unwanted Christmas gift.’
Happily, the kitten’s fortunes were transformed, and he now holds the important role of fulfi lling Churchill’s posthumous wishes. And his new home would be the envy of many creatures (feline and human alike).
Chartwell sits on the top of a hill, with sweeping views over the Kent countryside. In fact, it is said that neither Churchill nor his wife cared for the architecture of the house, but were both so enraptured by its vista that they bought it anyway.
4. Jock VI assumes his rightful place on Churchill’s knee – a statue by Oscar Nemon, 1990 5. Churchill painted Tea At Chartwell (1928), based on this image 6. Blossom at Chartwell in the Weald of Kent They moved there in 1924 after two years of extensive renovation. Churchill had high regard for Blenheim Palace, the place of his birth, so endeavoured to turn his own home into a mini version of it. The lakes that lie in front of the house were inspired by Blenheim, and Churchill was greatly involved in their design.
Inside, the house is more homely than grand. The National Trust has maintained it as it would have been in the 1930s when the Churchills lived there, and it really does have a familial, private feel. Churchill’s own paintings adorn the walls and the floral wallpaper chosen by his wife, Clementine, is still bright and cheery.
‘This was his place of comfort and refuge,’ explains Katherine. ‘When he was in London he had the cause of saving Britain on his shoulders, but Chartwell was the place where he would really only host close friends and family.’
A quiet family home it may have been, but there are many hints of great lives having played out there. One of the trinkets is a glass cockerel sent by Charles de Gaulle, given as a token of apology after he and Clementine Churchill had a disagreement during a dinner party. There are personal photos of the Queen in Churchill’s study, smiling during her coronation (when Churchill was still prime minister). There is also a visitors’ book, and one of the enthusiastic comments comes from none other than Charlie Chaplin. Rumour has it that he did his signature walk down one of the corridors to entertain the Churchill children.
From Churchill’s slippers, to his spectacles, to his private collection of books, there are more than 8,000 pieces in the Chartwell collection.
7. Fiona meets Jock VI 8. Churchill's desk with his family photographs and busts of Napoleon and Nelson biscuit Sevres‘He would come back here and simply be Winston the loved husband and loved father,’ says Katherine. ‘There are countless letters between him and his wife in which they address each other by their nicknames: Pug [him] and Cat [her]. It is easy to forget that there was a man behind the legend.’
In fact, it was Churchill’s ability to inspire personal affection that enabled him to remain at Chartwell until his death. A great man in many ways, unfortunately the handling of money was not one of his strengths, and it seemed that in 1946 he would have to sell his beloved home.
However, his friend Lord Camrose came to the rescue by rallying a consortium of wealthy businessmen who then bought the property. The agreement was that the Churchills could live there until they both died, at which point it would be handed over to the National Trust.
In fact, the National Trust has managed the property since 1965 (Clementine decided to vacate it soon after her husband’s death) and it now attracts 200,000 visitors annually.
And, if they’re really lucky, they might just catch a glimpse of a handsome ginger cat named Jock.
For more information about Chartwell: 01732-868381, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chartwell
Croydon Animal Samaritans: 020-8681 0934 (shop), www.croydonanimalsamaritans.co.uk