Arundells
The home of former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath in Salisbury Cathedral Close
Sharing the beauty of Arundells
After our guided tours have ended, many of our visitors tell us how much they have enjoyed the tour, giving them a completely new perspective on the owner, changing and enhancing their view of his personality, and he achieved in his long and varied career.
He would be thrilled and proud that the details of his life were being discussed in this positive way.
I think this is just as Sir Edward Heath would have wanted it, along with the visitors' opportunity to 'share the beauty of Arundells', the beautiful two acre garden, his fascinating and personal art collection, sailing and music memorabilia, and the homely lived-in aspect of the house itself.
I don't believe that he would have envisaged that our first year would be a complete sell-out with huge interest for the coming seasons, nor begin to understand the trials and complexities of its opening. He would be delighted of course with the outcome and renewed interest in his home and eventful life. This feedback makes it so worthwhile and rewarding for all of us, and it is clear from the comments that the visitors like to be welcomed into the house and be given a personal and informative tour of it. This is also worthwhile to our Trustees, who after encountering initial planning difficulties, persevered to open the house, thereby fulfilling and matching our obligations to part of Sir Edward's wishes in such a positive way, leaving more than just a footnote in history.
Although we anticipate opening for a limited time only, my guides and I feel privileged to be able to show off this beautiful house and its contents, being informative about the details, and relating stories, anecdotes, and also to hear laughter and conversation reverberating around the rooms, bringing his home to life. Our friendly, welcoming and intimate tours are appreciated by all our visitors (if the visitors' book and letters are anything to go by!), and return visits are frequent. The interior and feel of the house itself has been retained as he lived in it, and indeed almost as it was when he first moved here in 1985.
The Trustees of the Sir Edward Heath Charitable Foundation have given me the task of fulfilling this part of his will in opening the house to the public, and I have been very proud to be part of its success. I have learnt so much myself over the years working at Arundells, and met so many interesting people, that it has become a real pleasure to share my experiences with our new visitors.
I was initially employed by Sir Edward to help redesign the garden when he moved here in 1985, and having trained in horticulture, with more than a passing interest in music and art, remained working for him in many different capacities right up to his death in 2005.
I wish all our visitors a fascinating and richly memorable visit to the house and garden, and as Sir Edward generously quoted: 'to share the beauty of Arundells'.
