The Old Kitchen Garden used to supply Chartwell and during the war years No. 10 with fresh vegetables. The garden is surrounded by a sturdy red brick wall, which was laid by Churchill’s own fair hand:
He took justifiable pride in his skill and speed as a bricklayer: 90 bricks an hour was not uncommon. His achievements soon became public knowledge and in 1928 he took out a card as an adult apprentice in the Amalgamated Union of Building Trade Workers. *
His skillful work can be seen in the first two of these pictures and another view with the house of Chartwell in the background can be seen in my previous post. The garden today contains more flowers than vegetables.
*From the National Trust Guide Book
Oh I really love the colouring of the walls and flora.
I was most impressed with the skills of Sir Winston, that wall is really impressive!
That wall he built is outstanding. I have laid a few bricks in my time and it is far from easy to get it looking just right.
And such a height and topped of perfectly. Amazing!…..I didn’t know any of that before.
Although it was called Churchill’s wall I didn’t realise when I was visiting that he had built it. He was a man of many talents.
Versatile old chap, and not afraid of hard labour – huge contrast in so many ways to current mob, then …
Very much so, he was a man of many talents!