A painting of the gardens at Hever Castle by former Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill has been unveiled along with changes to the layout of the historic attraction to better tell the history of its ownership.
Dating from the 1930s the oil painting, View through an Arch at Hever depicts the Italian Garden at Hever Castle at the time it was owned by Churchill’s close friends, John Jacob Aster VJ (known as JJ) and Lady Violet Aster.
Churchill regularly visited Hever Castle from nearby Chartwell and painted at the historic building due to his friendship with fellow artist John Jacob Astor. Other paintings of the gardens at Hever Castle can be found in the house and studio at the family home of Sir Winston.
The unveiling of the painting also marks part of a re-curation of the Castle to retell the story of the families who lived there, starting with the Astors.
This re-curation follows new research revealed by Architectural Historian and former Chief Executive of English Heritage, Simon Thurley about the previous owners and history of the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. The new Churchill painting will be on display in the Inner Hall.