19 August 2010

A butterfly house where Winston Churchill took refuge in the turbulent post war years has been renovated by the National Trust.

 The former prime minister and wartime leader converted a summer house in the grounds of his home Chartwell in Kent at the end of the Second World War.

The building, which fell into disrepair in the 1950s, became a refuge of peace in the turbulent post war years where, despite his heroics during the war, Churchill was defeated in the general election.

Now the National Trust is breeding butterflies for the first time in 50 years in the newly refurbished butterfly house, which has been opened to the public.

So far painted ladies and peacock butterflies have fluttered out into the garden.

The Trust consulted the plans of the local 'butterfly farmer' L. Hugh Newman, who completed the work in 1946, to make sure the butterfly house is recreated as Churchill would have known it.

Once the butterfly house was completed he would sit on the benches and watch the butterflies emerge from the chrysalis before releasing them into the garden.

Dr Martin Warren, Chief Executive of Butterfly Conservation, said it is an insight into the true character of the man who led Britain to victory in the Second World War.

"It's amazing to think that Churchill was planning this butterfly house at the start of the war, no doubt a welcome distraction from the weighty affairs of state," he said.

"He always had an interest as young lad, as a politician he could not indulge his passion but it was always in the back of his mind. After the war he was actually able to enjoy it.

"I think it must have been a great stress relief release to potter in his garden and indulge his childhood interest.

"We know butterflies are symbols of freedom and beauty and I am guessing that is was one way of dealing with everything he had seen," he added.