Arundells

One of the finest houses in Salisbury’s Cathedral Close, parts of the property date back to its origins as a 13th Century Canonry. Arundells is surrounded by two acres of tranquil gardens offering spectacular views of the Cathedral.

From 1985, Arundells was home to Sir Edward Heath KG, MBE, Prime Minister. Today it is presented largely as it was when he lived here, with gifts from famous leaders such as Richard Nixon, Chairman Mao and Fidel Castro, alongside collections of art, ceramics and sculpture.

The house features artwork by Sir Winston Churchill, L. S. Lowry, John Singer Sargent, John Piper, Walter Sickert, and Gwen and Augustus John, to name just a few.

The collection also includes curios from around the world, quirky objet d’art, memorabilia from Heath’s sailing career and a whole corridor of humorous political cartoons. Treasures from East Asia include hand painted Chinese wallpaper, and a stunning collection of Japanese woodblock prints.

Sir Edward’s Steinway piano and music memorabilia are on display. Pianists are very welcome play the piano.

The garden was redesigned in 1985 to Sir Edward’s wishes and much of the garden has remained unchanged over the intervening years. There is an interesting range of trees, including Mulberry, Magnolia, Yew, Liquidambar, Davidia and Birch.

Two particular features are the spectacular views of Salisbury Cathedral and the tranquil frontage to the confluence of two rivers – the Avon and the Nadder.

There are plenty of hidden spaces to explore; lots of nooks and crannies! Look out for the Victorian bronze figure of a girl holding a bowl by the sculptor G E Wade and the bow of Morning Cloud III, one of Sir Edward’s racing yachts. This is located within a quite wooded Dell and serves as a memorial to the two crew members who lost their lives when the yacht was sunk in a severe south-westerly gale in September 1974.

Arundells hosts events throughout the year, from outdoor theatre and music, to concerts, talks, workshops and guest exhibitions.