Within the world of politics, there are some seriously grand homes. Some, like Dorneywood, are somewhat marred by controversy these days, but others seem to have real status, such as the historic Blenheim Palace. Check out what I think are the most iconic homes of UK politicians below.
Chequers
I thought Id take a look at Chequers first, as its the official country residence of the British prime minister – and has acted in this capacity since 1921.
Essential facts:
• Location: Near Ellesborough in Buckinghamshire
• Function: Official country residence of the British prime minister
• Open to the public?: No
Theres been a house on this site all the way since the 11th century, which is pretty impressive. The mansion that sits here today, though, actually dates back to the 16th century. As youve probably guessed, the house wasnt always in the hands of the government – so how did it get there?
It came about as a result of the Chequers Estate Act 1917, which followed lengthy discussions with the prime minister at the time, David Lloyd George. Basically, following the first world war, people realised that the world of politics was changing – key figures no longer had large country estates where they could entertain foreign dignitaries.
As a solution, it was decided official residences would be created. With that, Chequers became the country retreat of the prime minister and has remained so ever since.
Blenheim Palace
A name youre very likely to recognise, Blenheim Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a top tourist attraction. While its not actually the home of a current political figure, it is famous for being the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.
Essential facts:
• Location: Woodstock, near Oxford
• Function: Official residence of the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough
• Open to the public?: Yes
Surrounded by a whopping 2,000 acres of landscaped parkland, Blenheim Palace is easily one of the most impressive residences to be associated with the UKs political scene. Churchill was born here in 1874 and, in fact, you can even see the room he entered the world in during a tour of the house.
What I think is especially interesting about Blenheim and Churchill is that, despite the fact he never owned the house, it was always clear that this was where his roots laid. As well as spending his early years here, he even proposed to his future wife in the grounds and, while hes not buried on site, you can see the tower at Bladon – where he was laid to rest – from certain points of the palace.
Insuring your Palace for less!
Now, I suppose its fairly unlikely youll have a house that quite matches Chequers or Blenheim Palace in terms of sheer scale, but its no less important to make sure you have decent insurance. I always find all the different insurance packages you need – buildings and contents cover, car insurance etc – really adds up, so if you can find a way to cut the cost, its well worth doing so.
If youre in the civil service and are a member of a union, like Prospect union, theres good news – you can join a club designed specifically for civil service members and get the chance to take advantage of loads of great deals. This includes offers like getting ten per cent off home and car insurance, with the former incorporating both buildings and contents cover.
