Churchill and the history made at Ditchley Park
Churchill first visited Ditchley in the 1930s as a guest of Ronnie Tree MP, steward of Ditchley Park and strong supporter of rearmament.
When Churchill became war time prime minister he asked to use Ditchley as his secret weekend retreat when the “moon was high” because his official country residence, Chequers, was too exposed to the risk of German attack.
Churchill visited 13 times in the early years of the war and, amongst a range of significant meetings here, hosted US Presidential envoy Harry Hopkins in order to persuade him of the case for American military support.
Letters from Clementine Churchill describe Churchill and Hopkins talking late into the night in the library, where Ditchley plenary sessions are now held. The chairman of a Ditchley conference stays in the bedroom used by Churchill.
Our Home at Ditchley Park
Ditchley Park is part of the world’s heritage and remains as central to our way of working now as it has ever been.
Ditchley Community
Our primary route to impact is through people, with an evolving community some thousands strong across different centres of modern power and in many countries. We continually bring in new people, perspectives, and expertise from all backgrounds.
Support Ditchley
To sustain and develop our programme we depend on visionary philanthropists, foundations, organisations and thoughtful doers who share our ethos and mission to sustain peace, freedom and the rule of law.