November 9, 2025

The World of Churchill Collectables

By BRIAN KRAPF

This rare picture postcard was a delightful find many years ago and gives a glimpse into how the Churchills lived in the early twentieth century. Shown here are the dozen people who made up the household staff of the Churchills at 33 Eccleston Square in 1912. During the Edwardian era, it took a large staff to run the domicile of a person of standing.

Unfortunately, only one of the twelve staff is identified; from a penciled notation on the back, Miss Chick is second from the right in the front row. The Churchill family had resided at Eccleston Square, near London’s Victoria Station, since Winston purchased the house in spring 1909. In May 1913, the Churchills moved to Admiralty House, the official residence of the First Lord of the Admiralty. The Eccleston Square house was then rented for the next three years to Sir Edward Grey, the Foreign Secretary.

Brian Krapf’s book A Churchill Treasury: Sir Winston’s Public Service through Memorabilia was published in 2024 and is available in the UK and North America.