Hand Written Letter to Mr. Morrell from Winston Churchill

Letter addressed to Philip Morrell, concerning the National Land and Housing Demonstration, 1907.
2 pages, 203 × 126 mm
Dated 22 April 1907, written recto and verso of the first leaf of a bifolium of Colonial Office stationery, embossed crest at the head.
Light crease from folding, a little soiled at the fold on the verso of second leaf, overall very good.

Churchill writes to Morrell, MP for South Oxfordshire, (philandering husband of Lady Ottoline Morrell), and in this context chairman of the executive of the National Land and Housing Demonstration, thanking him for the “trouble & all you expended upon the arrangements for the Drury Lane Meeting”. More specifically he is grateful for “the help you gave me in the preparation of my speech upon such a v[er]y difficult & to me new subject.”
The purpose of the organization was to extend local authority powers of compulsory purchase for the provision of small holdings, allotments and “workmen’s houses in town and country.”

Accompanied by a copy of the “Programme of the National Land and Housing Demonstration”,
quarto. (280 × 222 mm)
4pp.
A little browned and soiled, creases from old folds, rust marks.

Events included a lunch at the Holborn restaurant addressed by the prime minister, the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane “demonstration” at which Churchill spoke, and a performance of a selection of inspirational songs by a choir under the direction of T.D. Hawkin, audience participation encouraged.

A good early letter showing Churchill throwing himself into campaigning for Liberal social issues.

Item #272