General James Wolfe spent the first eleven years of his life at Quebec House. His parents rented the house, then known as Spiers, in 1726 and James was born a year later.
Hidden behind a high brick wall, the square building has three distinctive gables on each side and is built of mellowed brick and Kentish ragstone.
The house was already 200 years old when the Wolfe family moved in. A single mullioned Tudor window survives but it was bricked up when the main staircase was built in the late 17th century.
Although many alterations were made to the house in the 18th and 19th centuries these have been swept away and the building has been returned to its 17th century appearance.
General Wolfe would still recognize the house with its low-ceilinged, panelled rooms.
Four of these rooms house a collection of portraits, prints and mementos relating to General Wolfe and his victory at Quebec in 1759.
Wolfe had been entrusted to capture Quebec during the struggle to drive the French from Canada.
Against great odds the General defeated the French by scaling the Heights of Abraham above the town. However, Wolfe was mortally injured in the battle and on learning that the French were giving way the General exclaimed, 'Now, God be praised, I will die in peace'.
General Wolfe was renowned for his courage, daring and ingenuity and on his death, at just 32 years old, he became part of English military history.
In the Bicentenary Room, to the left of the fireplace, is a pencil sketch of the General drawn by his aide-de-camp on a page torn from his pocket book during the campaign. Here too is the finely quilted dressing- gown in which the General's body was brought back to England. In the corner of the room is Wolfe's travelling canteen which contains luxurious items such as a glass decanter and cruet together with the more mundane objects such as a griddle and frying pan.
The Tudor stable block across the walled garden houses an imaginatively arranged exhibition describing the Quebec campaign and the parts played by General Wolfe and his adversary, the Marquis de Montcalm.
The house was renamed Quebec House to commemorate General Wolfe. He would no doubt be surprised that the house has become a place of pilgrimage. Canada has played a great role in the preservation of the building.
Mrs J.B. Learmont of Montreal left Quebec House to the National Trust and Canadian funds have not only contributed to the upkeep of the building but also enriched the collection of mementos.
2008:15 Mar-2 Nov:13:00-17:00 Wed-Sun; Garden & exhibition opens at 12:00. Open Bank Holiday Mons. Last entry 30mins before close.
Tel: 01732 866368 - Infoline Quebec House Website
