Yes, The famous Winston Churchill House is our den now !
As you all know by now that I have shifted recently and very proudly I want to share that we have been alloted the famous heritage bunglow called “THE RETREAT”.
 History says Sir Winston Churchill as a young sub altern stayed in this house ” The Retreat”  while on a visit to India. It is rumoured that when he went back to England and later become one of the most famous prime ministers of Britain, he gave a ‘royal’ pension of 1 pound to the orderly who served him here, and the orderly, though not named received this pension till his death.
The day my husband broke this news to me I was thrilled with joy. I grabbed my phone and surfed Google to dig into the history. I felt so fortunate to get a chance to live in such a historical bunglow.  I was waiting for the day when I would be stepping in the house and finally when I did  I fell in love with it at the first sight…..A  liminal phase started thereafter…. in terms of settling down since it is entirely different from the previous houses we were alloted. Not that this was the first time we have got a bunglow in services but this one is really old and huge. Not many renovations have been done and the original walls and architecture is still intact. I am doing it step by step. 
The heritage building was constructed in 1856. This is what I read on official website:
“Though many in the city are familiar with a some examples of built heritage within the cantonment limits, few are aware about the existence of structures like Deccan House, The Abbey and numerous other monumental buildings which have survived despite the passing of two centuries. Amongst buildings with high associational value is ‘The Retreat’, one of several quaint colonial bungalows, which served as Sir Winston Churchill’s residence in 1896. It was during his sojourn at Secunderabad that the redoubtable statesman first met his early flame Pamela Chichele-Plowden, daughter of the then British Resident at Hyderabad, at a polo match. Churchill, then a subaltern in the British army was the star performer of the meet and is said to have swept the lady off her feet. Their courtship, which lasted till 1902, was amicably terminated in England.”
Hoping to have a great tenure here. I AM LOVING IT. More pictures in next post.
9 Responses
Wonderful. Your are living in a wonderful place.Not only the house, but the complete atmosphere and I am sure the walls have stories to tell. Wonderful photos, especially the one of you with Winston.
Thanks a lot. Yes, it is a wonderful place to stay. The walls and pillars have a history to tell. Such charm….
OH wow!! Churchill lived here! the history and memories within! :O
Yes, absolutely Andy
And it has grass and a garden!!!!
Only in patches that too wild. Yes I have got an impressive entrance with some kaner trees which I have trimmed. Rest of the area is like a ground. I am planning to convert it into groves.
Was the picture you showed in your blog current or an old one? Looked like it had lots of flowers in front and some grass somewhere.
Fascinating story – looks like a wonderful place to live according to your photos… 🙂
Of course it is ! Fallen in love with it