Quebec House: Echoes of the Clash of Empires in a Quiet English Village
Photo credit: National Trust for Canada. Caption: Quebec House recalls the tumult of the Seven Years War.
Nestled in the little village of Westerham, Kent, about 20 miles (32km) south of London, lies a modest Georgian town house with an outsized link to Canadian history.
Quebec House was the childhood home of Major General James Wolfe (1727-1759), leader of the British forces at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759. Today the house is owned by the National Trust (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) and operates as a historic site dedicated to exploring the childhood roots and military career of one of the best known military figures in Canada’s history. It is at once a study of family life in the 1730s and the impact of Wolfe’s military career.
House and Home
Originally built in the mid-sixteenth century, the L-shaped timber-frame house was expanded in the 1630s to a rectangular plan. In 1726, Wolfe’s parents, Edward and Henrietta, rented the house.
Edward Wolfe was a British military officer, reaching the rank of Lieutenant General in 1747. Like his son, he fought in wars that had an impact on the evolving shape of Canada, including the War of the Spanish Succession. A year after Edward and Henrietta moved to the house, their first son, James, was born. The family later expanded to include a second son, also named Edward.
Photo credit: National Trust for Canada. National Trust for Canada Executive Director Patricia Kell visits the salon at Quebec House with colleagues from the National Trust (L to R), Ben Dames, Freddie Matthews and Ghazala Jabeen.
The family moved out of the house in Westerham in 1738. Following in his father’s footsteps, James joined the army, receiving his first commission at the age of 14 in 1741. By the time of the siege of Quebec, Wolfe had advanced to the rank of Major General and had served in Europe, Scotland and in earlier battles of the Seven Years War. The Battle of the Plains of Abraham was Wolfe’s greatest military triumph and an event that continues to resonate in Canadian society. It also cost him his life.
Gift from a Canadian
The home in Westerham was eventually purchased by Canadian philanthropist James Learmont. In 1918, he left the house to the National Trust in his will to be “utilized and maintained in perpetuity in memory of the late Major General James Wolfe.”
Learmont’s widow, Charlotte, played a vital role as the house was furnished in the style of a Georgian family and materials were collected to tell the story of the life and death of James Wolfe.
Photo credit: National Trust for Canada. Caption: Surrounded by some of the many renderings of Benjamin West’s 1770 painting The Death of General Wolfe.
Visiting Quebec House
Quebec House today includes period furnished rooms, a school room, period games, and an exhibit of military items. Scented displays and audio soundscapes enhance the immersive effect in some of the period rooms.
The domestic flavour of the home is enhanced by the survival of Mrs. Wolfe’s recipe book. It is a remarkable collection of recipes not only for food but also remedies and other household needs. This exceptional resource has inspired a cooking program. If you arrive on the right day, samples are available!
Mrs. Wolfe’s Light Cake
Ingredients
- 4 eggs
- 6 oz sugar (approximately 150g or 210 ml)
- 4 oz plain flour (approximately 115 g or 215 ml)
- 1 tsp orange flower water* (5 ml)
- Zest of a lemon
- 2 oz ground almonds (approximately 30g or 120 ml)
Method
Beat eggs and sugar until they look like cream. Add the zest and orange flower water. Sift in the flour and ground almonds and combine. Put into a greased and lined 8” (20cm) tin. Cook at 190 oC (375 oF) for 15-20 minutes until risen and golden.
*Orange flower water – Mrs. Wolfe might not approve but orange juice or vanilla or almond extract could be used as substitutes.
Credit: National Trust for Canada. Caption: Mrs. Wolfe’s historic recipes add flavour to a visit to Quebec House.
The house is accompanied by an 18th century garden, where visitors can sit out and explore flowers and plants from the Georgian era.
Quebec House is hosting A Georgian Operatic Christmas on weekends from November 22 to December 21, 2025, 11am-2:30pm (last entry). Miniature and life-sized scenes will be set out in the rooms, with soundscapes and creative visuals and cooking in the kitchen.
If you visit
- Your membership in the National Trust for Canada gives you free entry to 1000+ places worldwide, including Quebec House. Remember to bring your membership card!
- Visits to Quebec House are on a timed entry system. On weekends, visits are self-guided with volunteers on hand to welcome you to the house and answer questions.
- The site can be accessed by car, train, bus, or bicycle. Consult their website for more details.
- Plan to spend 1.5 to 3 hours at the site. While in the area, you might also like to visit Chartwell, family home and garden of Sir Winston Churchill.
