This partnership has been made possible thanks to our strong and longstanding relationship with Simon Louagie, who manages Talbot House. We are immensely proud of this partnership and are delighted to continue our support through this sponsorship.
The background of Talbot House
The original building was constructed in the mid-18th century by a notable merchant family, but after a bomb attack in 1915, they fled to safer places, and the House was left unoccupied. The House was then rented to the 6th Division of the British Army during the First World War, where Chaplain Philip ‘Tubby’ Clayton transformed it into a soldiers' club for all ranks. He named it Talbot House in honour of his fallen friend, Lieutenant Gilbert Talbot.
Tubby was put in charge of the clubhouse and created a very homely atmosphere where the strict ranking of the British army did not apply. Whoever entered, entered as a person, not as a soldier or officer. Orders were also forbidden in Talbot House, with Tubby insisting that the house should be a place where soldiers could forget about the war for a while.
Thus, a unique and special place was created where soldiers could rest, write letters home, play music, and find spiritual comfort away from the horrors of the front line. Still today, the house echoes this original purpose everywhere you look, from the same piano still being played in the dining room, to the pen and paper ready for letter writing, or the laughter from those playing outdoor games in the gardens.
“They can write a letter home and tell your mum how your battlefields trip has been, you can do sketching in the garden, or play the original piano to bring the old music back to life, and in a heartbeat everyone understands what it’s about.” - Simon Louagie, Manager at Talbot House
Our story with Talbot House
The first stop on an Anglia itinerary in 1997 when Anglia was founded was Talbot House. In those early days the way into that soldiers’ ‘home from home’ was through the front door, just as the ‘boys’ would have entered over a hundred years ago. Talbot House has developed since then and so has Anglia, but the bond between us remains as strong as ever. We are immensely proud of our friendship and are delighted to continue our support with sponsorship, with visitors and with the occasional Anglia guide as a Warden.
Anglia was founded with the core purpose of delivering battlefield tours to France and Flanders. Whilst the company has grown steadily since 1997, the ethos of the company remains unchanged from when we organised our first tour. We count it a privilege to have the opportunity to promote and advance the learning of all who travel with Anglia regardless of age, status or background. We are passionate about providing opportunity - it should fire the imagination, moving and inspiring our groups to ask and answer questions of the present by engaging with the past. If this can be done over a cup of tea at Talbot House, then so much the better!
“It is a very lively place, and when you bring a school group of forty in, it certainly is that again, and that’s how it ought to be.” - Simon Louagie, Manager at Talbot House
Supporting a legacy for future generations
We’re honoured to support Talbot House through our new corporate partnership. Our contribution helps to maintain and restore this historic site, so that future generations may continue to experience this incredibly memorable and reflective place.
Talbot House helps visitors to think about the individuals behind the history and understand the human stories around the First World War. By bringing our students through its doors each year, we hope to help keep these stories alive and ensure future generations can continue to connect with this remarkable place.
We are passionate about bringing history to life and Talbot House helps make that possible. We’re honoured to play a small part in helping support its legacy for years to come.
