We started off the day with going to the Kilns, C.S. Lewis's home. I (Ryan) was very happy.
Lewis bought the Kilns from the inheritance he and his brother, Warnie, received when their father passed away. Apparently it was truly a bachelor pad in every sense. It receives the name "The Kilns" because it originally had two kilns beside it.
When Lewis died, Warnie sold parts of the land for development so he would have an income. When Warnie died, it was sold to a hippie couple who "revamped" the house in the 70s with a retro feel aka ruined it. They didn't take care of the house and eventually left the house which continued to fall apart throughout the years of its abandonment. It wasn't until the late 80s that an American couple would begin the restoration of the house through the Lewis foundation (which is found in California).
The couple that now takes care of the house and tours and such are from Chattanooga (the husband) and South Carolina ( the wife). He told me that the Arthur's were basically his parents and that he is in the pictures in the hallway at Precept Ministries. It is a small world.
One of A couple of desks that represents Lewis' desk in the house. This one is in his office next to his room upstairs. He wrote much of Narnia from this place.
This is his bed. Lewis passed away in this bed.
This is Warnie's actual typewriter that he used to type out letters of correspondence for Lewis as well as many drafts of Lewis' work.
The original Bird and Baby sign now resides at the Kilns. This is now known as the Eagle and Child.
Turkish Delight...it was wonderful.
Lewis, Warnie, and Paxton would develop the land around the Kilns including building this brick bench that they would use for relaxation and swimming.
This is the bomb shelter that Lewis had his grounds keeper build during WWII. All of this is now part of the Lewis Nature Reserve which is behind his house.
This was Lewis' parish. He was Anglican.
In the grounds of the church, which many people now pass through as a shortcut, lies Lewis and Warnie's grave. It was surreal to be here. Here is a man who impacted the world greatly yet his body lies here while people pass by everyday without a care...
This is Cuckoo Lane. It runs from Headington (the town where Kilns resides) to Magdallen College (pronounced Maudlin). It was supposed to be a short trip for us...yet somehow I took a wrong turn and we ended up on a path we weren't supposed to be on and ended up way out of the way of where I wanted to be...It took about an hour and a half....*sigh*
We ate lunch here at the King's Arms where the Inklings would go when the Bird and Baby (Eagle and Child) was overrun by troops during WWII.
We toured Magdallen College. This is in the cloister.
Lewis' office was on the second floor here...
This Addison's Walk where Tolkien and Hugo Dyson would discuss the reality of God. Lewis decided that he was a theist here but it was later that he decided to become a Christian.
The Eagle and Child
The small room called the Rabbit room. It was quite small and the area behind this room wasn't originally there. It was added on much later.
Me in my happy place...
The inklings signatures...
"The undersigned having just partaken of your ham, have drunk your health:
( including) C.S. Lewis... David Cecil, W.H. Lewis,..., Christopher Reuel Tolkien,..., John Ronald Reuel Tolkien."
Thank you Inklings, and to you.
