“I never hoped for the like” CS Lewis wrote of The Kilns. This unassuming house in Oxford holds a secret. It’s the birthplace of Narnia.
Welcome to The Kilns CS Lewis’s home. Here surrounded by an eight-acre garden Lewis penned his beloved Chronicles of Narnia. This wasn’t just any house. It was a creative haven. A place where imagination bloomed.
The Kilns wasn’t always a literary landmark. It started as a former brickworks. A flooded clay pit became the lake in the garden. A perfect setting for the magic of Narnia. Lewis bought The Kilns in 1930. He shared it with his brother Warnie and Janie Moore. Janie’s daughter Maureen also lived there. They weren’t just housemates. They were a family. A community.
The Kilns itself featured in the Narnia books. The garden inspired the wild landscapes of Narnia. Even the gardener Fred Paxford found his way into the stories. He became Puddleglum the Marsh-wiggle in The Silver Chair.
The house wasn’t always peaceful. Teenage evacuees from London sought refuge during World War II. They shared the house adding to its vibrant atmosphere. The house echoes with laughter and tales. It’s a place where stories were written and lives were changed.
Two brick kilns gave the house its name. Sadly these were demolished when Lewis Close was built. The Kilns stands as a testament to a brilliant mind. It’s a place where the ordinary became extraordinary.
Today The Kilns is owned by the CS Lewis Foundation. It operates as a study center. Visitors can explore the grounds. They can walk in the footsteps of Lewis himself. They can feel the magic of Narnia in the air.
The Kilns isn’t just a house. It’s a legacy. A place where imagination meets reality. It’s a place where stories continue to be told. And it’s a place you’ll never forget.