Basildon Park, an 18th century country estate in Berkshire, owned by the National Trust, played several important roles during the course of the First World War, contributing significantly to the war effort. It provided a place for local soldiers to recuperate and to learn new skills that they could use to build their own business after the conflict. It also provided for the wider community, providing food at a time when it was at most in demand by local residents as well as producing numerous materials which were at a national shortage.
5 photographs of Basildon Park during the First World War. Document: Basildon Park during the First World War. Audio: eye-witness interview of Basildon Park during the First World War by Leslie Hearne.

Basildon Park
Medical
Home Front
Convalescents & Medical Staff at Basildon Park
Photograph
The main house at Basildon Park was lent to the Brigade of Guards for the duration of the war to be used as a 50 bed convalescent home for officers by the owner, Major James Archibald Morrison. The photograph shows the medical staff and some of the convalscents at the front of the property. The man seated in the centre is Dr P.C.E. Tribe who was the medical officer and commandant of the home.
The main house at Basildon Park was lent to the Brigade of Guards for the duration of the war to be used as a 50 bed convalescent home for officers by the owner, Major James Archibald Morrison. The photograph shows the medical staff and some of the convalscents relaxing in the Entrance Hall at Basildon Park.
Convalescents relaxing in the Entrance Hall at Basildon Park
Members of the Womans Land Army who worked at Basildon Park
With all the able-bodied men serving in the forces, the Basildon estate was run by the Women’s Land Army which had been established by the Board of Agriculture in 1915. Sixty women of the WLA worked on the estate undertaking a broad range of roles, including, caring for livestock, making cheese, charcoal burning and so forth. Photograph taken from Country Life (1918).
Women
The main house at Basildon Park was lent to the Brigade of Guards for the duration of the war to be used as a 50 bed convalescent home for officers by the owner, Major James Archibald Morrison. The photograph shows some of the convalscents from Basildon Park visiting Hartslock woods in Gatehampton.
Convalescents from Basildon Park visiting Hartslock woods in Gatehampton
Basildon Park during the First World War
Manufacture
Publication
Leslie Hearne
51.499169,-1.1215439999999716
Interviewed in 1997, Leslie Hearne, who was the son of the Head Gardener at Basildon Park during the First World War, recollects his memories of the property in the era.
Interview with Leslie Hearne
The main house at Basildon Park was lent to the Brigade of Guards for the duration of the war to be used as a 50 bed convalescent home for officers by the owner, Major James Archibald Morrison. The photograph shows some of the convalscents relaxing in the Dining Room at Basildon Park.
Convalescents relaxing in the Dining Room at Basildon Park