I just read some place today that today in 1930, C. S. Lewis and his brother Warren (Warnie) along with Mrs. Moore and her daughter and their dog moved into the Kilns—the home where Lewis lived until his death on November 22, 1963. This photo of the Kilns was taken several years ago while I visiting Oxford. We were there on a day much like today—overcast and rainy. But we had a wonderful time.

The warden of the house showed us around the house, and because no one else was there, she even took us up stairs and into the attic where we saw some of Lewis’s old furniture and even a wardrobe! We were awestruck. Later we had tea and sweet bread cookies in the same dining room where Lewis, Joy, and Warnie would eat each evening. I felt a lot like a character from one of his Narnia novels: the table, the food, and the sleeping kings of old.

They still put out “sweeties” in a small white bowl on his desk. We were told that these were among his favorite treats. I think they are basically pure sugar and should be used to sweeten cups of hot tea.

When we were at the Kilns, we thought we had found C.S. Lewis’s typewriter, but who knows if it is or not. I believe it maybe one that was used by his brother. I need to ask our resident Lewis expert Dr. Donald Williams what he thinks. He has taught classes at the Kilns and has promised to take me on a walking tour of the colleges when I return to Oxford. Regardless, the idea of such a “find” is a romantic thought.

For years Warren helped Jack, who was notorious for wanting to answer every letter that came to him, with his correspondence. He also worked with Lewis to create a collection of those letters that were later publish as a book after Jack’s death. Warren or Warnie, as Jack and others called him, went on to published an interesting book Brother & Friends: The Diaries of Major Warren Hamilton Lewis on the relationship he had with his brother. It’s no longer in print, but I did find a used copy on ebay. The few new copies that exist start at $487!

Maybe you look at this photo and want to write your own story. Perhaps if C. S. Lewis was here he would read a chapter to us from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. He might even read the ending to the chapter titled: Peter’s First Battle. “Then, after a bit, Susan came down the tree. She and Peter felt pretty shaky when they met and I won’t say there wasn’t kissing and crying on both sides. But in Narnia no one thinks any worse of you for that.

“‘Quick! Quick!’ shouted the voice of Aslan. ‘Centaurs! Eagles! I see another wolf in the thickets. There behind you. He has just darted away. After him, all of you. He will be going to his mistress. Now is your chance to find the Witch and rescue the fourth Son of Adam.’ And instantly with a thunder of hoofs and beating of wings a dozen or so of the swiftest creatures disappeared into the gathering darkness.’”

This photo was taken of the path on the way to the Chimney Tops—a rock formation in the Great Smokey National Park. Around here we just say, “The Smokies.” I can’t wait to meet up with my friends Ann and Marc in the park this summer. It has been way too long since I have seen them.

“‘This is the land of Narnia,’ said the faun, ‘where we are now; all that lies between the lamp post and the great castle of Cair Paravel on the eastern sea. . . . It is winter in Narnia, and has been forever so long, and we shall both catch cold if we stand here talking in the snow.’

“‘Thank you very much, Mr. Tumnus,’ said Lucy. ‘But I was wondering whether I ought to be getting back.’”

—from The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis

Just received a Twitter from St. Paul’s Cathedral in London saying today marks the 70th anniversary of evacuation of British citizens during World War II. Germany had begun bombing raids on the city at night, and the decision was made to send as many people—particularly children—as possible to homes outside of the London area. The Kilns, which is in Oxford and was owned by C.S. Lewis and his brother Warren, became a safe haven for several youngsters during the Blitz.

Blackout curtains still hang on the windows at the Kilns as a reminder of World War II and the precautions people had to take even outside of London.