Letters from Sir Edward Heath

Historical Significance

This is a display containing two letters from Sir Edward Heath, KG MBE, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 19th June 1970 until 4th March 1974, having taken over from and being succeeded by Harold Wilson. Heath remained in Downing Street for four days following one of the most chaotic general elections in British history, resulting in a Hung Parliament. Heath was attempting to form a coalition with the Liberals, but failed to do so and so resigned on the 4th. Two letters are included in this article, one as M.P. for Sidcup and one as Prime Minister. They read as follows:

From: The Rt. Hon. Edward Heath. M.B.E., M.P.

March 74

I want to appreciate your kindness in sending me a letter of support at this time. Please accept my warmest thanks for the encouragement you have given me.
Yours Sincerely,
Edward Heath

Based on the date this letter has attached, we know that this is in the month when he resigned the office of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. This was also the month when his office changed from Bexley to Sidcup through his win on the General election held in February 1974 (after Bexley was abolished and split), and eventually held by Heath even through it's change to Old Bexley and Sidcup until 2001, when he retired after 51 consecutive years as an MP. The second letter is from his time as Prime Minister and, unfortunately, is undated.

10 Downing Street
Whitehall
Thank you so much for your message of good wishes. It was most kind of you to send it and I appreciate it very much.

Edward Heath

Unfortunately, not much is known about this particular letter, only that it comes from his time as Prime Minister due to the stationary involved. The archive does not wish to speculate on it's origin, however there is suspicion that the letter comes from a similar period due to the consistency of the handwriting and the stationary used, which is not dissimilar with other documents from the time. 

Select References & Further Reading:

• The National Archives (TNA), Kew. PREM 15/2221: Prime Minister's Correspondence, 1974 General Election.

• The London Gazette. Issue 46231.

• Heath, Edward. The Course of My life: My Autobiography. Hodder. Stoughton.

• The Sir Edward Heath Charitable Foundation. Arundells: The Political Archive.

Header image: President Dwight D. Eisenhower with Soviet leader Nikita Krushchev and others, standing on the steps of Blair House, Washington.. John T. Blesdoe; September 27, 1959. Courtesy of the Library of Congress.