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Places To Visit

Lawrence’s family life and service career took him far and wide around the British Isles. The following pages are intended as a brief introduction to some of the places where he lived or spent time. Many of these locations are open to the public with the National Trust.

Lawrence Family Homes​

A life continually on the move meant it was not until the Lawrence family settled in Oxford that young Ned had an established home. Learn more about the places they lived in the early years, and the family circumstances that kept them moving on.

Oxford

In the historic city of Oxford, where Lawrence went to school and university, it is still possible –at least in parts – to dip into the world which he knew so well.

Pole Hill

On these 18 acres of land in Epping Forest, Lawrence and his friend Vyvyan Richards dreamed of building a medieval style hall where they could print fine books in the style of William Morris.

London

Lawrence is usually associated with Oxford and Dorset, yet it was to London that he kept returning. He worked at the War Office and Colonial Office, and wrote the Oxford Text of Seven Pillars of Wisdom in an attic room in Westminster.

Dorset

Lawrence came to know this area when he served at Bovington Camp in the 1920s. Here he bought his beloved cottage, Clouds Hill, where he entertained his many friends. He is buried at Moreton.

Cranwell & Lincoln

After Lawrence re-entered the RAF in 1925, he served at the Cadet College in Cranwell. Here he completed the Subscribers’ Edition of Seven Pillars of Wisdom and raced his Brough Superior against a Bristol Fighter aircraft.

Plymouth

Lawrence’s posting to the flying boat unit at RAF Mount Batten was truly his ‘golden reign’ and a further turning point in his career when a tragic flying accident convinced him of the need to develop high-speed rescue launches for the RAF.

Southampton & Hythe

The Lawrence family lived close to Southampton Water during part of his childhood, and he returned to the area in 1929 while helping to organise the Schneider Trophy race, and in the 1930s while working on high-speed motor-boats for the RAF.

Bridlington

The last few weeks of Lawrence’s service career were spent working on RAF motor-boats at Bridlington.