In January 2006, it was announced that Heath had left £5 million in his will, most of it to a charitable foundation to conserve his 18th century house, Arundells, opposite Salisbury Cathedral as a museum to his career. The house was open to the public for guided tours from March to September, and preserved a large collection of personal effects as well as Heath's personal library, photo collections and paintings by Winston Churchill. The Trustees of his will approached the Charity Commission for permission to sell the house and contents after it closed to the public in October 2010 because of a shortfall in the charity's income, despite rising visitor numbers.
The plans are still to sell the property but the house will be open on Saturdays, and Mondays to Wednesdays until 29 October 2011. The Trustees of the Sir Edward Heath Charitable Foundation also have permission to open on Sundays at their discretion. Sale of the house is still being contested by the Friends of Arundells.
In his will Heath, who had had no descendants, left only two legacies: £20,000 to his brother's widow, and £2,500 to his housekeeper.
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