A bid to acquire many of Sir Winston Churchill's personal objects and improve public access to his historic family home at Chartwell has been awarded £3.45 million by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The National Trust launched an appeal for funding to help improve the site near Westerham in September, and the latest donation brings the total raised so far to £5.5m - out of a total of £7.1m.

Katherine Barnett, Chartwell’s House and collections manager, said: “It is a considerable boost at this stage in the appeal to have received such a generous grant from the HLF. This brings us a lot closer to being able to achieve our vision for Chartwell."

If successful the campaign would see the opening of many family rooms that have never been seen by the public - including Churchill's bedroom.

It would also secure some books, medallions, gifts and awards received by the politician during his lifetime, including his Nobel Prize in Literature and a box used to store notes used in his speeches.

Churchill’s library of inscribed books, medallions, gifts and awards that he received from around the world, including his Nobel Prize in Literature, along with personal and poignant mementoes such as the speech box in which he stored notes for his famous speeches.

The National Trust aims to reach the appeal target of £7.1m by January 2017 in order to secure the collection and enable the wider project work to begin.

Many of the objects in the appeal can be seen in Chartwell’s current exhibition ‘Child of the Commons’

Ros Kerslake, chief executive office of the Heritage Lottery Fund said: “Chartwell is synonymous with Sir Winston Churchill. It tells the story of the latter years of Churchill’s life and showcases his passion for writing, painting and gardening.

"With the help of National Lottery players, we are proud to be playing a part in protecting Churchill’s legacy and reminding visitors to this wonderful National Trust site of the important role he continues to play in our national psyche.”