SAVE NUFFIELD PLACE

SAVE NUFFIELD PLACE!

Nuffield Place

The National Trust has been offered the home of William Morris, Lord Nuffield, one of the world's greatest philanthropists and the man who made motoring affordable with mass production of cars by the Morris Group, which subsequently acquired the Wolseley marque. Lord and Lady Nuffield both drove Wolseley Eights and the 25 DHP coupe, which was presented to Lord Nuffield by his employees on his retirement, is now owned by a Register member. The Wolseley Register fully supports the campaign to save Nuffield Place.

The house, near Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire, was the home of Lord Nuffield for the last 30 years of his life and was bequeathed to Nuffield College in 1963. Since then, the enthusiasm of the Friends of Nuffield Place has been instrumental in working for the future protection of the house and its contents, which are a rare survival of a complete, upper-middle class home of the 1930s.

Lord Nuffield's love of mechanical things can be seen behind cupboard doors in his bedroom, which hid a miniature workshop with lathe and tools. Having been unable to follow his first choice of a medical career, he maintained a strong interest in medicine and an example of the 5000 iron lungs produced at a Morris factory and donated to hospitals.

Nuffield College is now prepared to gift the house to the National Trust, but in order to accept the gift the Trust urgently needs to raise £600,000 to open the house to visitors. Until its future can be secured through the recently-launched campaign, Nuffield Place remains at risk of being sold on the open market.

The campaign has been launched in the summer edition of the National Trust magazine and on their website at: National Trust/Save Nuffield Place On-line donations will be automatically entered into a prize draw to win a place on a behind-the-scenes tour of Nuffield Place for supporters on 16 September 2011.

Providing the campaign is successful, the National Trust aim to open Nuffield Place to the public in Spring 2012. Ahead of this, the Wolseley Register has been invited to arrange a private visit in September or October 2011. As soon as a date has been agreed the event will be publicised to members. Meanwhile, please support the appeal by making a donation on-line. Donations can also be made at many National Trust properties or by calling the Membership Department on 0844 800 1895.

Register Visit to Nuffield Place in 2008