NT Press Release 28.4.11
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National Trust Press Release

Campaign launched to save home of inventor of the Morris car 

A campaign to raise £600,000 to save the “time capsule” home of the man who made motoring affordable for the British masses was launched by the National Trust today.

 

The Morris Motor Company was started in 1910 when bicycle manufacturer William Morris, later Lord Nuffield, turned his attention to cars.

 

Three years later the two-seat Morris Oxford ‘Bullnose’ was introduced, helping change the lives of thousands of ordinary people with the dawn of mass-produced vehicles.

 

As his fortune grew, Lord Nuffield became increasingly aware of the contribution he could make in a pre-welfare state.

 

As Britain’s greatest ever philanthropist, he gave away over £30 million (the equivalent of £11 billion in today’s money) to support education, hospitals and medical research which continue to benefit millions of people around the world.

 

Nuffield Place in Oxfordshire was his home from 1933 until his death in 1963.

 

He left the house to Nuffield College in Oxford, which he founded. The College has carefully preserved the house and until recently it has been opened to the public by volunteers from the Friends of Nuffield Place on a limited basis.

 

Nuffield College has now offered it to the National Trust. However, in order to open this unique house to the public, and secure its future, the Trust urgently needs to raise £600,000.

 

Richard Henderson, National Trust General Manager, said: “Despite Lord Nuffield’s extraordinary philanthropy and achievements, he remains relatively unknown. His home is a wonderful time capsule without any of the ‘show’ of a multi-millionaire and reveals so much about the man who changed many people’s lives for the better.

 

“We are determined to open the house as soon as possible and to celebrate Lord Nuffield’s remarkable story. But we need to raise the funds to get the necessary visitor facilities in place and we hope our supporters will help us to meet our target.”

 

Despite considerable personal wealth, Lord Nuffield lived a modest life and the house and its contents reflect the simple, unassuming home that he shared with his wife.

 

Many of Lord and Lady Nuffield’s possessions are still where they left them, offering an intimate glimpse into their world. Robes worn to official functions, personal letters and books, and framed cartoons and photographs can be seen throughout the house.

 

Much of the original decoration and most of the furnishings also remain making it a perfect example of a complete 1930s country home.

 

Lord Nuffield’s love of mechanical things can be seen behind cupboard doors in his bedroom which hid a miniature workshop with his collection of hand tools. It was here that he would relieve nights of insomnia by doing delicate metal work.

 

Kevin Minns, Chairman of the Friends of Nuffield Place and great great nephew of Lord Nuffield said: “This wonderfully generous offer from Nuffield College has given the National Trust the opportunity to preserve the legacy of William Morris, Lord Nuffield and save Nuffield Place once and for all.”

 

To make a donation to the appeal and to enable the National Trust to open Nuffield Place to the public, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/savenuffieldplace or telephone 0844 800 1895.

 

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Notes to editors

About William Morris, Lord Nuffield (1877-1963)

·         William Morris was born on 10 October 1877 in Worcester and moved to Oxford with his family when he was three. He left school at 15 and a year later, with £4 capital, he began his own business making and repairing bicycles. In 1903, he married Elizabeth Anstey, the daughter of an Oxford farrier.

·         He designed his first car, the Bullnose, in 1912 and a year later the Morris Motor Company began production. In 1919, 400 Morris cars were being produced.

·         William Morris was one of the first British industrialists to introduce mass production methods, spotting the market for quality-made, small and economical cars.

·         By 1925 production was booming, 56,000 cars a year were rolling off the production line and Morris cars became famous around the world. From 1928, sporting versions of the Morris Cowley and the Morris Oxford were sold as ‘MGs’, a marque distinct from the ‘Morris’. By 1937, Morris Motors Ltd. became the largest motor manufacturer in Europe .

·         In 1934, a year after moving to Nuffield Place, Morris was made a Baron, and four years later, a Viscount. He took the name of Nuffield, the Oxfordshire village where he had settled. He played a major role in organising industry in the Second World War.

·         Despite his great wealth, Lord Nuffield remained personally frugal. He had no children and, as his fortune grew, he became increasingly aware of the contribution he could make to relieve suffering in a pre-welfare state. In his lifetime he dispersed £30 million (the equivalent of £11 billion in today’s money) to a variety of charitable causes.

·         Much of his money went to support healthcare and medicine (among which was the manufacture and gift of over 5000 iron lungs to Commonwealth hospitals), research and education, and the armed forces.

·         He founded the Nuffield Foundation in 1943 with an endowment of £10 million in order to advance education and social welfare, and also founded Nuffield College, Oxford.

·         Lord Nuffield died on 22 August 1963, four years after the death of his wife.

 

Why is Nuffield Place important?

 

·         Set high in the Chilterns, Nuffield Place, near Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire is the only surviving home with its contents intact of William Morris, Lord Nuffield.

·         Left almost exactly as it was when Lord Nuffield died, the house and its contents are a revealing and intimate glimpse into the character, interests and life of one of the world’s greatest entrepreneurs and benefactors, yet a man who remains relatively unknown today.

·         The house is also a rare survival of a complete, upper-middle class home of the 1930s. It retains the majority of the furniture and contents acquired by Lord and Lady Nuffield when they took up residence, as well as having several rooms still decorated in the 1930s style.

What are the other items of interest in the house?

 

·         The house retains the majority of the furniture and contents acquired by Lord and Lady Nuffield when they took up residence. These include rugs and tapestries of fine quality. Some furniture is antique, but much was custom-made by Cecil A Halliday of Oxford, (to give employment – one of Lord Nuffield’s greatest commitments), and is of skilled craftsmanship.

·         Lord Nuffield had a great interest in clocks and there are several long case, wall and mantle clocks around the house.

 

What is the architectural significance of Nuffield Place?

 

bulletThe house was built in 1914 and was designed by Oswald Partridge Milne, a pupil of architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. The house was originally called Merrow Mount but Lord Nuffield re-named it.  He carried out a series of alterations, including an enlarged sitting-room and dining-room and the addition of a billiard-room, but the house still retains the discernible style of Lutyens.

 

Who has owned the house since Lord Nuffield’s death in 1963?

 

bulletLord Nuffield left the house to Nuffield College, Oxford, which has owned it since then.

 

Has the house been open to the public before now?

 

bulletSince 1977, the house has been open to the public by volunteers for very limited times between May and September. The Friends of Nuffield Place, a registered charity, was formed twenty years ago, with the active support of Nuffield College, to promote Nuffield Place as an important piece of 20th century history.

 

Why has the National Trust been offered Nuffield Place?

 

bulletAs an academic institution, Nuffield College has decided that it is not equipped to manage Nuffield Place and maximise its opportunities as a heritage property open to the public and has offered it to the nation through the National Trust. 

 

How will the National Trust afford to run and maintain Nuffield Place?

 

bulletThe Trustees of the National Trust have agreed to the funding for an endowment to run Nuffield Place provided the property can begin to pay for itself as a successful attraction within five years.  However, we urgently need to raise £600,000 in order to open the property to the public and to put the necessary staffing and facilities in place.

 

Does the house require any conservation or repair work before the National Trust opens it to the public?

 

bulletA survey of the property has been carried out and there is no major conservation work required although some backlog repairs will need to be carried out. Some of this work will be carried out while the house is open.

 

Is the National Trust looking for volunteers when the house opens and, if so, how do they apply?

 

bulletYes please.  Volunteers should contact the Buscot and Coleshill Estate Office on 01793 762209 for an application form.