Save
Nuffield Place
Campaign
Press
release
4/04/2008
Nuffield
Place
, between
Henley and
Wallingford
in Oxfordshire, was the home of the car maker William Morris (Lord Nuffield),
and his wife. On his death it was
left to Nuffield College Oxford.
The house is still furnished and equipped exactly as it was left on Lord
Nuffield’s death in 1963. It is a unique time-capsule, taking us back into the
world of the genteel 1930’s. It is also a lasting memorial to one of the
twentieth century’s greatest manufacturers, and
Britain
’s greatest ever philanthropist. The
house has been very popular with the public on its present 11
open days per year, and its education programme is used by many local schools.
It is a supremely important heritage asset for the people of Oxfordshire,
and for the whole of
Britain
.
Nuffield
College
has now
decided it must sell the house and disperse the contents, so this could be the
last year for the public to visit. The
Friends of Nuffield Place charity has mounted a campaign to buy the house and
contents from
Nuffield
College
, working with the College to save this beautiful and evocative place for future
generations to learn from and enjoy.
The Friends are generating huge public backing for their campaign, and
support from Oxfordshire and national organisations.
Local MP Boris Johnson has pledged his help.
The campaign needs to raise
about £2.75m to save the house for the nation and we are looking for help from
businesses, charities, clubs and individuals.
As a manufacturer, Lord Nuffield brought good employment to thousands of
people in
Oxford
and elsewhere. His affordable high
quality cars, buses and tractors changed the lives of everyone, and helped
create modern
Britain
.
Lord Nuffield was one of the wealthiest men in
Britain
, but from the beginning of his career, he gave his
money away to good causes. His
benevolence founded
Nuffield
College
, and he poured money into many other parts of
Oxford
University
and into hospitals, science, medical research, dentistry, orthopaedics and
anaesthetics.
He also supported social welfare, including charities for ex-service
people, sports and disabilities. He
set up the Nuffield Foundation to advance social well being ‘particularly through
research and practical experiment’ – establishing the ‘evidence-based’
approach to funding 50 years ahead of its time.
His Foundation has hugely advanced education, learning and society in
Britain
and overseas.
Campaign Coordinator Dr Stephen Head said :
“Calculations show that
Lord Nuffield gave away the present-day equivalent of about eleven billion pounds,
and was the greatest philanthropist
Britain
has ever known. But
Nuffield Place
shows the essential modesty and simplicity of the life of William and Elizabeth
Morris. It is vital that their example of public service is not forgotten by
future generations.”
Nuffield
Place
opens
this year on Sunday 27th April, and then on
the second and fourth Sundays until
28th September. For
further information on openings and the campaign see www.nuffield-place.com,
or contact the campaign coordinator, Dr Stephen Head, on 07923 473907 or shead@stephenmhead.com
