Nuffield Place

It was the home of William Morris, Lord Nuffield, motor manufacturer

© NTPL/John Hammond

We urgently need your help to raise £600,000 to secure the house of one of the 20th century’s most inspirational and influential figures.

We have been offered the home of William Morris, Lord Nuffield, one of the world's greatest philanthropists and the man who made motoring affordable with the production of Morris cars. Nuffield Place, in Oxfordshire, was his home from 1933 until his death in 1963.

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

The house was left on his death to Nuffield College in Oxford which has now offered it to us rather than put the property up for sale. However, in order to open this unique house to the public, and secure its future for ever, for everyone we urgently need to raise £600,000.

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Why save Nuffield House?
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 1930's style.

Many of Lord and Lady Nuffield’s personal belongings 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 many of the furnishings also remain making it a rare 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 lathe and tools. It was here that he would relieve nights of insomnia by doing delicate metal work.

Richard Henderson, our Oxfordshire General Manager said:
'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.'

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