A large red-brick detached house, Shaw's Corner was built in 1902 as the New Rectory for Ayot St Lawrence.
The Church of England eventually decided that the house was too large for this tiny parish, and it was let to Bernard and Charlotte Shaw from November 1906. They bought it outright in 1920, paying £6,220 for the house and its land.
Not really interested in material things, the Shaws changed very little inside the house. The range in the kitchen dates from after their purchase of the house. They installed a generator house so that electricity could be provided for the house, and built a large garage and greenhouse too.
The house itself was originally built by local architects and using local materials for the Church of England for its Ayot St. Lawrence rector.
Larger than the average house, it was designed to be run by staff, with a large kitchen, pantry, coal hole, and scullery forming a separate 'domain' beyond a door in the hall.
Many literary and personal effects and mementoes here evoke the life and personality of the great dramatist George Bernard Shaw and his wife Charlotte.
The vigorous garden is a joy, large and open with views over the surrounding countryside. Shaw came here for peace and calm to write away from London and found it. He wrote many plays in a hut in the garden which revolved to follow the sun.
Neither of the Shaws liked their new home, something which suited them well, as it did not detract from Charlotte's love of travelling nor Shaw's passion for work.
The nearest National Trust property to Shaw's Corner is the Ashridge Estate at Ringshall, Berkhamsted.
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