Nuffield Place

Nestled in the Chiltern Hills near Henley-on-Thames, Nuffield Place offers a uniquely personal glimpse into the life of William Morris, Lord Nuffield, the founder of Morris Motors and one of Britain’s greatest philanthropists. Acquired in 1933, this modest 1920s country house served as the home of Lord Nuffield and his wife, Lady Elizabeth, until his death in 1963, remaining almost entirely unchanged since. Despite accumulating enormous wealth through mass-producing iconic cars like the Morris Minor and giving away an estimated thirty million pounds—equivalent to hundreds of millions today—Lord Nuffield chose to live a surprisingly unpretentious lifestyle. A passionate tinkerer who trained as a bicycle mechanic, he kept a complete miniature tool kit hidden in a secret compartment inside his bedroom wardrobe so he could repair household items himself. The estate also reflects his vast medical philanthropy, which included funding the creation of the iron lung and founding Nuffield College at Oxford. Inside, visitors step directly into the mid-twentieth century. The home is preserved exactly as the couple left it, down to black-and-white televisions, vintage radio sets, and personal belongings resting on bedside tables. Highlights include Lord Nuffield’s simple bedroom with its hidden tool cabinet, the cozy drawing room with its original 1930s furnishings, and the practical kitchen filled with period appliances.