Although we always attend the Vintage Car Show at Bentley Wildfowl, this year was going to be different as I had decided to enter the Lady and Vehicle Competition with my newly acquired Austin Metropolitan.

A 1950s style “poodle” skirt was duly ordered from Texas and a scarf made to match the colour of the car and a pair of “cat-eyes” sunglasses to complete the outfit. The skirt arrived in time and I was lucky enough to win the competition and a prize of a chauffeur-driven day out kindly donated by Eastbourne Motoring Centre.

The only problem now was where to go which we pondered over for several weeks until the MG Owners’ Club magazine arrived and I read an article about Nuffield Place near Henley on Thames which was the home from 1933-63 of William Morris – Lord Nuffield and said to be a rare example of a complete upper middle class home of the 1930s.

The car and chauffeur was booked for a Sunday in September and the day arrived – a lovely sunny morning when we were collected by our driver at 9.00 a.m. We had a very pleasant drive up to Henley on Thames where we had decided to spend some time before going on to Nuffield Place.

The first sight we saw on entering Henley was a large boot fair and Gerry, never having been able to resist a boot fair, headed in that general direction. Everyone seemed to be coming away with bargains and I must admit that there was a much better class of “tat” for sale than at the local Eastbourne boot fairs! Although there was hardly any autojumble, we spotted something for which we had been searching for a long time – a 1950s style picnic basket in a similar colour to the paint on the Metropolitan. The basket was in excellent condition and had never been used so a deal was struck at £13 and the basket was ours!

Next stop was The Angel pub on the river at Henley for lunch whilst watching the boats and swans and then time for a quiet walk along the river before being collected by our chauffeur and dropped off at Nuffield Place.

Lord Nuffield, as any auto-enthusiast knows, founded Morris Motors, a company that at one stage made every other car sold in Britain. He also gave more than £30 million to charitable causes (the equivalent of £600 million at today’s values), many involved in medical research. Despite his wealth his house is relatively modest although it was considerably enlarged when Lord and Lady Nuffield first moved there. Today, it and its contents, are virtually as he left them on his death in 1963. It still exhibits the friendly, lived-in feel of his life there and gives a unique insight not only into the Nuffield’s, but domestic life in general of their era. You can feel the presence of Lord Nuffield in every room in the house and almost smell the smoke from one of his pipes.

The house was built in 1914 and 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. The clocks, rugs and tapestries are of fine quality. Some furniture is antique, but much was custom-made in Oxford by skilled craftsmen. The dining room table is laid with the best silver and crystal glasses used by Lady Nuffield when entertaining guests ranging from famous singers of the day to the Emperor of Ethiopia.

You can hear a recording of Lord Nuffield’s voice and some of the “1930s” music. Going into Lord Nuffield’s bedroom which is filled with so many personal things, you can get an insight into his character. You can imagine him standing on the threadbare carpet using his tools and making and mending. The cupboard is full of objects which show his love of mechanical things – some more unusual than others including his appendix pickled in a jar! Outside you can wander around the 4-acre gardens with mature trees, yew hedges, rose pergola and rockery which were laid out during and just after the 1st World War. Lord and Lady Nuffield very much enjoyed their garden and spent many happy hours there. A wrought iron gate has an archway depicting an ox, showing the Nuffields’ connections with Oxford.

Lord and Lady Nuffield had no children and when Lord Nuffield died in 1963, Nuffield College, Oxford, inherited the house and estate to be preserved intact. The house is open on the second and fourth Sundays from May to September (2.00-5.00pm). There are often visiting car clubs and we would suggest that if you visit, to ring 01491 825556 and check the opening times first rather than turn up and be disappointed.

After a couple of hours exploring Nuffield Place, we were collected by the car and taken home. It was a really enjoyable day courtesy of the Eastbourne Historic Vehicle Club and Eastbourne Motoring Centre and we would recommended a visit there if you have the chance. And a big thank you to Enjoying MG magazine for suggesting Nuffield Place for a brilliant day out!