A FAMOUS MANSION

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 5, 7 January 1928, Page 22

A FAMOUS MANSION

TO BECOME A TRAINING COLLEGE Ono of England's stately homes,' Strawberry Hill, Twickenham, famous as the former residence of llorucc Waipole, was opened recently by Cardinal Bourne as a Bomau Catholic training college for teachers, states the "Daily Chronicle." It is to be called St. Mary's College, and will be staffed by 20 priests of the Congregation of St. JVineent da Paul. There is accommodation for 200 men students. The original collego was founded by Cardinal Wiseman, first Archbishop of Westminster, at Brook Green, 75 years ago. "During recent years the demand for admission to tho collego has far exceeded the accommodation," ojio of the priests said at the opening. . "We purchased Strawberry Hill two years ago, and sold our old college to Messrs. J. Lyons and Co., who wanted more xoom for Cadby Hall." Walpole's mansion lias been left intact, but a now wing containing lecturo rooms, dormitories, and a chapel has been added at a cost of & (30,000. "Every effort has been made to proserve tho mansion as a national monument," the priest added. "In the now wing the old Gothic architecture has been followed. We have already received visitors from all over the Jvorld." Strawberry Hill was bought liy Walpolo in. 1747. Tho interior decorations and enlargements carried out by him ■woro churchlike in appearance. Some of tho mantelpieces arc: replicas of tombs; another is of inlaid ' marble, •which was worth £300 even in the 18th century. One ceiling is an extraordinarily fine copy of that in Henry VlTL's Chapel in Westminster Abbey. The mansion afterwards passed into the possession of the Waldergrave family. ,Tho last owner was Lord Michelham, and the Roman Catholics bought tho mansion from Ladj Michclham. There psa.2o acres of beautiful gardens.