LORD ASTOR’S GIFT

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 December 1942, Page 7

LORD ASTOR’S GIFT

CLIVEDEN FOR THE NATION

LONDON, December 9,

Lord Astor- is giving his house, Cliveden, and estate to the nation. He has arranged to hand over- this famous Buckinghamshire mansion to the National Trust with a monetary endowment for the upkeep of the property and the appointments and furnishings of the house. The woods and gardens will in due course be open to the public. Lord Astor has not reserved any legal interest in the property. He relies on the trust to leave him and his family in occupation for so long as they may wish to remain.

Lord and Lady Astor- wish that in the future, if their family does not desire to remain as tenants. the house should be used fox* furthering international understanding and other causes which they have at heart. The house would then be used in some way for promoting friendship and understanding between the peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada and the other Dominions.

Cliveden, which was built nearly 100 years ago, was acquired by Lord Astor’s father, an American, who went to England in 1890 and became naturalised nine years later. In recent years Cliveden has been noted for its hospitality, and many prominent people, including the late Mr. Neville Chamberlain, were entertained there. Viscount Astor is the owner of the London newspaper The Observer. He was chairman of the League of Nations Committee on nutrition in 1936-37 and chairman of the Royal Institute of International Affairs m 1938. He has served for two terms as Lord Mayor of Plymouth. In 1918 he was Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and in 1919-2 1 was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health.