HISTORIC HOUSES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 245, 14 September 1936, Page 8

HISTORIC HOUSES.

SIR C. TREVELYAN’S SCHEME. FAMILY SEATS UNDER PUBLIC CONTROL. Sir Charles Trevelyan recently announced his intention to bequeath his beautiful homo in NorthumberlandWallington and its large estate near Morpeth—to tho National Trust for the Preservation of Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty. Ho has made provision that from the time of his death Wallington shall become public property “secure from disruption and dispersion,” but also ensuring the continued connection of his family with the house and land as tenants of the Trust.

The house, which is 250 years old, is of considerable architectual interest. There are valuable collections of china and pictures, and a library compiled by Macaulay and Sir George Otto Trevelyan. REASONS FOR BEQUEST.

Sir Charles Trevelyan explained tho governing considerations in his mind at a garden party of the people living on the Wallington estate. He referred to the fact that ho docs not believe in tho private ownership of land and regards himself solely as a trustee for the community, and declared that taxation was now making the continuance of such great houses and estates as those of Wallington practically impossible. He said: I have therefore made my will, in which at my death I bequeath Wallington House and grounds and the Wallington estate to the National Trust. It will from the time of my death become public property in public: ownership, and secure from disruption and dispersion. I am also ensuring the continued connection of my family with the house and land. After my death Lady Trevelyan, and after her death my children, will live at Wallington as tenants of the National Trust as long as they wish to do so. There will he obtained for this countryside a permanent ownership by a public body, who will, I am convinced, be anxious to maintain the Wallington tradition.