CASTLE TOO EXPENSIVE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23618, 30 March 1940, Page 8

CASTLE TOO EXPENSIVE

OFFERED TO GOVERNMENT .UPKEEP OF £IO,OOO A YEAR [from our own correspondent] /, LONDON, March 5 Warwick Castle to-day stands stripped of all its glory: its picture gallery, with its portrait of Charles I. painted 24 hours before his execution; its furniture, accumulated before the days of Warwick the King-maker. And it has lost its tens of thousands of tourists, who paid -2s eadi to see the State apartments. Lord Warwick has offered his castle to the Government and prepared the great mansion for instant occupation. He last week that he did not know which department was going to take over "or even if they are going to acecpt my offer at all." Negotiations were still going on. It used to cost the family £IO,OOO a. year to live there,_ but for some years they have occupied less magnificent homes. Fifty-eight servants were employed on the estate and in the cajstle. "Some of the yonnger ones have gone ' into the Services, or some Government work," said Lord Warwick. "But I have done my best to keep the old men and women. So far,l have succeeded.

"But it has been a hard-struggle, and if the war lasts a long time it's going to be worse. The loss of the tourists' two 'bobs' means a loss of thousands of pounds to us."