NO TENANTS FOR SHAW’S HOME

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27395, 7 July 1954, Page 6

NO TENANTS FOR SHAW’S HOME

“Applicants Did Not Fit The Part” (N.Z. Press Assoctatlon—CopyrigM) LONDON, July 5. Mr George Bernard Shaw’s house which, it was hoped, would become a national shrine when the playwright and author died, stands empty today because no suitable tenant can be found.

An official of the National Trust, the body which maintains and administers historic buildings in the United Kingdom, said today that eight persons had been interviewed, but were not accepted because they did not fit the part. The decision to let the red brick house at Ayot St. Lawrence, near London, was made by the trust when visitors had dwindled to a mere trickle. Originally 70 applications were made to rent the house. Gradually all but 25 of the prospective tenants withdrew their requests. Among them were several Americans and Indians.

When Shaw died, leaving the house in which he had lived since 1906 to the nation, no provision was made for an endowment to run it. In 1951 the National Trust launched an appeal fund for £25,000. This was abandoned about a year later with less than £5OOO collected. Maintaining the house Involves about £l2OO a year.