Richard Cobden 1804-1865
Peace.  Goodwill among Nations  
HELP SAVE DUNFORD HOUSE Grade II Listed THE HOME OF RICHARD COBDEN 
Please help

Help us save Dunford House the birthplace and home of Richard Cobden from developers

Who is he ?

Richard Cobden – the most highly referenced politician in the current climate, successful career in Manchester, MP for Stockport and Rochdale, repealer of the Corn Laws, apostle of Free Trade, advocate of peace and goodwill to all, promoter of international peace, ardent reformer dedicated to raising the poor and vulnerable out of poverty. 
The background
Dunford House and Estate, located in Midhurst, West Sussex was altruistically gifted to the YMCA in 1952 as a perpetual, permanent endowment to enable them to use it for general educational purposes. What remains of the Estate is the Grade 2 Listed House and surrounding land, the essence of Richard Cobden’s home. Fast forward to 2019 and the YMCA have closed Dunford with a view to wanting to dispose of it.
The YMCA have been custodians of Dunford honouring the original Trust deed and now the Cobden family together with a number of friends have put an offer to the YMCA to buy it back enabling the YMCA to be released from their stewardship.     





Why is it important to save Dunford ?

It is the last remaining example of a Victorian middle class Liberal politician home which still contains a number of Cobden family artefacts including the Seal of the Corn Laws and a gift from Napoleon III as gratitude for negotiating a peace treaty with France. The House is of architectural significance with part of it built in the Italianate style fashionable in the 1850’s. Many distinguished guests have visited Dunford over the years including Ghandi, playwright George Bernard Shaw and Beveridge, pioneer and co-creator of the welfare state and in later years Dunford played a significant role in hosting international conferences. Through Cobden’s suffragette and suffragist daughters the House became known as a beacon for feminism in particular for women’s right to vote.   

Our plan

A compelling business plan has been created which would ensure the original intent of the Cobden family continues to be respected. This will involve preserving and modernising Dunford and re-creating a conference centre and also a Museum so the public can see, enjoy and learn about the history of Dunford – Liberalism, internationalism and women’s rights amongst other things.   
But as importantly the plan is also to service less fortunate groups of society and embed a Community spirit of wellbeing and togetherness which isn’t always prevalent in today’s society. We would reach out to young people, the elderly and low income groups and help alleviate social concerns such as wellbeing, mental health and loneliness.    



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