Description: The Hayes was built in the 1850s as the home of Mr Fitzherbert Wright, maternal great, great grandfather of the Duchess of York. In 1910, his son Henry sold the Estate to the company who adapted and extended it for use as a Conference Centre. The company, First Conference Estate Ltd, was founded in 1909. It set out all those years ago, with the express purpose of providing good quality conference facilities 'For the furtherance of the Christian faith' at an affordable price. extracted from www.swanwick.net)