USA250: How former PM's home became American college

It is a house that oozes history, with suits of armour in the grand hall, wood-panelled bookcases swinging open to reveal secret libraries, and portraits from the past peering down from every wall.

Wroxton Abbey is a manor house which 250 years ago was the home of Lord Frederick North, the then British Prime Minister.

Lord North was long regarded as a failure due to his association with Britain's catastrophic defeat in the American War of Independence in the 1770s and 80s.

Ironically, in 1965, Wroxton became the first ever overseas campus of an American university.

Fairleigh Dickinson University of New Jersey said it opened Wroxton College so students could "pursue their studies of English literature and history in one of the most historic and picturesque parts of England."

Trips to Oxford, Stratford-on-Avon, London and Paris are included in the course, which impressed a recent cohort of students.

"It's very important to learn about our roots," said Cora Gaibor. "It's really broadened my perspective and scope."

Gosia Swat said the appeal of coming to Wroxton was "getting to see everything you learn in history class but in real life."

"The basement here is 800 years old. Our country's not even 800 years old!" said Elizabeth Blath.

"I love the culture, the people and little things like saying 'Cheers' after every interaction!"

"Students should be aware of the fact that there is more to the world than the United States," said the Dean of Wroxton College, Dr Nicholas Baldwin.

"We want them to be aware that there are differences out there in the wider world. You are less likely to go to war with someone if you understand them than if you don't."

This year marks 250 years since the thirteen British colonies in America signed the Declaration of Independence, formally breaking away from the rule of King George the Third to form the United States of America.

So what would Lord North have thought of his home being taken over by Americans?

"I think on July 4th we hear him spinning in his grave," joked Dr Baldwin. "But in fairness, I think he's someone who is badly misjudged."

"The winners of the American Revolution wrote the history, so Lord North has become the bad guy. He was a far more important political figure than the loss of the thirteen colonies would have us believe."

In a further twist, Wroxton College itself was recently bought by former students and has broken away from the university that founded it.

"There's now a level of independence for Lord North's home and the college that didn't exist previously," said Dr Baldwin.

"So I'd like to think that he's spinning not quite so fast in his grave!"

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