![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOfA66MZnOfTy7GhL-IN90WrhkA3Y9EkAxDbQSyjMs6iswhMjW4qaVlsqjHW6bABJMuDSVn6xB1DoAWeC9YnKRL6Wwz9j-OsmPiLdgCqLIlzys2OpzYxuBmM49g5YXtgfoLQI2Q/s400/Doyles.jpg)
I know the London and Oxford Oratories well, but this was my first visit to the Birmingham Oratory. In light of Newman's forthcoming beatification it was a particular privilege to see Newman's room, where he worked and slept, until he was a cardinal; at that point he was given a separate bedroom, and part of his old room became his private oratory, and the rest remained his study. It is to a remarkable extent exactly as he left it.
![Newman's room](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3425/3741644365_d174841af0_b.jpg)
![Newmans chapel](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2463/3742434194_485de80884_b.jpg)
Among the fascinating personal items of Newman which can be seen there is his 'soup-plate' hat, red for a Cardinal and with gold braid on it (properly a Capello Romano, or Saturno).
![Red Cappello Romano (or Saturno)](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2465/3742458282_8f5e7deb85_b.jpg)
Newman had a great devotion to St Francis de Sales, and one wall of the little chapel is decorated with etchings depicting his life. There is also a painting of St Francis over the altar. Here is St Francis giving a Rule to St Jane Frances de Chantal, with whom he founded the Order of the Visitation.
![St Francis de Sales](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3517/3742501836_7daf3d4f96_b.jpg)
There is also a highly practical and space-saving vestment press.
![Vestment press](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2628/3742494496_12c7678f69_b.jpg)
Fr Philip also showed us the library and the refectory, both of which are as Newman knew them. While the church was rebuilt (as a memorial to him, in fact) after he died, the Oratory House is essentially unchanged.
![Refectory2](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3186/3742506316_fab9bbca78_b.jpg)
Newman used the desk on the right, below, to write the Apologia (although it wasn't at that time in the library).
![Library1](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2470/3742419262_9548c12183_b.jpg)
There are some more photographs in my Flickr set here. Readers may remember my post about a book inscribed by Newman, which is here.