Grundy wonders if video will help hall
Aug 29 2008 by Paul Loraine, The Journal
A RENOWNED local historian is supporting a campaign to save a stately home by making a video tour for The Journal’s website.
John Grundy presents TV programme Grundy’s Wonders, which explores the cultural heritage of the North East. He will shoot the video at Seaton Delaval Hall in Northumberland next week.
He is playing his part in an effort by the National Trust, who have promised £6.9m to save the hall providing that a national campaign can raise the remaining £6.3m.
If the money is not raised, the hall could still be turned into a hotel, a golf club, or another commercial development.
The trust’s proposed intervention has been met with widespread support, and a large-scale public consultation process is now under way to decide how best to use the hall, gardens and grounds.
Mr Grundy, of Gosforth, Newcastle, stressed the campaign’s significance in the region, explaining the special cultural and historical place the house occupies.
He said: “It is a house of stupendous importance. As a piece of architecture, it’s fantastic.
“In the National Trust handbook, there isn’t a more important house from an architectural point of view.
“Vanbrugh is one of the four or five major architects in British history and this is his masterpiece.
“Secondly, it achieves even greater significance when seen from a Northern point of view.
“It is the finest country house in the North of England and the only one we have, I suspect which can sit in an international context and appear in books all over the world.”
The 18th Century building is being sold by owner Lord Hastings and the trust has urged volunteers to help raise £1m in the North East before Christmas. And it is hoped Mr Grundy’s videos will fuel the fundraising effort.
He said there would be five videos in total – a general overview and separate films of the grounds, cellars, hall and stables.
Mr Grundy said: “We will be stressing the special Northern quality, remembering that Vanbrugh said the North was ‘far better than the tame, sneaking South’.
“There is also the opportunity to tell the story of a quite extraordinary family.”
The Journal is backing the regional appeal and a special website address has been set up – www.journallive.co.uk/ seatondelavalhall. It is hoped that Mr Grundy’s video will appear on the site within the next fortnight.
A forum on the site allows people to offer up potential uses for the hall. Among the suggestions are a heritage and arts centre, a summer camp for children and training grounds for students studying botany and garden design.
A masterpiece of English baroque
SEATON Delaval Hall was built between 1718 and 1729 by English architect Sir John Vanbrugh.
With its bold architectural style, it is widely regarded as one of the greatest masterpieces of the English Baroque.
But unless the National Trust can raise around £13m to save it, the hall could be turned into a hotel or a golf club.
Lord Hastings decided to sell the stately home following the deaths of his parents last year.
Anyone wanting to help should contact Iain Miles for a community fundraising pack on (01670) 773939.
Donations by cheque should be made out to The National Trust and sent to: Seaton Delaval Hall Campaign, The National Trust, PO Box 39, Warrington, WA5 7BR.
