Newcastle Racecourse backs campaign to save Seaton Delaval Hall

May 13 2009 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

ODDS on Seaton Delaval Hall being saved by the National Trust were last night cut as a major backer lent its support to the campaign.

Newcastle Racecourse has joined the drive to save the 18th Century hall by agreeing to donate a percentage of ticket sales from their Seaton Delaval Trophy Day on June 25 to the trust’s appeal.

The race day forms part of the Northumberland Plate Festival and can attract crowds of up to 28,000 race-goers.

If ticket sales match those of last year then the racecourse could raise over £25,000 for the appeal.

Mark Spincer, executive director at Newcastle Racecourse, said: “Seaton Delaval Hall is a unique and historic part of the nation’s heritage and the National Trust’s campaign to save the property for posterity and keep it open to the public is hugely important.

“The people of the North East have already contributed magnificently to the fund to buy the hall and I hope that our Seaton Delaval Trophy Day, which is the opening day of the Northumberland Plate Festival, will provide a big boost to the campaign’s total.