Emergency call for historic hall volunteers

Jul 19 2008 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

NATIONAL Trust bosses last night appealed for local people to come forward and help in the fight to save a historic stately home.

Volunteers are being urged to pledge their time to support an appeal to raise £1m from the people of the North East towards the cost of Seaton Delaval Hall, which is up for sale.

The National Trust will put forward £6.9m to save the 18th Century building if a national campaign can raise a further £6.3m.

And Peter Brabban, the National Trust regional volunteering officer, last night encouraged people to lend a hand.

He said: “Volunteers are vital for the survival of Seaton Delaval Hall. They are as important as any paid member of staff.

“Nationally, the Trust has around 52,000 volunteers, they outnumber the staff ten to one and it’s actually these people who run the organisation.

“Without these people it would be like losing an arm.

“If we don’t have them we are doing the task with only one hand.

“It’s something that they enjoy too. It’s fulfilling and they are working at the very centre of this appeal.”

In total, one volunteer manager is needed along with five administrators, two corporate researchers, 10 historic researchers and one liaison officer.

And an infinite number of community fundraisers are also needed to help raise cash to save the hall.

Mr Brabban said: “These are all important roles and are pivotal in what we are trying to achieve here.

“They will be working with the project team and doing all kinds of things.” Seaton Delaval Hall, near Seaton Sluice, Northumberland, was built between 1718 and 1731 by Sir John Vanbrugh, architect of Blenheim Palace and Castle Howard, as well as a leading dramatist and wit of his day.

With its bold, daring and dramatic architectural style, it is widely regarded as one of the greatest masterpieces of the English Baroque.

Yet it could now be turned into a hotel or a golf club, or another commercial development, unless the National Trust can raise around £13m to save it for the nation.

Its owner, Lord Hastings, is having to sell the Hall, along with its gardens, grounds and a large area of the surrounding countryside, following the death of his parents last year.

Anyone willing to lend a hand should call (0190) 477 1963 or e-mail y&ne.volunteering@nationaltrust.org.uk.