Delaval Hall bid team starting work
Aug 7 2008 by Paul Loraine, The Journal
THE first volunteers have started work for the National Trust as part of an effort to save a North East stately home.
The trust has said it will put forward £6.9m to save Seaton Delaval Hall, in Northumberland, providing that a national campaign can raise the remaining £6.3m.
Last month, they issued a call for volunteers to fill a variety of roles, including researchers and community fundraisers. And as a large scale public consultation continues to provide a forum for debate on possible uses for the hall, a team of four workers has begun the process of building up a better picture of the site’s history.
Peter Brabban, who is overseeing the National Trust’s volunteering programme, said the response to their call for volunteers had been extremely positive. “We have started four people doing research and one has gone on to the rota to be a tour guide,” he said. “They are going to do a job now to generate all the information we can about the hall.
“But when they finish we will give them the opportunity to go on into other roles. We are not saying: ‘Your relationship with the hall finishes when the project finishes.’ They are researching one of the Delaval women, Rhoda. She was a pretty strong character, a painter in her own right. If you like, she was one of those iconic women of the 18th Century. I’m looking forward to seeing what they come up with on her.”
The 18th Century building is being sold by owner Lord Hastings and a target has been set to raise £1m in the North East. If the money is not raised, the building will be sold privately and uses could range from flats to a golf course.
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.
The volunteer work will go towards setting the consultation in context, filling out the trust’s understanding of the hall’s history, and what makes it unique.
Mr Brabban said: “All of the information they find will go towards things like the guide book but we will also keep an archive of information which people interested in the hall can dip into.”
The trust is still looking for volunteers to fill a number of different roles.
They are: community fundraisers, to work with communities as they look to raise money; volunteer speakers with a knowledge of the hall; and a manager to oversee the volunteer effort alongside Mr Brabban. Anyone willing to lend a hand should call (0190) 477-1963 or email y&ne.volunteering@nationaltrust.org.uk
