Extra time plea as Seaton Delaval Hall nears its goal
Jan 19 2009 by Tony Henderson, The Journal
A PLEA is to be made for more time to raise the funds needed to acquire Seaton Delaval Hall.
The decision on the National Trust’s bid to save the Northumberland hall for the public is due to be taken by the charity’s board of trustees on Wednesday. But the trust’s regional project team will be asking the trustees to extend their January deadline in order to await the outcome of large public sector grant bids.
If successful, these grants will help to close the gap on the trust’s £6.3m funding target, £2m of which has already been raised through a public appeal.
Liz Fisher, area manager for the National Trust, said: “Delaying the decision would be an extremely positive and sensible thing to do as there has been such widespread public support for the acquisition.
“Approximately 100,000 people have contributed their ideas and/or money to help save and shape the future of Seaton Delaval Hall, enabling us to raise £2m so far.”
When the trust first approached their trustees about the acquisition in June last year, an agreement was given in principle on the condition that the trust could raise £6.3m before the end of that year, and that there was widespread public support for the trust’s ownership.
The trustees also pledged £6.9m of the trust’s money to provide an endowment to care for the hall in perpetuity should the challenges be met.
Liz said: “If the appeal is given the extension it needs, the groundwork to raise the remaining £4.3m has already been laid.”
This includes two major grant applications to public sector bodies and there is also hope that a major part of the hall will be gifted in lieu of inheritance tax.
Following the death of both of his parents in 2007, hall owner Lord Hastings has an inheritance tax liability and he has offered a significant part of the property to the trust in settlement of that liability. Once those details have been settled the trust will then look to the National Heritage Memorial Fund to contribute towards any gap.
The public fundraising appeal, although now on target at £2m, with the trustees’ agreement, will continue into this spring to achieve the final fundraising goal which it is hoped will secure the hall’s future.
Liz said: “The National Trust is a charity that looks after special places forever for everyone and we would love Seaton Delaval Hall to be one of these places.
“As we move into the future, the more funds we raise, the more opportunities we can provide at the hall, so please don’t stop giving.”
