How The Journal helped saved Seaton Delaval Hall

Dec 17 2009 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

Environment Editor Tony Henderson reports on a campaign which won the hearts and minds of the North East and beyond

IT’S ours! The National Trust will announce today that Seaton Delaval Hall has been saved for the North East and the nation.

A campaign – championed from the off by The Journal – was launched to acquire the 18th century hall in south east Northumberland, with its gardens and over 400 acres of surrounding land.

Now, after 18 months of fundraising and activities involving 30,000 people – mostly from the region – the masterpiece by architect Sir John Vanbrugh and its “green lung” surrounds will open to visitors from May 1 next year.

The hall is sited in an area of Northumberland that has missed out in the past on major visitor attractions and is on the doorstep of the Tyneside conurbation.

It became available after the deaths in 2007 of Lord and Lady Hastings, who lived in the west wing. The property passed to their son, Lord Hastings, who farms in Norfolk.

Today, culture minister Margaret Hodge will join Fiona Reynolds, director-general of the National Trust, people from the local community and many other supporters and well-wishers in a celebration at Seaton Delaval Hall.

Local fundraisers from south east Northumberland alone raised £70,000 for the campaign.

David Ronn, regional director for the National Trust, said that behind the success of the appeal was a phenomenal public response which raised over £3m.

£1m came from One North East, and £100,000 each from Northumberland County Council and the Art Fund.