Tyntesfield is the biggest county house crisis in years. So far the response has been fantastic. Just two months ago, the house was virtually unknown and headed for break-up. Now thanks to determined campaigning it has risen to the top of the heritage agenda. The National Trust has taken an energetic and commendable lead, first in agreeing to take on the property and now launching a public appeal. As of now there is a remarkable amount of goodwill on all sides towards achieving a solution in the form of acquisition by the Trust - both from the executors and from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The most recent fillip is the Grade I listing of the house by Tessa Jowell, the most detailed listing description I have yet encountered as far as interiors go, even mentioning the heated billiard table.

The big problem is that time is short. The executors have to take a decision by mid-June as to whether to hold a big Christie's sale of the contents late in the summer. By that time the NT has to submit a large and complex lottery application and the HLF have to review it and make a decision.

You can support the campaign in a number of practical ways.

First you can buy a copy of our lightning leaflet 'The Tyntesfield Emergency';

Second, you can write to the five addresses given there - as an encouraging number of Friends and supporters of SAVE already have. These can also be found on SAVE's website;

Third you can make a modest donation to SAVE's campaign, or a larger one to the NT appeal - their dedicated phone line for donations 0870 458 4500, or alternatively, send a donation to:

The National Trust, Save Tyntesfield Campaign,

FREEPOST MB 2007, Bromley, Kent, BR1 3BR.