Tyntesfield

'Tyntesfield in Somerset is surely the last of England's great country houses to offer itself for rescue. Saving these majestic piles has been a genteel country sport for more than a century'. So wrote Simon Jenkins in the Times on the 3rd May 2003.

The challenge at Tyntesfield was huge - none of the many heirs to the estate of Lord Wraxall could afford to buy the other out, with the possible result that the house and estate would be sold off, and the contents dispersed through the auction houses. A familiar tale to long term supporters of SAVE - the list of missed opportunities, including the like of Mentmore, made all involved more determined to ensure a success.

SAVE led a determined campaign to see the house and its contents bought for the nation. The big problem was that of time - we had only a couple of months to bring the situation to the public's attention, while working with others to find a solution. The response to the campaign was fantastic, with wide coverage across the national press.

The National Trust took an energetic and commendable lead, agreeing to take on the property and launching a public appeal. The trustees of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, now a part of the HLF, but formed from the Land fund as a result of SAVE's efforts following the Mentmore debacle, granted the National Trust their largest single grant to date to aid the purchase of the building and its collections.

The house is now open to the public through the National Trust on a limited basis - the start of a happy new era in the house's life.

SAVE report on Tyntesfield, 'The Tyntesfield Emergency' was instrumental in persuading decision makers at all levels of the importance of the cause. To read this document,

click here (PDF 924KB)