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Reproduced with kind permission of The Yorkshire Post Article appeared 26th March 2002.

by Alexandra Wood

A MAJOR social event in April will mark the start of a campaign to raise up to £2m to save one of Beverley's finest houses from falling into ruin. Norwood House, built in 1760 for lawyer and three times mayor of Beverley Jonathan Midgley, belongs to the age of the Prince Regent, Brighton Pavilion and masked balls. But after being vacated by Beverley High School the Grade 1 listed building faced an uncertain future as it rapidly deteriorated. Former pupil Gill Taylor and a group of like-minded enthusiasts set out to save the building from property developers and persuaded East Riding Council to let them have it for a peppercorn rent. Over the past year the group has formed a charitable trust to turn the house into a working Georgian museum and also to recreate a period garden on the adjoining half-acre of land. The house will have a strong educational element and could be the base for arts classes, as well as forming part of the proposed Beverley Heritage Trails, which aims to encompass the town's many fine buildings between North Bar and Beverley Beck. Although the lease has still not been signed, the trust is poised to bid for between £1.5m and £2m funding, with the main application going to the Heritage Lottery Fund. The beginning of the fundraising campaign kicks off on April 25, with a soiree in the Conference Hall at Bishop Burton College, where Prof. John Wilton-Ely, a distinguished authority on Georgian architecture, will speak about the importance of Norwood House. Two guests of honour, Susan Cunliffe-Lister of Burton Agnes Hall and Lord Lieutenant of the East Riding Richard Marriott, will share their experiences of fine country houses. Mrs. Taylor, chair of the trust, said the garden land had not yet been released as it was still classified as part of the school, but otherwise things were progressing. Mrs. Taylor said "East Riding Council have been extremely helpful, but it's been a chicken and egg scenario - the garden land must be released before we can sign the lease and go for funding. "But we've decided to go ahead with the functions to get things started. The tickets only went on sale at the weekend and invitations have also gone out to notables and worthies. "We think people who went to school there, or who are just interested in saving a piece of the area's history, will want to come". The trust is keeping a regular watch over the house and says that although dry rot has appeared in some areas, the roof is in good condition, and the building should not deteriorate further over the summer months. If you would like to make a donation, are able to offer help or have any information about the history of the building or it's former residents then please do not hesitate to contact Gill Taylor at Press@norwoodhouse.org.uk