The public rallied to save Tyntesfield House

The National Trust raised the sum to buy the Tyntesfield estate near Bristol.

The achievement was recognised when the trust won the Fundraising Campaign of the Year Award 2003 at the UK Charity Awards.

Support for Tyntesfield came from the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) and the Heritage Lottery Fund as well as the public.

The trust beat campaigns from other charities including Amnesty International and Marie Curie Cancer Care to earn the accolade.

When the National Trust announced an emergency campaign to save Tyntesfield from being sold and divided up in April 2002, it received overwhelming support.

'Public passion'

The trust says the property in Wraxall, North Somerset, is of unique historical importance and is a complete collection of building and contents, and also financial records, invoices, bills and other paperwork, providing a unique insight into social history.

Gill Raikes, The National Trust's Director of Fundraising, said: "There was a genuine public fear that we would lose Tyntesfield and all that it represented.

"Our success in raising the necessary funds so quickly reflected not only the enthusiasm and dedication of staff throughout the trust but also the overwhelming public passion for this unique property".

Donations from organisations and more than 50,000 individuals raised �1.5m in 50 days.

The campaign was sealed by �17.4m towards the purchase pledged by the NHMF - the largest amount ever awarded by the fund for a single project.