Tyntesfield was saved as the result of a magnificent response from our supporters. In 100 days, over 77,000 people donated £8.2 million.
 
© National Trust
Saving the skills of yesterday
By transforming Tyntesfield’s Sawmill into a learning hub, we hope to equip a new generation of craftsmen with the skills they need to care for our precious built heritage. Local tradesmen will find out which materials and techniques to use on pre-1919 structures. It’s clear that we must do more to keep traditional skills alive. So that’s what we plan to do, with your help, as we continue our work at Tyntesfield and restore one very special building.
From electricity to education
The Grade-II listed Sawmill once housed batteries and steam-powered engines that supplied the house with its electricity until around 1950. The saw was a later addition, giving the building yet another purpose. Now in semi-ruin, we want to resurrect this building and write the next chapter in its history.
Our vision is to transform the Sawmill into a place where the skills of the past can be carried into the future. Where the specialist knowledge required to care for our old buildings will be transferred to young conservators and homeowners alike. As well as practical conservation skills, the Sawmill will give visitors the chance to learn about everything from Victorian history to gardening and wildlife, textiles and furniture.
Its purpose will be to engage, educate and inspire school children, local residents, families – people of all ages and backgrounds – in the years ahead.
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© National Trust
Restoring the heart of the sawmill
The progress we’ve made at Tyntesfield since 2002 would not have been possible without the dedication of our volunteers, and the Sawmill project is no exception. Remaining at the heart of the learning centre will be the original 1952 saw, its engine and blades restored by three enthusiastic retired engineers. The saw was rusted and broken before they got their hands on it, but after a lot of research and careful work it’s on the way to working order. It’s a constant reminder of the building’s history, and a great example of how traditional skills can live on through restoration.
Help us give new life to dying skills and an extraordinary building
Can you give £35 to help us complete this vital work? Your gift can do so much more than transform the old Sawmill.
By donating today, you could help bring dying skills back to life, and rescue some of our most precious places from an uncertain future.
By donating £35, you’ll be maintaining a proud tradition of philanthropy at Tyntesfield. William Gibbs funded schools, colleges and hospitals still in operation today. We think he would have approved of our plans for the old Sawmill.
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