Living national treasures

A number of properties in the care of the National Trust are still occupied by the families who gave them to the nation. John Goodall speaks to donors’ descendants who remain closely involved in the life of these places to find how they help keep them alive for the public

Great Chalfield Manor, Wiltshire, was given to the National Trust in 1943 by Robert and Mabel Fuller. Their grandson and his wife, Robert and Patsy Floyd, manage this beautiful 15th-century manor house, its garden, and its home farm The vast majority of visitors who come to Great Chalfield love the fact that they’re coming to a home and not only a museum. We really enjoy welcoming visitors here, as well as the excitements of filming—The Other Boleyn Girl and Poldark were shot here. The garden is a particular care of Patsy and large numbers of visitors come simply to see its development and changing face season by season. We have established a local Friends Association, too, which supports the Arts-and-Crafts gardens with events such as a Plant Fair in May and Bath Opera’s annual travelling show in the Great Hall.

As an organisation, the Trust forms the mainstay of what we do: it takes responsibility for the repair of the fabric—a huge concern for many privately owned houses— not to mention such practicalities as public relations. Its work of advertising the property, for example, brings a steady, growing stream of interested visitors. In 2019, we welcomed 21,611 visitors, of whom 7,782 came to enjoy the gardens.

Our role in the life of the property is one of encouragement and oversight. We actively facilitate the study and enjoyment of Great Chalfield: if someone is interested, we try to give constructive encouragement to that interest, whatever it is. It helps people feel involved and it produces remarkable returns in the form of volunteering and publications on everything from the history of the house to the surrounding flora and fauna.