Campaigners who had hoped to draw up a rescue package to prevent East Riding Council selling off the Grade 1 listed building have received £27,000 in pledges since launching an appeal eight weeks ago.
But Martin Layton, chairman of the finance committee of the charity group Norwood House Beverley Ltd, says the response falls far short of the money they need.

East Riding Council, which owns Norwood House, agreed in May to seek expressions of interest from people wanting to restore the Georgian building which the authority has declared surplus to its own requirements.

The council agreed that a decision on the disposal of the building should be delayed until at least the end of September, which would give the campaigners more time to raise £1m towards the restoration costs.
The charity group has since written to every member of Beverley Civic Society and the Beverley High School Association, asking for contributions.

Norwood House was for many years part of the adjoining High School and Mr Layton said the bulk of the pledges received so far have been made by former pupils, including one pledge of £5,000 and another of £3,000.
The overall response, however, is disappointing.

"I had hoped that we would have pledges for £250,000 at this stage, but the response from the Civic Society has been virtually non-existent, which is very depressing. I can't understand why they are not wholly supportive of this fine building," he said.

"By September East Riding Council is going to be in a position to invite specific bids. That does not mean that someone will bid and sign a contract then, but it means from September the building could go to a developer at any time."

But Civic Society members have strongly denied that they are not supportive of the building, describing it as one of the town's treasures.

Executive committee member Barbara English said: "We think this is one of the most important buildings in the East Riding and certainly should be saved."

Fellow executive member Kate Gray said some Civic Society members are also former pupils of the High School and have already pledged money for Norwood House.

"The Civic Society is very supportive of the protection and restoration of the building because it is such an asset to the town," she said. "Members who are also old girls of the school have already pledged money, and I know people who are not old girls have given money as well."

East Riding Council leader, Stephen Parnaby, has already promised that the building will be sold for the best use, not necessarily to the highest bidder.

The charity group has been battling for six years to secure the funding needed to restore it as a community facility and museum. It is hoping to resubmit a bid for Lottery funding for the £3m project after raising capital funding towards it.

Mr Layton said if supporters would each pledge £11 a month for three years this would equate to £500 with gift aid tax relief, helping the campaign towards its target.

Anyone interested in helping the appeal can contact Mr Layton on tel (01482) 863724.

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