THE historic Deepdene estate could be restored to its former glory and reopened to the public thanks to a lottery grant.
The Hope Springs Eternal project, headed by Mole Valley District Council, applied for a £2 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, and has passed the first stage of the process, receiving £123,700.
The estate, famously owned by Regency arts patron Thomas Hope, stretches from Box Hill to Brockham and over the past century parts have been taken over by housing, businesses and a golf course. The remaining 70 acres has become disjointed and overgrown, and it is hoped that if the full grant is approved the estate's Mausoleum would be repaired and would form the centrepiece in a restored historic landscape at The Deepdene.
Richard Burrows, head of service at the district council, said: "We are thrilled to receive support from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
"We'd like to thank all the local residents who wrote in support of the project – their backing is invaluable.
"Through working with our partners, we want to open up this important area for residents and visitors so that they can learn about its rich history and appreciate its wonderful natural features."
The funding will be used over the next year to conduct surveys, consultations and other key activities to develop plans in order to apply for the full amount of funding at a later date.
If this second stage is successful, the estate's historic features and walks will be repaired, and education and volunteer co-ordinators will be recruited as part of opening the site to the public.
In 2010 a grand mausoleum was excavated, containing the bodies of Thomas Hope and his family, and the project team plans to repair and reopen it as the centrepiece of the estate.
Alex Bagnall, the council's tree and countryside officer, said: "It's a good opportunity to tell the story of the rise and fall of the estate, which has been largely forgotten.
"What is exciting is that it is this lost landscape just waiting to be discovered. It's really the last of the big undiscovered estates."
Already a regular presence on the site is the recently formed Friends of Deepdene.
The group meets twice a week to carry out maintenance, restoration and conservation tasks on the estate, and have been liaising with the district council as part of its bid.
