Volunteers at the second-hand bookshop at Oxburgh Hall have raised over £11,000 to buy back a portrait which was removed from the hall for sale in 1951.

Volunteers at the second-hand bookshop at Oxburgh Hall have raised over £11,000 to buy back a portrait which was removed from the hall for sale with other collectables in 1951.

The painting, a portrait of Lady Arundell of Wardour attributed to Enoch Seeman, is to be reinstalled ready for the hall's new season.

Charles and Sheila Milner and their team of volunteers have run the second-hand bookshop at the hall for six years, raising around £10,000 each year.

Mr Milner said he was delighted that fund raising efforts in 2007 enabled The National Trust to buy back the portrait.

"We were very anxious on the day of the auction as we had been warned that the presale estimate of £4000 to £6000 was likely to be exceeded. Clearly other bidders were interested. We were all overjoyed when we heard the news that the Trust had been successful with a final price of £11,644.”

He added: "Many people have generously donated books to us for the benefit of the property. We welcome this opportunity to thank all the donors and purchasers for supporting the Bookshop which has enabled the Trust to acquire the portrait."

The painting will be displayed on an easel on its return to Oxburgh. Originally displayed in the saloon at Oxburgh Hall, the portrait parted company from it in 1951, when its contents were put up for sale.

Teresa would like to hear from anybody who thinks they may have items formerly belonging to the Hall. “It would be wonderful to trace more of the objects that were sold from Oxburgh. We want visitors to enjoy the property as it would have been, so please get in touch if know the whereabouts of any items from Oxburgh”.

Contact Oxburgh Hall on 01366 328258 or oxburghhall@nationaltrust.org.uk