Restoration work on one of Europe’s largest stately homes, Wentworth Woodhouse, has been granted £7.6m by the chancellor of the exchequer in last week’s Autumn Statement.
The Grade I-listed mansion near Rotherham was bought by the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust for £7m.
But the building and 82-acre estate is facing a £50m restoration bill.
It has featured in films and TV productions including a drama about artist J M W Turner and the BBC mini-series Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell.
Mike Fox, deputy director of Save Britain’s Heritage, said: “The money will put the trust on a sound footing.”
Chancellor Philip Hammond described the building as being at a “critical state of being lost to future generations”.
Mr Fox said the building was “comparable in size to a cathedral” and so were the costs of repairing it.
There was no specific information yet about the grant, he added.
Marcus Binney, of Save Britain’s Heritage, said this restoration was “the most arduous, time-consuming and complex rescue operation” the group had been involved with.
The house was put up for sale following the death of owner Clifford Newbold.
It is believed to be the largest private house in the UK, with 250,000 sq ft (23,000 sq m) of floor space.
