Editing National Trust (section)

===The postwar years===
[[File:Cotehele, house from courtyard.jpg|thumb|Cothele]]

After [[World War II]] the [[National Land Fund]] was set up by the government as a "thank-offering for victory" with the purpose of using money from the sale of surplus war stores to acquire property in the national interest. The scheme also allowed for the transfer to the Trust of historic houses and land left to the government in payment of estate duty. The first open space acquired by the Trust under the Land scheme was farmland at [[Hartsop]] in the Lake District; the first country house was [[Cotehele]] in Cornwall. Later acquisitions included [[Hardwick Hall]], [[Ickworth House]], [[Penrhyn Castle]] and [[Sissinghurst Castle Garden]].<ref name=Fedden>{{cite book |first=Robin | last=Fedden |title=The National Trust: past and present |date=1974 |publisher=Jonathan Cape |location=London}}</ref>{{rp|68–70}} The Land Fund was replaced in 1980 by the [[National Heritage Memorial Fund]].

The work of the Trust was aided by further legislation during this period: the [[Town and Country Planning Act 1947]] led to greater cooperation between local authorities and the Trust, while the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953 allowed the Trust to receive government grants for the upkeep and maintenance of historic buildings on the same terms as other owners.{{r|Fedden|p=72–78}}

A major project, begun in 1959 and completed in 1964, was the restoration of the southern section of the [[Stratford-upon-Avon Canal]]. The Trust was persuaded to take on the scheme by [[John Smith (Conservative politician)|John Smith]] and the work was carried out by hundreds of volunteers.{{r|Acorn|p=191–193}}

Between 1945 and 1965 the Trust, under the chairmanship of [[David Lindsay, 28th Earl of Crawford]], saw a growth in its membership from 7,850 to 157,581 and growth in its staff from 15 to 450. The area of land owned by the Trust increased from {{convert|112,000|acres}} in 1945 to {{convert|328,000|acres|ha km2 sqmi}} in 1965, with a further {{convert|53,000|acres}} covenanted.{{r|Acorn|p=335–337}} In May 1945, the Trust's London headquarters had moved to premises in [[Queen Anne's Gate]].{{r|Acorn|p=335–337}}