A descendant of the family who built the historic Abbey House in Malmesbury is hopeful of acquiring the Tudor mansion, after raising pledges for more than half the £3.5 million asking price.

Four months ago, careers advisor and adult education tutor Gordon Lewis launched a bid to buy the Grade-I listed property put on the market by Ian and Barbara Pollard, the “Naked Gardeners.”

Father-of-three Mr Lewis, 55, who lives in Southampton, drew up the scheme after discovering he was a member of the once wealthy Stumpe family, which built the home and its gardens in 1542.

Mr Lewis did not have the funds for the purchase, so appealed for major investors, while also proposing alternative options such as crowd funding, so money could be pledged in exchange for rewards.

He has had pledges amounting to £1.8 million – about 55 per cent of the target – with supporters including one substantial backer, two family members in the UK, including himself, and three Stumpe descendants in Australia.

Mr Lewis said: “We need another £1.3 million and it all seems to have stalled. But we are not giving up hope. We won’t call it day until we know that an offer has been made and accepted.”

Abbey House’s five-acre gardens attract visitors from all over the world, but Mr Lewis feared that if the property were snapped up by a wealthy individual it would close to the public.

He said: “I think that would be a tragedy. With its beautiful and environmentally friendly gardens, it should be accessible to the public.”

If his backers were able to buy Abbey House, he would explore the possibility of offering living history sessions, opening the house to visitors and offering apprenticeship opportunities to young people.

He added: “Some people have said this is all pie-in-the-sky. But nothing ventured nothing gained. And it still hasn’t been sold.”

Anthony Croaker, of agent Savills in Cirences-ter, said: “There’s been a lot of interest but the property remains for sale.”

For details of the appeal, see www.gordonlewis.co.uk