ARCHAEOLOGIST Alexander Keiller’s drawing office will be brought to life by the National Trust at Avebury, as work begins at the 20th century excavator’s former home.

The drawing office was believed to be where Mr Keiller under took his most important work following excavation projects in the village including the discovery of the 5,000 year old Avebury stone circle.

Funded by money raised from a raffle and donations from the general public, the transformation will take place over the next two years.

The project will offer visitors a unique insight into how restoration work takes place because the drawing room will remain open throughout.

Photographs and archive material will be used to turn the space into a near identical representation of the conditions Mr Keiller experienced in the 1930s

Amelia Bryan the house manager at Avebury Manor, who is overseeing the work, said: "We’ve known for some time that this room was Keiller’s drawing office, the workroom for his archaeological work – but it has not been possible to open it to the public until now. Now it’s our task to bring this room back to life again, so that people can see another part of the history of the house."

During the work staff at the house discovered Mr Keiller’s plan chest which revealed a key insight into his work and life.

Born in Scotland, Mr Keiller inherited the Keiller Marmalade fortune and excavated in Avebury between 1925 and 1939 and owned Avebury Manor from 1937 to 1955.

Tickets for the raffle are £1 each and for each ticket sold the National Trust matches the cost.

Tickets are available at Avebury Manor in the Keiller Drawing Office and also in visitor reception in the Old Farmyard.

The first prize for the raffle is £10,000, second prize is £5,000, third prize is £2,000, fourth prize is £1,000 and there are also 20 x £25 National Trust gift cards to be won. The draw takes place onNovember 24.