Prince Charles has made a vital contribution to the saving of the former home and studio of renowned Victorian artists George Frederick Watts and his wife, the ceramicist Mary Seton Watts.

The Prince of Wales became the Royal Patron of the Limnerslease Appeal in 2011. He hosted a number of fundraising events to collect the £5 million ($7.64 million) required for the first phase of conservation and restoration of the 19th century Grade-II heritage listed property in the village of Compton, Surrey.

The beautifully decorated Limnerslease estate is adorned with fireplaces and ceilings designed by Mary Seton Watts, and also features the Watt’s gallery, pottery, and chapel.

Last month, the Prince hosted a fundraiser at Clarence House to encourage patrons to support the Watts Gallery Trust. The organization has until March 2016 to raise the remaining £1 million ($1.52 million) required to prevent the stately home from going on the market.

Perdita Hunt, Director of the Watts Gallery, hopes that the royal helping hand will help the Watts Gallery Trust to secure the property. “The acquisition and restoration of Limnerslease would be a major step towards the creation of an artists’ village in Compton,” she told the Art Newspaper.

According to the Independent Prince Charles has a strong passion for architecture and has long been deeply involved in the conservation of classic British architecture, having served as Royal Patron of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings from 1977 to 2009.