'A GEORGIAN folly in the region may be much more than it seemed following the start of restoration work.

The Landmark Trust took the unusual step of starting work on the refurbishment of The Ruin, at the Hackfall estate, which neighbours Fountains Abbey, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, before it had all the £500,000 needed to cover the cost.

There was concern that a deteriorating piece of history could be lost forever if work had not started immediately.

However, the risk appears to have been worthwhile. While teams were busy repairing the building, its similarity to work by famous architect Robert Adam became more apparent - and research now suggests the folly was probably built to one of his designs.

William Aislabie was the architect of the Hackfall gardens as well as the neighbouring water gardens at Fountains Abbey.

The theory is that he saw Adam's watercolour, Capriccio on Ruins, based his folly on the building in the picture and then took Adam himself to the Hackfall estate to see the work in progress in 1758.

Robert Adam, born in 1728, designed London's Portland Place, the facade of the Admiralty building in Whitehall and the Adelphi theatre, near the Strand.

Stephen Astley, librarian at the Soane Museum, London, which is showing examples of Adam's work, is convinced by the discovery. "Any new Adam attribution is big news," he said.

The historical significance of The Ruin - as the folly was originally named - adds impetus to the Landmark Trust appeal to raise the funds needed to finish the vital restoration work. About £140,000 remains to be found.

Trust director Peter Pearce said: "It is unusual for us to start on a project without first raising all the funds, but we had to begin work at The Ruin as the building was collapsing.

"Unless more money is raised this crucial work will have to stop."

Anyone wishing to contribute to the restoration costs can contact the trust on (01628) 825920.