Tyntesfield House was purchased by the trust in 2002

A Trust spokesman said 1,918,744 visitors visited its pay-for-entry properties in the Wessex region, which comprises Somerset, Gloucestershire, Dorset and Wiltshire.

Star performers included Lytes Cary in Somerset - up 54% on 2002. Also in Somerset, Clevedon Court celebrated a 13.75% increase, while Bath's Prior Park welcomed a 37% jump in the number of visitors, the spokesman said.

The house and gardens at Stourhead in Wiltshire also had a good year, with an increase of 15% across 2003.

'Tremendous year'

Newark Park in Gloucestershire welcomed more than 10,000 visitors for the first time in 2003, reaching the landmark figure one year after its first full season.

Dyrham Park also reached a major milestone - 100,000 visitors in 2003, an increase of 25% on 2002.

Celia Mead, of the trust said: "It has been a tremendous year for the National Trust in Wiltshire, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Somerset and we would like to thank everyone who has visited a National Trust property in 2003 for their continued support."

This year 28,000 visitors - plus groups of students and young adults - visited Tyntesfield, the Gothic country house near Bristol, which was bought by the Trust in 2002.