Discovering the many layers of Clandon Park

April 2021 marks six years since a powerful fire took hold of Clandon Park. It stripped away most of the house’s interiors, burning through many of the timber walls and floors that divided it into over forty rooms.
Since then, we've been learning, discovering, and caring for Clandon, as we respond to the huge task of finding the right future for the house. Take a look inside today to see the fascinating challenges and discoveries we have uncovered so far, as we care for this extraordinary place.
Read a blog from Project Director Kent about our work so far: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/blog...

[@MrSkosig]

I’m so happy I saw Clandon House and all the amazing plaster work in the hall, it was so very beautiful and ornate and so white like a beautifully iced cake! ❤️

[@wouterbussink2227]

Where to begin!? What a task.

[@tommiller1315]

I hope Nat Trust had insurance covering the cost of repair. This shows how many of the Great British historic treasures were created, adapted, and maintained by designers, tradespeople, and those with the power and financial ability to create them.

[@salus1231]

It's taking longer to restore than it did to build and they are now not going to do a full interior restoration, only put some saved items back and hang up some paintings, only an exterior restoration and inside will be walkways to wander about. I wonder if it will work and be popular or if it will fail, after all those years, and eventually years n years later they go for a full interior restoration by 2033¬!

[@user-so6tf7jt2h]

Get Dan the gardener over from France, he would take care of that with his buds in no time.

[@romuco9872]

'......the Trust has since announced in 2022 its intention to restore only the Speaker's Parlour, the external walls, the roof and the windows and conserve the rest of the house in its ruined state while making it accessible to the public.' I think that's a very wise decision, considering the only reason it should be a monument of sorts is to the tradespeople that built it and the slaves that help the owners afford such ridiculous opulence.

[@TheFiown]

So many much grander, older and more significant houses than Clandon have been either left to rot or been demolished as if they were nothing. Something like 5000 estated in the UK have gone under since the 1920's, most leaving little trace as if they had never existed, it is criminel and a great loss. I live in France where hundreds of incredible chateaux are left to rot, some fully furnished, so sad to see.

[@paulharkins1082]

WOW! I thought the building would be at least half way done. It’s been what five or six years. We had a old store building burn down. With in two months it was rebuilt and look like nothing happened. Somebody need to get in over drive and at least get it started.

[@ludovica8221]

Let it go. There are lots of buildings that need conservation, This one is gone. The money would be better spent elsewhere in conserving what exists not recreating what no longer exists

[@graphicsguy719]

Blah, Blah, Blah... All talk and no progress. The amount of time & money that has passed with little to show for it is ridiculous. People are losing interest. Windsor Castle for God's sake was rebuilt more quickly.

[@kismit100]

Perhaps you should run the country

[@Odo55]

The history behind how this house came to be and the family who acquired such wealth on the backs of slaves, well maybe it should have been left to total destruction. What really is the purpose in investing so much time and money into something that glorifies a terrible institution and time in human history ?

[@henrylivingstone2800]

Oh shut up, you act as if the entirety of humanity hasn’t engaged in slavery. Who do you think sold the slaves to the Europeans? African kings and Arab slavers. The Dahomey, the Mali, the Ashanti, and the Benin all sold slaves. How do you think they built their vast empires? Those Benin bronzes taken by the British in the 19th century demanded by the Nigerians? Made from bronze from the Dutch in exchange for slaves. Get off your high horse. Every culture and ethnic group has engaged in slavery. It’s hardly a European phenomenon.

[@apebass2215]

The architects, artisans, stonemasons and other tradespeople did not make their money from slavery, but from their skills. Their effort and aesthetic culture deserve to be preserved.

[@Odo55]

@@apebass2215 In agreement , although the builders and artisans did make their money directly from the slave masters who amassed their fortunes from their slave holdings, primarily in the Caribbean. There's no question about how grand and beautiful these homes were. I wonder how well the builders and artisans were compensated.

[@brucecavey9759]

Then you LEARN NOT TO REPEAT IT AGAIN !!! Teach , educate and move forwards !!

[@kathleenclark5877]

@@apebass2215I heartily agree with you. It isn’t the building’s fault, for crying out loud. The beauty of such architectural masterpieces are there to be admired for the skills on the part of the architect, the stone masons, the designers and everyone involved. All of this wokeism is simply “looking at the past with today’s understanding” full stop. The people involved with the creation of such wonderful places had no part in those issues and should be appreciated for their individuals skills, not the politics that went into financing it. It is the same with restoring Notre Dame. They are all doing such a wonderful job doing so but there are some bemoaning spending so much money in the process. They need to get over themselves. I am so glad you made this point!