Clandon Park

Follow our progress to rebuild Clandon Park, honouring the rich heritage of its past and creating a new legacy for the future

More about this place

A witch mark carved into plaster in the basement at Clandon Park, Surrey

Witch marks discovered 

During our research since the fire, we’ve revealed a number of secrets hidden from view since Clandon Park was built almost 300 years ago. Most recently, we’ve uncovered a number of apotropaic marks, commonly known as witch marks. Surprising discoveries given the date that the mansion was built but, where evil spirits are concerned, perhaps it’s always better to be safe than sorry....

Back to top
Clandon Park

What's on

Holy Trinity Church, Guildford

Christmas Carol Concert 

Christmas has always been a special time of year at Clandon Park and our annual carol concert has long been one of our favourite traditions. Since the fire in 2015 it’s one we’ve been keen to continue. Join the brilliant Oxford Singers for their 33rd year performing in support of Clandon, this year in the beautiful setting of Holy Trinity Church, Guildford.

Back to top
Clandon Park

Our work

The exterior of Clandon Park following the end of the salvage project

What's happening in 2018 

It’s another important year for our restoration project. With an architect-led design team in place following 2017’s international design competition, we now embark on a year of careful planning and consultation. Project Director, Paul Cook, talks about what’s in store for 2018 at Clandon Park.

Our architects
A design concept for the restoration, reimagining and rebuilding of Clandon

Architects Allies and Morrison appointed 

Allies and Morrison, a multi award-winning architecture and urban planning practice, have been chosen to help us restore, rebuild and reimagine Clandon Park. They were the unanimous choice of the jury following the international design competition which attracted some of the world’s leading designers.

A design concept for the restoration, reimagining and rebuilding of Clandon Park

Allies and Morrison and their vision for Clandon 

Allies and Morrison is a leading UK architectural practice known for its inspiring designs and the variety of its projects, including work with historic places. With past projects in the heritage sector ranging from World Heritage sites to Grade-I listed buildings, get to know the team who’ll help us to rebuild Clandon Park.

Landscape architect team at Clandon Park, Surrey

Landscape architects join our restoration team 

Award winning landscape architects Robert Myers Associates (RMA) has now been appointed by the National Trust to join the restoration team at Clandon Park. While the gardens were left untouched by the fire, they form part of the restoration brief for the design team led by architect Allies and Morrison.

International Design Competition

View from above into Clandon Park following the fire

Design competition launched 

Through our International Design Competition we’re searching for a world-class multidisciplinary design team to restore and reimagine Clandon Park, following the major fire. The competition launched in March and following the shortlist announcement, the winning team will be revealed this autumn.

The upper level of the house underneath the scaffolding roof

Competition shortlist announced 

Six award-winning teams have been chosen to progress to the final stage of Clandon’s International Design Competition. We’re also announcing the jury, from the worlds of heritage, architecture and the arts. This strong shortlist includes established and emerging architects from the UK and international practices.

Clandon Park in May 2015

Meet the design teams 

Each of the shortlisted finalists from Clandon Park’s International Design Competition has now produced initial design concepts to restore, reimagine and rebuild the house. Here you can find out a little more about each of the architect-led teams and view their proposals in a short video.

More projects

A ground floor room showing extensive fire damage at Clandon Park, Surrey

Evidence of the Jacobean house 

Following the clearance of the house, we wanted to understand more about how and when it was constructed and how it’s changed through the centuries. Unassuming spaces can yield surprising stories, and one of the rooms in Clandon’s basement has done just that.

Removing the carvings at Clandon Park

The restoration of Hinemihi 

Hinemihi is an extremely rare Māori meeting house. She's one of only four that exist outside New Zealand and the only one to be located outdoors. She’s stood in the grounds of Clandon Park for almost 130 years. To ensure her continued survival a programme of conservation work is taking place.

Archaeological salvage
Archaeologists at work at Clandon Park

The salvage phase 

At the end of July 2016, following just over a year of work, we completed the initial phase of our project. Our archaeological salvage work has produced remarkable finds including objects that survived the fire miraculously preserved. Learn more from our project team about each of these objects, their individual disciplines and the unique challenges they faced in their specialist roles.

Cleaning work on the Clandon Park State Bed

Project timeline 

Follow our progress through all the milestone moments on the Clandon Park project in a single timeline article, beginning on the night of the fire all the way up to our most recent update.

Clandon Park after the fire

Our videos 

Since our project began we’ve been using video to capture significant moments as work continues. Here we’ve gathered together all of our video features in one easy to navigate list.

Conservation cleaning salvaged collection items at Clandon Park

Meet the team 

Our project has drawn from the wealth of expertise and specialisms within the National Trust. From curators to building surveyors, meet some of the dedicated team working to achieve our goals.

Back to top
Clandon Park

Get involved

Volunteer on the house walkway at Clandon Park, Surrey

Volunteering 

It's a really exciting time at Clandon Park with lots of new opportunities, but it would be impossible to run Clandon successfully without the hard work and dedication of our brilliant volunteer teams. Discover how you can get involved and make a difference.

An audience listening to a talk

Talks service 

Would you like to have one of our enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteer speakers from Clandon Park come to talk to your society, club or group? Discover the range of talks on offer, download your booking form and get in touch to book your chosen date.

A portrait of Elizabeth Knight

History  

Clandon Park was a family home for centuries. The Onslows arrived in 1641 and replaced the original house in the early 1700s with this stunning example of fashionable Palladianism. Uncover some of the most captivating stories through the years, charting the evolution of this significant house, its gardens and the people who’ve passed through it.

The south front and parterre at Clandon Park before the fire

The house before the fire 

Clandon Park was one of the country’s most complete examples of a Palladian mansion, built for the Onslow family in the 1720s. Given to us in 1956, the house showcased a superb collection of 18th century furniture, porcelain and textiles. Here you can catch a glimpse of how Clandon looked before the fire in April 2015.

A portrait of Lady Gwendolen Onslow

Lady Iveagh 

Lady Gwendolen Onslow was born and spent her early life at Clandon Park. She married into the famous Guinness family, later becoming Countess of Iveagh and one of the first female MPs in 1927. Discover more about her remarkable history and how she saved Clandon Park, leaving it to the National Trust in 1956.

Back to top
Close