Clandon Park

Clandon Park is a modern ruin. In 2015 a huge fire ripped through the Palladian mansion, destroying the upper floors and roof, and gutting the house. But the strong brick walls survived, and today Clandon Park is cloaked in scaffolding, sheltered from the wind and rain.

It's been six years since a powerful fire took hold of Clandon Park, Surrey. In this blog, Project Director, Dr Kent Rawlinson, reflects on the fascinating challenges and discoveries we've uncovered so far as we care for this extraordinary house.

Our project has drawn from the wealth of expertise and specialisms available within the National Trust. From Curators and Conservators to Building Surveyors and Project Managers, meet some of the dedicated team working to achieve our goals.

Follow our progress on the Clandon Park project. See where we started our journey and what’s been achieved most recently, along a timeline of all the milestone moments and major announcements on one of the UK’s largest heritage projects.

At the end of July 2016, following a year of work, we completed the initial phase of our project. Archaeological salvage has produced remarkable finds including objects that survived the fire miraculously preserved. Learn more about the building, the objects and the unique challenges they posed.

We searched for a world-class multidisciplinary design team to restore and reimagine Clandon Park, following the major fire. The competition launched in March 2017; a shortlist announcement, and subsequently the winning team, were revealed that autumn.

A team of researchers, including colleagues from the Clandon Park project, have been awarded grant funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) to explore how cutting-edge digital technology can be used to provide visitors with a deeper insight into our historic buildings.

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....

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.

The Speakers’ Parlour was the only room at Clandon Park to make it through the fire relatively unscathed and so, apart from tiny fragments, the historic wallpaper here was the only one to survive. Conservators have now carefully removed it for cleaning, and closer inspection by Project Curator Sophie Chessum has resulted in some interesting discoveries.

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.

Find out more about Hinemihi's roots as the hub of a thriving Māori community on New Zealand's North Island, and the tragic events that left her abandoned there.