Clandon Park House in Surrey is to be partially rebuilt by the National Trust following a fire in April 2015 which reduced the Grade I listed building to a shell.
The 18th Century House was gutted by a fire, believed to be caused by an electrical fault, which collapsed the roof and floors and destroyed all but one room. While fire fighters tackled the blaze, volunteers managed to salvage furniture and art, which were then stored on the lawns before being carefully wrapped and sent to storage.
Now, the National Trust has announced that the most important rooms on the ground floor will be fully restored to their 18th Century glory, whilst the upper floors will be used for exhibitions and events.
Helen Ghosh, director general of the National Trust, said, "The fire at Clandon was shocking, but gives us the opportunity not only to show our respect for the heritage of the past, but also to create new heritage for the future. The loss of so many of the contents of the house means that we cannot return it to how it looked the day before the fire." Ms Ghosh added "However, we now know more about the original layout and recognise that the enduring significance of the house is its architecture."
