One of the most important rooms at the 18th-century Clandon Park mansion “miraculously survived” a devastating fire more than a week ago, the National Trust says.
Treasured objects in the Speakers’ Parlour in the Grade-I listed property, near Guildford, Surrey, have also been saved, along with other parts of the collection rescued in the salvage operation at the building, which was left a burnt-out shell after the fire on 29 April.
The room on the ground floor, celebrating three members of the Onslow family who were speakers in the Commons, remains almost intact. Its magnificent plaster ceiling has been propped up to protect it while the chimney piece, designed by the house’s Venetian architect, Giacomo Leoni, in the 1720s, has also survived.
An ornate ormulu chandelier and large carpet from Turkey, both part of the house since the 19th century, are among items in the room that have survived. Important portraits were among paintings saved on the day of the fire.
Other items from elsewhere in the house that avoided destruction include a painting by Sir John Thornhill and William Hogarth, depicting the speaker Arthur Onslow calling on Sir Robert Walpole to speak in the House of Commons, and a painting of an ostrich in a classical landscape by the 17th century artist Francis Barlow, which pre-dates the house.
Hangings of the state bed, which had just returned from conservation treatment and had been packed up, as well as silver, giltwood side tables, chairs carrying the Onslow crest and an 18th century bible, were also saved.
Jim Foy, who is managing the salvage operation for the trust, said: “It’s heartening that we’ve been able to rescue more of the important items inside the house and we hope that there will be more good news as the salvage operation continues. The weather is a big factor as we wait to see how the building responds to conditions like the high winds we’ve had over the past couple of days. We’re incredibly grateful for the continued support we’re receiving from volunteers, external specialists, the fire service and many others.”
Investigations into the cause of the fire continue and trust staff have had only limited access to the house while structural engineers have been assessing the damage.
The trust, which took over the property in 1956, says it will decide on the longer term future of the house when the impact of the fire is clearer. It has launched a public appeal for funds to assist Clandon Park.
