Clandon Park

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A major restoration project is underway at Clandon Park, to breathe new life in to this Palladian mansion following the fire in 2015.

This year, for the first time since the fire, visitors can enter the basement and explore into the deepest spaces of Clandon Park to see the full extent of the fire damage. Following the basement corridor towards the south end of the house, the new walkway takes visitors deep in to the lowest, and most fire-damaged spaces within the 18th-century mansion.

Image: Visitor in the basement corridor 2018  © National Trust Images - John Millar

The less damaged north end of the basement is also on show, as visitors are led to the impressive and beautiful undercroft - a vaulted room under the Marble Hall - which pre-fire visitors will remember as the restaurant. This now includes an exhibition charting the design challenges and key questions that the National Trust is considering during the hugely complex project, as well as a display of some of the salvaged collection items which were rescued from the house.

Image: Display pannels in the Marble Hall undercroft 2018  © National Trust Images - John Millar

From the undercroft visitors can pass into a protected viewing area which gives them sight of the full extent of the fire damage, with dramatic, vertical views from basement floor to scaffolding roof.

Image: Visitors in the protected viewing area  © National Trust Images - John Millar

At the end of the exhibition, visitors are invited to share their thoughts as the National Trust works with its architects, specialist advisers and stakeholders to develop plans for Clandon’s future.

Visitors can also relax in the garden, and take a tour of the ground floor of the house.   The specially constructed walkway here allows visitors to see both the extraordinary survival of significant architectural features, as well as the fire damage in the Saloon, State Bedroom and Marble Hall.

Image: The Marble Hall after the fire at Clandon Park, Surrey  © National Trust Images - James Dobson

This is a unique opportunity for visitors to see the extraordinary bare bones of Clandon Park, in its post-fire state, before access may become more limited further down the line when building work is underway.

Please note: hard hats and high-vis jackets will be provided and must be worn at all times whilst in the house and basement.