Stories shared for mansion fire's 10th anniversary

To mark the 10th anniversary of a fire at a Grade I listed stately home in Surrey stories are being shared from the people helping to part-restore the site.

The accidental fire at Clandon Park House near Guildford on 29 April 2015 burned through floors and ceilings, destroying much of the 18th Century property's historical collection.

The National Trust is marking the day by showcasing 10 years of restoration work at Clandon, sharing stories from the people helping to bring life back to the building.

The trust said: "Over 10 weeks, 10 people from this community will share an insight into the work they have been doing and what Clandon means to them."

Heritage craftspeople specialising in brickwork, masonry, joinery and plasterwork are working with specialists and the trust to stabilise and conserve the brick and stone structure that survived the fire.

The trust said people who had been piecing together ceramic fragments, caring for furniture saved in the fire and recording graffiti found throughout the building would also be sharing their experiences.

The National Trust added: "Like many anniversaries, the day is tinged with a sadness still felt for what was lost.

"The trust will mark the day with behind-the-scenes glimpses of what has been revealed by the transformative fire, and a community shaped and linked by a shared purpose to care for Clandon."

In March, Guildford Borough Council unanimously agreed to the National Trust's proposals to deliver a "major conservation and re-presentation" project at Clandon Park.

But a conservation group, which had a statutory role in the planning process, wrote to the government objecting to what it called "harmful" plans for the interior.

The incoming director for the Georgian Group, Dr Anya Lucas, said the plans were not policy-compliant and "nationally controversial".

The National Trust says it hopes the restoration work will be completed by 2028 with the house reopening to the public the following year.

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