A fire has gutted much of Clandon Park, the Palladian house near Guildford in the south east of England. Many of the country house’s rooms and its magnificent great hall are feared destroyed by a blaze that started in the basement yesterday afternoon, April 29, and soon spread throughout the building despite the efforts of more than 80 firefighters, who were hampered in their efforts by low water pressure. The National Trust, which owns the house, describes the building, designed by Giacomo Leoni in the 1720s, as one of the country’s most complete examples of a Palladian building.
Some of the Grade 1 listed house’s contents, including paintings and furniture, are reported to have been saved by staff and firefighters: images posted on social media show objects on the lawn.
