Clandon Park House fire: Mansion left a 'shell'

• 9 minutes ago
• From the section Surrey

 A structural assessment of the National Trust property will be held later

An 18th Century stately home has been left a "shell" after a devastating fire, the National Trust has said.

The blaze at Grade I listed Clandon Park House, near Guildford, led to widespread damage.

Roger Childs, from Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, said it began in the basement at 16:00 BST on Wednesday and spread quickly to the roof.

The fire was out by midday on Thursday but crews remained at the scene damping down. The blaze is being investigated.

The 1720s mansion was home to a prized collection of 18th Century furniture, porcelain and textiles.

About 80 firefighters tackled the blaze at the height of the fire and crews have managed to save a "significant" number of valuable antiques.

'Fears of further collapse'

Mr Childs said all valuable items were already tagged and identified and crews were working to retrieve them.

He said the intense fire burned through floors and ceilings and spread quickly through voids in the building.

BBC Surrey reporter Mirande Schunke said the smouldering building was surrounded by an "eery haze" and floors had been heard crashing down inside.

She said there was a lot of speculation about whether the building facade could remain standing now the floors had caved in.

She tweeted: "Safety cordon being extended as cracks spotted in lintels at this corner of @ClandonParkNT".

Footage shows the extent of the blaze

Dame Helen Ghosh, director general of the National Trust, said the interior of the stately home was essential "a shell" after most of the roof, lintel, ceiling and floors collapsed.

She said it was heartbreaking to witness the damage and the fire had come as a terrible shock and a devastating personal blow to staff and volunteers.

"We have saved some significant items but certainly not everything that we wanted to save," she added.

Visitors have been urged not to visit the scene.

Geri Silverstone, National Trust spokesman, said staff still had no access to the building.

He said staff at the property had practised fire drills on a regular basis.

 The helicopter team fed information to emergency crews on the ground 

 The fire started just after 16:00 BST on Wednesday

 Clandon Park House housed a collection of 18th Century porcelain 

Clandon Park was built by a Venetian architect for Lord Onslow and the estate was passed down through generations of the family.

The building, which has become a popular wedding venue, was left to the National Trust in 1956.

Peter Page, who was due to get married there, tweeted: "So sad about Clandon Park. Due to get married here on 30 May. Can any wedding venues in Surrey let me know if they have any availability?"

 National Trust spokesman Geri Silverstone said he saw gold chairs being rescued 

 The mansion was known for its 18th Century furniture, porcelain and textiles 

 Larger items such as the state bed were harder to remove, Mr Silverstone said 

 Valuable antiques retrieved from the fire are being catalogued 

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