The plans for Clandon are a travesty

The unique interior of Clandon House was of international importance

Thank you for taking action. Clandon is unique. It was one of three 18th-century cube entrance halls with plasterwork by Ticino craftsmen, the others being Moor Park and Houghton. However, Moor Park has a domed ceiling and the decoration is a collaboration between plaster and paint (the latter by Thornhill). Houghton is no longer the house’s entrance hall and the decorative scheme is about celebrating Walpole being made a knight of the garter. The Clandon Marble Hall’s decoration was centred around Hercules and Omphale, a theme derived from the cove of the Farnese Gallery ceiling. Unlike at Houghton, Leoni employed Artari (the stuccatore) throughout the piano nobile. Thus Clandon has no equivalent and preserving a fire damaged building is NOT preserving its heritage - is this a breach of trust by National Trust?

Colin Paul