I'm very lucky to live in an area full of beautiful National Trust properties. Since I was a child we've visited the majority of them over the years, and Clandon Park along with Hatchlands are the closest ones to where I've lived and grown up. Sadly last night a huge fire broke out at Clandon Park, built in 1720 for Lord Onslow, it contained priceless textiles, marble fireplaces, porcelain, artwork, furniture, and the most beautiful of all; the Marble Hall.
As news of the fire broke out my parents were at Clandon Park having a coffee and cake in the garden centre there, but they had no clue there was a fire just metres from where they were sat until it was on the news later that night! We decided to head down there around 10pm to see what was going on (because ya know, we're super nosey...), and found dozens of cars parked up alongside the fields infront of the house, everyone out of their cars taking photos and watching this magnificent old building go up in flames.
I grabbed my camera and forgot my tripod and 300mm lens (what an idiot), so I'm afraid I had to get these photos with a 35mm lens, and I balanced it on a low fence. Also, I love the horse photobombing the first photo...it was so dark I had no clue he was there!
We watched as the flames engulfed the building we'd all driven past and visited countless times, the windows were bright orange as the flames took hold and the smell of the priceless antiques burning filled our nostrils all the way across the fields.
We're hoping that they managed to save some of the antique collection, and will somehow be able to restore the property, but with the inside a complete shell, who knows that they'll be able to do with it :(
Have you ever visited Clandon Park? What are your memories of it?
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