Letter: Councillors Should Reject the Clandon House Proposal

Published on: 25 Jan, 2025
Updated on: 25 Jan, 2025

Remains of the marble hall at Clandon House National Trust

From Jonathan Neil-Smith

In response to: We Should Restore Clandon House

As a National Trust member I travelled to Swindon in November 2023 to partake in a debate about the restoration of Clandon House.

I made the practical point that it needed to be “a living house” that could be used for functions such as concerts and wedding receptions (as used to be the case), not a lifeless preserved ruin. Nor, once the novelty had worn off, could I see many wanting to make repeat visits without seeing the glorious Marble Hall restored to its former glory.

Others made a compelling case of restoration on architectural grounds but the motion to restore the house was opposed on the platform by the NT hierarchy. Sadly it was subject to a “quick vote” procedure whereby members could tick a box on a pre-submitted form to support the platform, without even engaging with the speeches made from the floor.

Democratically elected Guildford borough councillors really should ask themselves if this is a proper way to determine the future of this unique part of our local heritage and they should have the courage to reject the NT’s short-sighted and ill-conceived plans.