Clandon Park
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Clandon Park is an 18th century Palladian mansion in West Clandon just outside Guildford, Surrey, in the United Kingdom. It has been a National Trust property since 1956.
The house was built, or perhaps thoroughly rebuilt, around 1730–33 (the latter date is on rainwater leads), designed by the Venetian architect Giacomo Leoni, replacing an Elizabethan property which was bought in 1641 by Sir Richard Onslow. The new building was commissioned by his great-grandson Thomas, 2nd Baron Onslow. Many members of the Onslow family followed political careers—three of them, including Arthur Onslow, were Speakers of the House of Commons.
Clandon Park's interiors, which were finished into the 1740s, feature a two-storey Marble Hall, containing marble chimney pieces by English sculptor Michael Rysbrack. The building now houses a fine collection of 18th century furniture, porcelain, textiles and carpets, including the Ivo Forde Meissen collection of Italian comedy figures and Mortlake tapestries. The building also houses the Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment Museum.
The gardens were designed by Lancelot Brown in 1781 and feature a parterre, grotto, sunken Dutch garden and, a later addition—a Māori meeting house named Hinemihi. This was originally situated near Rotorua in New Zealand and provided shelter to local people during the eruption of Mount Tarawera in 1886. The building was covered in ash and surrounded by lava, but its occupants survived. It remained half buried until 1892 when Lord Onslow, then Governor General of New Zealand, had it removed and shipped to England.
[edit] References
- Howard Colvin, Biographical Dictionary of British Architects
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