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Clandon Park, Surrey

Clandon Park was built around 1730 by Thomas Onslow, on the site of an Elizabethan property bought by Richard Onslow in 1641. Onslows tended to follow political careers, and three members of the family have been speakers at the House of Commons.

The house was designed by Giacomo Leoni, in what is described as a Palladian style. The Palladian style derives from the architecture of Venetian Andrea Palladio (1508 - 1580). It is based on formal, clean lined architecture of the ancient Greeks and Romans. However, demonstrating the down to earth origins of this style, in original Palladian buildings there were wings on either side of a main house to provide accommodation for farm animals. For wealthy clients, functional wings turned into decorative additions to the long facade of a house. In the case of Clandon Park these wings are missing completely, and apart from a vaguely classical appearance you do wonder how this building can be called Palladian. The Onlows felt they were a cut above, and even the most symbolic of cowsheds were not included in their Palladian mansion.

The house interior tells the Onslows' story. There are portraits of the three speakers in the Speakers Parlour. There's also a room calling itself the Onslow Museum. This room is mainly dedicated to artifacts relating to the 4th Earl Onslow, who was governor of New Zealand between 1889 and 1892. A magnificent chieftains cloak is on show, presented by a local chieftain to Onslow as a Christening present for his son. There was something very poignant about this cloak. By the 1890s the Maoris owned only around 10% of marginal land in New Zealand. Only fifty years earlier the whole of New Zealand had been theirs. I wondered if the cloak was a symbol of respect, or desperation, or resignation. It was given as a Christening present, and so spoke of the passing of native religions, as well as the loss of land.

Maori Meeting House

Clandon Park also houses a museum for the Queen's Royal Surrey regiment. The regimental system dates back to 1660, and the museum has displays illustrating regimental history back to this time. Regimental colours make clear the frequent conflicts which were required in building and maintaining the British Empire. One of the listed conflicts was New Zealand, which saw much conflict between Maoris and white settlers between 1845 and 1872.

The gardens were landscaped by Capability Brown in 1781, with his usual carefully planned naturalism. In this English park stands a beautiful Maori meeting hut, brought over from New Zealand in 1892.

Opening Times: House and gardens are open from 14th March until 31st October, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, 11am - 5pm. There is a shop and restaurant. Also open Good Friday and Easter Saturday.

Address: Clandon Park, West Clandon, Guildford, Surrey GU4 7RQ

Directions: Clandon Park is just off the A246 near Guildford. Click here for an interactive map centred on Clandon Park.

Access: A lift allows access to all floors. Booking is required for the lift. Wheelchairs are available at the house entrance. There is level access to the restaurant, and shop. Adapted toilet facilities are available. Grounds are partly accessible. Braille and large print guides are provided.

Contact:

telephone: 01483 222482

fax: 01483 223479

e-mail: clandonpark@nationaltrust.org.uk

web site: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-clandonpark/