The organization specialising in conservation charity attempts to make restoration work on the floors of the burned 18th century grade mansion. Director of the National Trust Helen Ghosh said that they will invest 'many tens of millions' for the project.
There were conflicting opinions with regards to the state of the Surrey mansion. Lord Onslow, whose ancestors were the previous owners of the mansion before donating it to the National Trust, said that that mansion should be left alone as it is. He was hoping that the ruins will be preserved and the funding to go to other projects that have more importance.
Ghosh completely acknowledges Lord Onslow's opinion but she believes that Onslow is misunderstanding the situation. 'If we did not rebuild and restore it in some shape or form, we would not get the insurance money,' Ghosh said.
The fires in April may have destroyed the buildings but Ghosh reassured that they were able to recover most of the furnishings and plasterworks. They were also able to retrieve a pair of fireplaces undamaged. The fireplaces were designed by John Michael Rysbrack, a renowned 18th century Flemish sculptor.
The amount of damage caused by the fire is still unknown but archaeologists are putting effort to recover valuable objects amidst the shoulder-length rubble. Just last week, two huge side tables were drawn out from the debris. They were also able to retrieve a thousand years old Korean ceramic duck that required nothing more than a regular wash.
The flames that devoured the whole mansion started out small and was thought to be controllable. But due to high winds, it quickly overwhelmed the building as it courses through the structures' hollow areas that acted as chimney to the fire.
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