Uppark is one of the most perfect country houses in Britain, sitting on the edge of the South Downs near the border of West Sussex with Hampshire.

So it was a shock when the building was destroyed by a raging fire on the August Bank Holiday in 1989.

The fire was started through a blowtorch used by workmen on the roof just two days before restoration work was due to be completed.

Although the house was full of visitors at the time, National Trust staff were able to get everyone out without incident or injury.

But they could only stand and wonder how the fire took hold of the house leaving it as a blackened shell.

Uppark was known for its fine features and internal decorations mainly from the 17th and 18th centuries.

It became famous, even notorious, when owned by Harry Fetherstonhaugh, a friend of the Prince Regent, later King George IV.

His parties were legendary and among the guests early in the 19th century were Nelson and the Duke of Wellington.

Harry caused a sensation when 70 by marrying a dairymaid 50 years his junior. When he died, she took on the big house with the help of her sister.

The mother of H G Wells worked there as a domestic and he was allowed to look at books in the sumptuous library. It fostered a life long love of literature in the boy.

Uppark was sold to theNational Trust in 1954 although the family continued to have living quarters in a private part of the house.

When the fire started, the Trust put its drills into action and they proved extremely effective. Members of the family, stewards and even some visitors, took out precious items before the blaze really took hold of the building.

The fire was difficult to control because of the limited supply of water to the sire but 27 engines and 150 firefighters were used.

At one point water had to be pumped from South Harting more than a mile away while a lake and swimming pool in the grounds were pumped dry.

It took almost a whole day to quench the fire and then the Trust had a decision to make. Did it leave the shell as a romantic ruin or did it go for an authentic rebuild of the original house?

The Trust chose to rebuild and today the casual observer would not notice the difference. The new Uppark is just as popular as it ever was.

One reason for that was the large amount of the contents rescued from the fire at the time. Most of it was capable of being cleaned and restored.

But the Trust may not always take that route with future fires. Two years ago when Clandon, a Trust property in Surrey, burnt to the ground, the Trust decided only on a partial rebuild.

There is a lesson for the Trust and other owners of historic homes. Many of the most serious fires in recent years have been caused by workmen’s equipment rather than arson or accident. A blow torch is an essential piece of equipment but has to be treated with enormous care.