Sir, It is disappointing that Sir Simon Jenkins has abandoned his view that Clandon Park’s state rooms should be restored after the 2015 fire, preferring instead to leave the house a ruin (comment, Apr 7). In 2017, writing in Country Life, Jenkins argued that the beauty of the restored interiors should outweigh concerns about the degree of reconstruction involved. The creation of something beautiful was central to the restoration of Notre Dame in Paris, even though its new wooden spire is a wholly modern addition. Something similarly spectacular could be achieved at Clandon. I would urge Jenkins to recover his former passion for beauty— and encourage the National Trust to do the same.