STAFF at a National Trust property near Exeter have been left to clear up the damage caused by the flash storm yesterday.
The heavy rain at Killerton House caused 'significant' damage to three of its framed Grillion's Club portraits, original wood flooring and parts of the garden.
Water damaged areas are now undergoing a very slow drying-out process using dehumidifiers and a conservation specialist will be visiting to begin work to carry out painstaking repairs.
A spokesman for the Killerton House said that despite the damage they were open as normal.
"Sadly, last night a ceiling leak caused significant damage to the original frames of three of the portraits and to the Hall's wood flooring, they said.
"We expect this restoration work to take weeks in order to return the portraits back to their former glory.
"But, we're happy to say it is business as usual here and we are open to visitors if you don't mind the buzz of dehumidifiers and a small rearrangement in furniture.
"Our gardeners have also been busy this morning clearing drains, mud and debris left behind by the sheer volume of water that hit Killerton last night.
"The pathways are now clear though and the garden buggies will be operating today. All in a day's work for our team."
Great Sir Thomas Acland was a founding member of Grillions, once a London dining club where politicians of 'differing opinions' met on the quiet every other Wednesday to dine together 'in agreeable surroundings'.
Sir Thomas was obviously very fond of his political luncheon friends. He commissioned portraits of them, all of which hang in the Entrance Hall at Killerton House today.
