Stowe is one of the finest 18th-century houses in Europe. Like many great estates, it declined in the 19th century and was sold. Now it is home to Stowe School. In 1997, the Stowe House Preservation Trust was established and embarked on an ambitious six-phase programme of restoration led by Purcell Miller Tritton. Two phases of work have been completed. The roofs and stonework of the north front and south front central pavilion have been repaired, and the spectacular interior of the marble saloon, which is modelled on the Pantheon in Rome, has been restored. The third phase is currently underway. The bulk of the work involves stonework and joinery repairs to the east and west pavilions and the south front. Work has been completed on the large library, where the original roof structure has been restored and the ornate plaster ceiling gilded. All of the work has been carried out while the school has been in use.