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Longleat House by Saffron Blaze –

Top 10 Facts about Longleat

Longleat is an English stately home and the seat of the Marquesses of Bath. A leading and early example of the Elizabethan prodigy house, it is adjacent to the village of Horningsham and near the towns of Warminster and Westbury in Wiltshire, and Frome in Somerset. 

The Grade I listed house is set in 1,000 acres of parkland landscaped by Capability Brown, with 4,000 acres of let farmland and 4,000 acres (1,600 ha) of woodland, which includes a Center Parcs holiday village.  It was the first stately home to open to the public, and the Longleat estate has the first safari park outside Africa and other attractions including a hedge maze. Here are the top 10 facts about Longleat.

1. Longleat was bought for Sir John Thynn in 1541

Longleat was originally an Augustinian priory, the house was bought for Sir John Thynn in 1541, but burnt down shortly afterwards in 1567. By 1580 the house was rebuilt, mainly to a design by Sir John.  The house is still used as the private residence of the Thynn family. 

The house has remained with the family ever since: Sir James Thynne employed Sir Christopher Wren to work on the house in the 17th century, and his son, Thomas Thynne, commissioned formal gardens and landscaping by George London.

2. Longleat was used as a temporary hospital during WWI

Longleat in England by Gerd Eichmann –

The house was used as a temporary hospital during World War One and was used as the base for an evacuated school in World War Two.

Various other alterations happened in the 19th century under John Crace, adding some Italian Renaissance style interiors.

3. Longleat was opened to the public at the end of the 1940s 

Longleat was opened to the public at the end of the 1940s in order to generate revenue, and the safari park was opened in 1966, becoming the first drive-through safari park outside of Africa. Part of the 900 acre estate was also leased to Center Parcs in more recent years.

The house still has an impressive art and book collection today, and the formal gardens are exceptionally pleasant. The present Marquess’ father loved mazes, and planted several across the grounds which are worth getting lost in if you have the time.

4. The safari park remains the star attraction for most visitors of Longleat

Longleat Safari & Adventure Park by Karen Roe –

The house is accessible via free flow, self-guided visit or via tour. There are multiple themes to choose from, including ‘Scandalous History Tours’ which dish the more salacious gossip on the Thynne family, including the current Marquess’ father, who kept his mistresses in grace and favor cottages across the estate and painted explicit murals in his house.The safari park remains the star attraction for most visitors: the majority of it is drive through.

5. Longleat staged the Red Bull Air Race in 2005

The World Championship Air Race is a series of air races sanctioned by the World Air Sports Federation (FAI). Originally established in 2003 as the Red Bull Air Race, and created by Red Bull GmbH.

The event involves competitors navigating a challenging obstacle course in the fastest time. Pilots fly individually against the clock and have to complete tight turns through a slalom course consisting of pylons, known as “Air Gates”. 

6. Longleat is home to more than 1,200 animals

Longleat Safari Park – Zebra by Anthony Parkes –

Longleat Safari Park opened in 1966 as the first drive-through safari park outside Africa,  and is home to a lot of animals, including Rothschild’s giraffes, Grant’s zebras, Rhesus monkeys, rhinos, African lions, Amur tigers and grey wolves.Cheetahs, koalas and spotted hyenas are among the most recent additions to the safari park. 

Four lion cubs were born in September 2011, making a total of 10 cubs born that year, and Disney named two of them Simba and Nala as part of a co-promotion agreement for the upcoming Lion King 3D film.

7. The Longleat hedge maze is considered the world’s longest

Hedge mazes evolved from the knot gardens of Renaissance Europe, and were first constructed during the mid-16th century.These early mazes were very low, initially planted with evergreen herbs, but, over time, dwarf box became a more popular option due to its robustness. 

The Longleat hedge maze is considered the world’s longest, with 1.69 miles of pathway. It is constructed using more than 16,000 English yews forming the walls surrounding a central tower and features six raised footbridges.

8. Longleat has been the host location for several film productions

Longleat house by Rurik –

The 2000 Indian Hindi film Mohabbatein was filmed at Longleat, which served as the location for a school in the film.The nature programme Animal Park is also filmed at the park.

In the 1959 film Libel, Longleat is used as the estate of Dirk Bogarde’s character. Several episodes of the BBC science-fiction television series Doctor Who were filmed at Longleat, and for 30 years a Doctor Who Exhibition was hosted on the grounds. 

9. Longleat is recorded as having one of the largest private book collections in Europe

The libraries in the house are also popular with a total of over 40,000 books recorded in possession. In the Great Hall of Longleat, the waistcoat worn by King Charles I, at his execution in 1649, is on display and still has the blood-stained silk sleeves intact.

There are house tours that are performed every morning, lasting 40 for minutes that show many interesting antiques. Most of the contents within Longleat have been exempted from taxation. Due to this, some items are not able to be seen on a main visitor tour. Private tours are available which can show these rare items.

10. A variety of different nobles inherited Longleat 

 A variety of different nobles inherited the estate as the years progressed, each making different improvements or changes in the overall upkeep of the house. The 1st Viscount Weymouth, Thomas Thynne, created the large book collection in the house. He also commissioned the help of George London, Arnold Quellin, and Chevalier David to create the formal gardens, fountains, and canals.

Thomas also founded a boy’s grammar school in 1707 in the town of Warminster. It later became known as the Lord Weymouth School, and in 1973 it merged with the St. Monica’s School for girls to create Warminster School. His son, also named Thomas, and the 2nd Viscount Weymouth, married Louisa Carteret. Her ghost is said to haunt the house.