Lord Bath submits new plans for Longleat gardens

The garden plans have been submitted to Wiltshire Council

Plans for a luxury garden to allow Lord and Lady Bath to remain residents on the Longleat Estate have been submitted.

Detailed images have been submitted which show that the garden would include a swimming pool and an outdoor kitchen and dining area.

Although Longleat Estate is a national heritage asset and the majority of the house is open to public tours, a range of accommodation on the western elevation is set aside for Lord and Lady Bath.

A document submitted with the plans notes that it is "imperative" that all heritage assets are "properly protected" during construction. A decision on the plans is expected in March.

'Living part of history'

When the 7th Marquis, Alexander Thynn, passed away during the Covid pandemic, the 8th Marquis, Ceawlin Thynn, moved into the apartments with his family.

The plans explain that the current private garden was designed by the 7th Marquis as "an abstract art piece" which is "largely unsuitable for a younger family with limited space for children to play or adults to entertain guests".

The application states: "The aim is to create a high-quality, family-friendly garden befitting of the setting which will enable the house to remain a family home and a living part of history," according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The private garden was first enclosed by hedges in the 1940s in preparation for the opening of the estate to the public in 1949.

According to the application, this has now matured into a thick hedge "which creates a well-secluded private garden at the centre of a busy commercial attraction".

The new concept design has been developed by Will Williams, in collaboration with Lord and Lady Bath.