Longleat

house, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom

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June 30, 2026

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Longleat is a historic house located in Wiltshire, England. It was built in the late 16th century, with construction beginning around 1568 and concluding by 1580. The house is noted for its symmetrical plan, arranged around two courtyards, and its extensive use of windows, making it one of the most open secular buildings of its time in Europe.1

In the mid-20th century, facing financial difficulties, the 6th Marquess of Bath transformed Longleat House into a tourist attraction in 1949. This initiative set a precedent for other historic homes in the UK. Later, in the 1960s, the estate expanded its appeal by introducing a safari park featuring African wildlife.2

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Western architecture
England
…these was his own house, Longleat (1568–c. 1580), on which he had the assistance of the mason Robert Smythson, who was to be the leading architect of the late 16th century. Except for the symmetry of the plan, arranged around two courts, there was little new in planning at Longleat,…
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…these was his own house, Longleat (1568–c. 1580), on which he had the assistance of the mason Robert Smythson, who was to be the leading architect of the late 16th century. Except for the symmetry of the plan, arranged around two courts, there was little new in planning at Longleat,…
Read More