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Longleat

Longleat photos (50 available)

Old photo of Longleat

Longleat maps (2 available)

Old map of Longleat

Longleat books (17 available)

Longleat memories

Sixties Longleat

Longleat, House c1966

Many fond memories of Longleat over the last 46 years: the freedom we all enjoyed as villagers to roam across the estate - the sixth Marquess was always very generous in this respect. The remains of the American hospital were still much in evidence then; dad would drive the car to one of the old stone ramps so that he could work underneath it! We'd walk across the park from Corsley before the reserve was built, and when it was finished and the lions introduced, we all worried that one might escape, but to our knowledge, they never did! Mum worked part time for the catering company J.G. Boyes who originally set up a cafe marquee near the house; this later ...read more here
Contributed by Geoff Pridmore

Wiltshire memories

Sixties Longleat

Longleat, House c1966

Many fond memories of Longleat over the last 46 years: the freedom we all enjoyed as villagers to roam across the estate - the sixth Marquess was always very generous in this respect. The remains of the American hospital were still much in evidence then; dad would drive the car to one of the old stone ramps so that he could work underneath it! We'd walk across the park from Corsley before the reserve was built, and when it was finished and the lions introduced, we all worried that one might escape, but to our knowledge, they never did! Mum worked part time for the catering company J.G. Boyes who originally set up a cafe marquee near the house; this later ...read more here
A memory of Longleat contributed by Geoff Pridmore

Race you to the water

Warminster, Lake Pleasure Ground c1965

I am ordering a copy of this picture to send to my dear childhood friend, Peta Fenner. Peta celebrates her 50th birthday soon and it is quite possible that both her and I are in the photo. We would spend many days of our summer holidays playing in the paddling pool. The big pool was always cold and swamped with older children and we would have to build up courage to venture there. Our childhood was filled with laughter. We would giggle at anything and everything. From peering through the holes in the wood partitions separating the cubicles at the end of the pool. To laughing at how courting teenagers behaved. I remember us nearly ...read more here
A memory of Warminster contributed by Christine Mabbett

Warminster is Home!

Warminster, the Pleasure Ground c1950

I was born in Warminster, in 1972, in what was known at the time as The Strawberry House! My Dad had painted it quite a deep pink, when he bought it.
44 Boreham Rd, that's where I was actually born, my lovely family home.
My Dad was a well known painter and decorator, Bob 'The Brush' Woollard, and my Mum, Peg, worked in Luxfords Fruit & Veg shop. I went to St. John's School, where my teacher when I started, was Sybil Fuller who lived next door to me in no. 46.
One of my favourite places was Warminster Park, where in the winter, when it snowed, my friends and I would sledge down the hill, on black bin liners, and ...read more here
A memory of Warminster contributed by Kim Patrick

Extracts From Longleat & Wiltshire books

Longleat, c1966

Here we see Longleat from afar. It sits comfortably in 900 acres of landscaped grounds, which were designed by Capability Brown. Owing to the foresight of the Sixth Marquis of Bath, Longleat was opened to the public in 1949, the first privately-owned house in England to do so on a regular basis.
An extract from from"Frome Photographic Memories".

Rowde, the Village 1899

The thatched building on the left is early 17th-century wattle and daub with some brick infill, and was an alehouse called the Lamb. Adjoining it was a boot maker, and the projecting part was a separate residence.
An extract from from"Devizes Town and City Memories".

Devizes, Dunkirk Hill 1903

This shows a very deserted unmade road leading into town, more familiar to motorists today, who have to slow down at the top in order to join the Bath Road into Devizes. Over the years the foliage and the soil on both sides has been cut back to keep the problem of earth slippage under control.
An extract from from"Devizes Town and City Memories".

Devizes, Drews Pond 1899

This idyllic scene could be taken straight out of a Hardy novel. Unfortunately, the cottage was demolished in 1960. The pond is on the right, hidden by the trees.
An extract from from"Devizes Town and City Memories".

Devizes, Hartmoor 1899

East Lodge can just be glimpsed at the entrance to the drive from Hartmoor Road which leads to Old Park House. It is a listed building and is described as ‘2 storeys, rough cast on brick with thatch roof, the eaves swept down on west side to form veranda with flint and rubble columns’.
An extract from from"Devizes Town and City Memories".