Longleat turret dating back to 1500s needs repairs

A turret designed in the 1560s as part of the distinctive roofline of Longleat House is in urgent need of repair.

Conservationists at the Grade I-listed mansion house – Wiltshire's second most-visited tourist attraction after Stonehenge – have applied to Wiltshire Council for listed building consent to make repairs.

The feature is one of three lantern and stair turrets designed by Elizabethan-era architect Robert Smythson in the 1560s, and is considered "of high significance".

Damp issues have damaged the appearance of the turret as well as the ceiling and floor structure underneath, along with encouraging deathwatch beetles.

Experts say the turret, designed when or just after the house was built, has suffered from "long-term water ingress through its exposed domed masonry roof and upper blind windows".

The beetles have attacked wooden beams, with their larvae preferring dead, damp wood. They tunnel and can cause major damage.

The experts added: "Combined with a lack of ventilation, this has resulted in damage to internal finishes and decay to the ceiling and floor structure below.

"The proposals seek to undertake essential structural repairs and address this water ingress, to create a dry and ventilated turret space, while also improving access for ongoing and future maintenance.

"These works are intended to ensure that the turret structure and the rooms beneath are better protected from further deterioration and potential harm."

The octagonal turret is located on the west wall of the east courtyard of Longleat House, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

It is only clearly visible externally from the house roof and partial views from the Horningsham entrance drive to the south and the parkland to the east.

The council is expected to make a decision by the end of July.

Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.