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First safari park outside Africa 'scandalised' people

Amanda ParrWest of England
Longleat The 8th Marquess and Marchioness of Bath stand together at the large wooden doorway to Longleat House. They are smartly dressed in dark suits and are smiling at the cameraLongleat
Ceawlin Thynn, the 8th Marquess of Bath, and his wife Emma Thynn, Marchioness of Bath, both manage and live at the Longleat estate

"People were quite scandalised, nervous, terrified about the possibility of what could potentially go wrong - bringing 50 lions to the Wiltshire countryside."

Sixty years ago Henry Thynne, the 6th Marquess of Bath, opened the Lions of Longleat drive-through attraction with the help of circus owner Jimmy Chipperfield.

He had already become the first to open an English stately home to the public, and this new venture took the securing of Longleat's financial future to a whole new level.

As the park marks its 60th anniversary, the 8th Marquess - Ceawlin Thynn - said his grandfather would be "proud" the attraction has become a national institution.

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Over the years, the park has expanded and developed. It is now home to more than 120 species, many of them endangered.

The current Lord Bath manages the estate with his wife Emma and they live there with their two young sons.

PA Media The 6th Marquess of Bath stands on his Land Rover Defender backed by an armed warden, watching a lion at his game reserve in Longleat. They're both wearing wide brimmed hats and jackets, and are looking at the cameraPA Media
The 6th Marquess of Bath opened the first drive-through safari park outside Africa in 1966

Lord Bath acknowledged his grandfather's vision was "a gamble".

"But it was a little bit more than that," he added. "It was a huge mountain to climb, a huge endeavour, and one he managed to push over the line. My grandfather really created an entire new industry that hadn't existed before.

"He was eccentric for sure," he added. "The grandpa I knew was a very mellowed man, so I got to experience more of the charm side.

"I think he would be proud on multiple fronts - that Longleat's grown, the attendance has grown so much and that Longleat has really become a national institution."

After opening Longleat, Henry Thynne became known as a collector of Nazi-era relics.

He amassed the largest collection of paintings by Adolf Hitler, which were exhibited at Longleat.

Longleat Vehicles from the sixties drive through the Longleat lion enclosure as two lions walk by and one lies on the grass by the side of the road. There are a number of trees in the background. The vehicles are estate cars and camper vans from the era.Longleat
Fifty lions were bought from zoos, circuses and private collections around the world, including a number used in the filming of the movie Born Free

Longleat has been in Lord Bath's family for 16 generations. He admitted there could be some "push and pull" when it comes to serving the visitors while protecting the estate's heritage.

He said the attraction "wouldn't have happened" had the Elizabethan house not provided an "anchor" for the wider grounds.

"There's a symbiotic relationship between the two," he added.

Lord Bath stands before Longleat House beside the BBC's Amanda Parr. Both wear dark jackets and are smiling at the camera on a bright sunny day with blue skies behind them.
Ceawlin Thynn talked to the BBC's Amanda Parr about growing up on the Longleat Estate and the pleasure of watching his young sons do the same

Lord Bath grew up at Longleat and was a pupil at the local school, returning on the school bus each day.

"Seeing the children taking an interest, running around, pretending to be the ghost and making ghostly noises as the tours go by - as I did when I was a child - it's hugely meaningful," he said.

He remembers forging a childhood bond with one animal in particular.

"We had a brown bear. A baby brown bear in what was Pets Corner," he said.

"I would go in and have a cuddle with this bear after school every day. You wouldn't be allowed to do that today! But that's a standout moment."

Longleat A black and white image of a male lion walking alongside a coach full of visitors at Longleat. Many of them are taking photographs of the lionLongleat
The idea of a drive-through safari park was a new one in the 1960s

As for the Longleat legacy that will eventually pass to his children, Lord Bath said he was keen not to overwhelm them.

He said: "Really at the moment it's just letting them become accustomed to it without any sense of pressure, enjoy running around, riding their bikes and playing in the mud.

"So we haven't had that sort of sit down moment of 'you know son, one day...' They're still young."

But he acknowledged that passing on that legacy eventually would be "a wonderful thing".

"It's a very hackneyed expression but it's a huge privilege. It really is," he said.

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