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Sixty years ago, Henry Thynne, the 6th Marquess of Bath, introduced a groundbreaking concept in wildlife attractions by opening the Lions of Longleat drive-through park. This safari park, developed in partnership with circus owner Jimmy Chipperfield, was the first of its kind outside Africa and attracted significant public attention and controversy. “People were quite scandalised, nervous, terrified about the possibility of what could potentially go wrong – bringing 50 lions to the Wiltshire countryside,” recalled the current 8th Marquess, Ceawlin Thynn, highlighting the early apprehensions surrounding the project.
The establishment of this unique attraction marked a bold step for Longleat, which had already made history as the first English stately home opened to the public. The addition of the safari park secured Longleat’s financial stability and transformed it into a pioneering institution. Today, the park has expanded extensively, housing over 120 species, including many endangered animals, and continues to be managed by Ceawlin Thynn alongside his wife, Emma. The couple live on the estate with their two young sons, maintaining the family’s deep connection to the land.
Reflecting on his grandfather’s vision, Lord Bath described it as “a gamble” and “forging through a Rubicon that was never forged through before.” He explained the challenges faced during the creation of the park, including parliamentary debates, emphasizing the magnitude of the undertaking. “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 said. Ceawlin Thynn also painted a personal picture of the 6th Marquess, describing him as “eccentric…exacting, charming and merciless in equal measure,” though he remembered a more mellowed version of his grandfather during his own childhood.
The Longleat estate, held by the Bath family for sixteen generations, operates through a dynamic balance between preserving its historic heritage and accommodating modern visitors’ interests. Lord Bath noted that the safari attraction “wouldn’t have happened” without the Elizabethan house anchoring the surrounding grounds, stressing their “symbiotic relationship.” Growing up at Longleat and attending the local school, he recalled fond childhood memories tied to the estate, including a special bond with a baby brown bear at Pets Corner. Looking ahead, he expressed hope that his sons would comfortably inherit the estate’s legacy over time, allowing them to first enjoy the freedoms of childhood on the grounds without pressure. “Really at the moment it’s just letting them become accustomed to it without any sense of pressure… They’re still young,” he said, acknowledging that passing on this legacy will be “a wonderful thing” and “a huge privilege.”
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