Longleat embarks on a journey down memory lane with the unveiling of its 75th-anniversary exhibition, ‘1949: A brave new Longleat’. This captivating showcase transports visitors back to a pivotal moment in Longleat’s storied history.
Situated within the opulent confines of Longleat House, the exhibition offers a glimpse into the past, featuring original photographs and memorabilia from the inaugural days when Longleat first opened its doors to the public on 1 April 1949. Among the treasured artifacts on display are the original ‘House Open’ sign, the maiden guidebook autographed by Lord and Lady Bath, and insights into the inaugural Longleat documentary produced by the BBC in the same year.
Journeying back to 1949, visitors relive the allure of stepping across the grand threshold into Longleat House, with the prospect of a guided tour, possibly led by Lady Bath herself. A visit to the café nestled within the former chapel, offering sumptuous luncheons and high teas, was among the cherished highlights of the Longleat experience.
Two months following its grand debut, Longleat captured the small screen as the BBC recreated segments of the Great Hall in a television studio at Alexandra Palace. This live 30-minute documentary, hosted by the 6th Marquess and Marchioness of Bath, marked a significant milestone in Longleat’s journey into the public eye.
The exhibition meticulously reconstructs the novelty and fervour of Longleat’s inaugural season, offering a nostalgic glimpse into a bygone era. Lord Bath fondly reflects, “When my grandfather, Henry, decided to open Longleat as a tourist attraction back in 1949, he was blazing a trail. It was a family affair! On opening day, he directed traffic, my grandmother sold the entry tickets, and the children, my father and his siblings, sold the guidebooks, which had been written by their mother. They couldn’t have known just how popular Longleat would become – from 138,000 visitors during that first season, we now welcome almost a million visitors each year.”
‘1949: A brave new Longleat’ invites visitors to embark on a nostalgic journey until 17 July 2024, exclusively available during Guided Tours of Longleat House. These tours, offered as an add-on experience to Day Tickets or Memberships, entail a modest additional charge.
Longleat extends an invitation to the public to participate in the festivities by sharing photographs or reminisces of their early visits to Longleat House on social media, using the hashtag #Longleat.
For further details and bookings, please visit www.longleat.co.uk.
