DI'S DAYS OUT

Longleat Safari Park

On a very hot day in July, we visited Longleat which is celebrating its 60th anniversary. Most animals were very sensibly sleeping in the shade, only the deer decided to go for a short scamper. Even though the large cats were under the trees we saw African lions, cheetahs and an Amur tiger.

The safari was followed by a tour of the Elizabethan house which took 20 years to build. It was one of the first stately homes to open to the public and contains one of the biggest private collections of Old Masters and antiques. There are 7 libraries housing 44,000 books and the dining room ceiling is decorated in gold, similar to one in the Doge’s palace in Venice. We also saw an electric bell board used to summon any of the 50 indoor servants - one was labelled “Nappy Room”!

Next, we took a boat ride and were entertained by sea lions swimming alongside the boat, as well as gorillas and hippos. Gorillas seem to have a sixth sense and whenever the cameras come out they turn their backs! I was also fortunate to see a Red Panda in the trees.

Shuttleworth

The working aviation, automotive and agricultural collection.

The Old Warden Estate houses the Shuttleworth Collection, a treasure trove of vintage aircraft, veteran cars, classic motor cycles, bicycles, vintage buses, carriages and agricultural machinery. It also includes a mansion house, Swiss garden and several hangers.

The house, commissioned 1872 by Joseph Shuttleworth, was built by local firm Cubbitts. His son Frank inherited the estate and married Dorothy Clothilda, who became the most significant figure its history. It then passed on to their son Richard who indulged his interests in aviation and racing driving, winning the Donnington Grand Prix in 1935 and the Mountain Championship at Brooklands. He built up a collection of cars and aircraft, including a Bleriot which were the beginning of the Shuttleworth Collection.

On Richard’s death in WW2, Dorothy turned Shuttleworth into a Charitable Trust and started the Science and Agricultural college. Several of Richard’s planes, including the Bleriot, still fly on Shuttleworth’s event days, which take place throughout the year. A couple appeared in the sky while we were visiting. I also enjoyed seeing the plane featured in the film “Reach For the Sky”, a Charabus and the vintage cars.

Later we wandered around the estates’ beautiful grounds seeing the Swiss garden with its lakes, bridges and quirky buildings.