Longleat House in Wiltshire to be repaired after deathwatch beetle damage

The Grade I listed venue is the county’s second most-visited tourist attraction after Stonehenge

An Elizabethan turret forming part of the roofline of Longleat House is to be restored following an infestation by deathwatch beetles.

Wiltshire Council has granted conservationists at the Grade I listed Longleat House – the county’s second most-visited tourist destination after Stonehenge – listed building consent to carry out repairs.

The structure is one of three octagonal lanterns and stair turrets designed by Robert Smythson in the 1560s, when or just after the house was built, and is regarded as “of high significance.”

Specialists informed Wiltshire Council the turret has been affected by “long-term water ingress through its exposed domed masonry roof and upper blind windows.”

They also noted the moisture had enabled deathwatch beetles to attack timber beams.

Known for its tapping sounds during the night, supposedly signalling misfortune, the deathwatch beetle is a destructive wood-boring pest. In properties, their burrowing can lead to substantial damage.

“Combined with a lack of ventilation, this has resulted in damage to internal finishes and decay to the ceiling and floor structure below,” Wiltshire planners were told.

“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 eight-sided turret positioned on the western wall of the eastern courtyard at Longleat House.

It can only be seen clearly from outside when viewed from the house rooftop, with partial glimpses available from the Horningsham entrance drive to the south and the parkland to the east.

Restoration work will be carried out on a like-for-like basis.