The Athelhampton is one of the finest 15th Century houses in England, containing many magnificently furnished rooms including The Great Hall of 1485 and the newly opened Library. The glorious Grade I gardens, dating from 1891, contain the world-famous topiary pyramids, fountains, the River Piddle and collections of tulips, magnolias, roses, clematis and lilies in season.
Longleat is the seat of the 7th Marquess of Bath. The Thynne family have owned the Estate since 1540, when Sir John Thynne bought the land for £53 and started to build Longleat House In 1948, due to crippling expenses, death duties and taxation, the late Lord Bath, the 6th Marquess, opened his house to the public. It was his way of meeting the ever increasing cost of maintaining and preserving the family home of his ancestors and the extensive estate.
Wilton House stands on the site of a ninth century nunnery founded by King Alfred. This, in turn, was replaced by a twelfth century Benedictine abbey which, with its surrounding lands, was surrendered at the time of the Dissolution of the monasteries, to King Henry V111, who gave them to William Herbert around 1542. Wilton House has remained in the family since that time and is now the home of Henry Herbert - the 17th Earl ofPembroke.
