Royal bedroom to undergo repairs after flooding

A bedroom, in which an early 18th-century Queen is believed to have slept, is due to undergo major repairs to its floor.

Queen Anne is believed to have slept in the bedroom at Avebury Manor near Calne, as she travelled from London to Bath in 1712.

It will be the latest stage in an extensive repair project by the National Trust, after the building was badly damaged by flooding during a storm in January 2024.

Wiltshire Council has approved the repairs to the Grade I listed building, with conservationists due to repair oak beams in the ceiling of the dining room, which is directly underneath the bedroom.

They intend to remove the 18th-century cornices and the ceiling to allow inspection and repairs, with the probable loss of the cornices.

The room's ceiling below the primary joist is also showing signs of cracking, and the lintel above the window has bowed.

Currently, one of the beams is propped up to provide temporary support.

Work to repair the main beam is likely to take 16 weeks, while repairing a second will take a further nine weeks.

Historic England was consulted on works to the Grade I listed building and considered that while "the removal and loss of the mid-18th century cornicing will have a harmful impact on the significance of Avebury Manor, the proposed works are unavoidable to enable the necessary repair of the lintel".

It also suggested Wiltshire Council replace the cornices with replicas as a condition of granting listed building consent.

The house has briefly reopened to the public to celebrate the festive season, with the work due to begin in January.

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