Protecting our heritage

摘要

Imagine the scene. One of the country's most famous stately homes has a fire, and water supply is a priority. Fortunately, there is a sizeable lake just yards away - but, before you can do anything, you have to move the hippos... That is one of the challenges facing Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service should an incident ever occur at Longleat House, the Grade 1 listed Elizabethan home of Lord Bath. Longleat is, of course, home to the world famous safari park and the welfare of the animals is vital in any emergency situation. However, the house also holds a host of irreplaceable artworks and antiques, making salvage an equally important consideration should a fire occur. According to Historic England, there are 375,588 listed buildings in England (2012 figure). All of these premises make up the rich heritage of our country, but they are often at higher risk of fire due to their construction.