Lions On The Lawn

It's an expensive business being rich in England -as the Duke of Bedford and The Marquess of Bath will tel you.

The Duke of Bedford has got one of the most impressive private art collections in the world. Apart from paintings by Rembrandt, Canaletto, Van Dyck and Gainsborough he has superb pieces of antique furniture, silver, and an amazing dinner service which the King of France gave to one of his ancestors.

He keeps it all in a magnificent house called Woburn Abbey, 70 km north of London.

The Marquess of Bath keeps his treasures in a 400 year old place in the west of England - Longleat House.

They have both had to face the same problem: a fine work of art is worth nothing, unless you are prepared to sell it - in other words, you can't have your cake and eat it!

In order to pay for the upkeep of thir family homes (and to keep the taxman happy) they have both opened them to the public - and they have both done it in style. There are restaurants and minaature railways, pubs, gift shops, and amusement arcades.

The idea of Space Invaders amongst the antiques has caused many an eyebrow to be raised. But aristocratic eyes positively popped when the Duke and the Marquess turned their respective gardens into Safari Parks.

Now zebras, giraffes and tigers stroll in the heart of the English countryside. Dolphins leap, the children ride on camels. Visitors are warned not to get out of their car in case they get eaten by lions.

The lions on the lawn are also usefull for keeing burglars away from the Van Dycks and the Rembrandts.