Lord Bath of Weymouth dies from coronavirus, aged 87: Eccentric owner of Longleat Safari Park known for his string of ‘wifelets’ and frescos of the Kama Sutra at his stately home passes away after a week in hospital
- Alexander Thynn, 7th Marquess of Bath, or Viscount Weymouth, died yesterday
- He was admitted to Royal United Hospital, Bath on March 28 and tested positive
- Widely known for affairs with up to 70 women who he referred to as ‘wifelets’
The eccentric owner of Longleat Safari Park Lord Bath has died aged 87 after testing positive for coronavirus.
Alexander Thynn, the 7th Marquess of Bath, died at the Royal United Hospital in Bath yesterday after being admitted on March 28.
He was the owner of Longleat Safari Park in Warminster, but known best for his flamboyant dress sense and many ‘wifelets’ who he had installed in cottages around the sprawling Wiltshire estate.
Lord Bath of Longleat is pictured outside Longleat House in Wiltshire, where Longleat Safari Park is situated. He has died aged 87
Lord Bath is pictured feeding giraffes at Longleat in Wiltshire in 1993
Lord Bath is pictured being touched by a chimpanzee called ‘Teddy’ at Longleat Safari Park in April 1996
Viscount Weymouth was married to Anna Gael, with whom he had two children, but had affairs with as many as 70 women, many of whom were given buildings to live in at Longleat.
He was a prolific amateur painter and studied art in Paris in the 1950s, where he is believed to have picked up his colourful taste in clothes.
Lord Bath was also known for decorating the rooms of his countryside manor with erotic pictures from the Kama Sutra.
Lord Bath is pictured with his son Viscount Weymouth at Longleat Safari Park
Ceawlin Thynn, Lord Bath’s son, is married to model and socialite Emma McQuiston, now known as Emma Weymouth
His son, Ceawllin Thynn, also known as Viscount Weymouth, took over the management of the estate and the safari park in 2010.
He planned to evict many of his father’s ‘wifelets’ from the grounds and remove some of the erotic images he put up, which resulted in him boycotting his son’s wedding to fashion model and socialite Emma McQuiston.
Longleat Safari Park said in a statement: ‘It is with the deepest sadness we have to announce Lord Bath has died at the age of 87.
‘The family would like to express their greatest appreciation for the dedicated team of nurses, doctors and other staff who cared so professionally and compassionately for Alexander in these extremely difficult times for everyone.’
Viscount Weymouth was known for his colourful dress sense, which he picked up as an art student in Paris in the 1950s. He is pictured in a bold ensemble at Longleat in April 2005
Lord Bath is pictured outside Longleat House in Warminsiter, Wiltshire, in April 2006