The sixteenth century Grade I listed building, part of the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site, was badly affected during flooding in January 2024. Water levels inside some rooms rose to more than a metre deep.
All ground-floor rooms were impacted. Conservation experts then spent months monitoring the building as it gradually dried out.
Original features, electrics, plasterwork and floorboards required extensive restoration. Some furniture was too badly damaged to be saved.
The manor remained closed for more than two years, apart from a short reopening for a Christmas display at the end of last year.
The reopening has been described as more than a repair project by the National Trust.
Amelia Bryan, House Manager at National Trust Avebury, said:
“We’re incredibly excited to welcome visitors back for good after such a challenging period.
“This is a real moment of renewal for Avebury Manor, and we’re looking forward to sharing a completely new way of experiencing this much-loved place.”
The updated visitor experience, titled “Avebury as Home”, focuses on the lives of those who lived and worked at the property over the centuries.
It explores the building as a lived-in home, from Tudor courtiers and farming families to servants, archaeologists and children connected to the estate.
During restoration, specialist contractors uncovered hidden traces of former occupants and earlier alterations. These findings have been incorporated into the new displays, alongside audio features and interactive elements.
Hazel Scott, Visitor Experience Manager, said: “The flooding was heartbreaking for the team, our volunteers, and our visitors, and it has been a long journey to get to this point.
“We have had excellent support from conservation specialists throughout the restoration, and reopening now, with an experience rooted in resilience, care and connection, feels especially meaningful.”
The flooding followed prolonged heavy rainfall and saturated ground conditions across Wiltshire during the winter of 2023 and early 2024. Historic buildings are particularly vulnerable due to their age and construction.
Avebury Manor is now open daily from 11am-5pm, with last entry to the house at 4pm.
