'Lions and tigers won't be roaming around Holdenby House!'

A historic country house in Northamptonshire has confirmed it WON'T be creating a zoo in its grounds.

Holdenby House had applied to Daventry District Council for a zoo licence in collaboration with Icarus Falconry. The application has led to speculation about what the house might be planning.

In a statement issued this afternoon, the house said it would like to clear up any confusion.

"We are not opening a zoo, there will be no lions or tigers roaming around the grounds of Holdenby House!

"Holdenby House, along with Icarus Falconry Centre have applied for a zoo licence to enable Icarus Falconry Centre, which has been based within the grounds of Holdenby House since 2002, to open to the public on a more regular basis along with the gardens of Holdenby House," a spokesperson said.

"The licence Icarus currently have in place limits the number of days per year that they can open to the public. However, with the licence that we have applied for, we could then include the Falconry Centre as a part of our regular openings to the public, which, COVID permitting, we hope to start again in April.

"These extended openings are in addition to Icarus’ their usual experience days that they offer. Further details will follow about this seasons’ openings, as soon as we have an indication from the government about when we are allowed to reopen," the spokesperson added.