The owner of a Buckinghamshire stately home, which was used as the filming location Wayne Manor in 2005’s Batman Begins, has been ordered to undertake a bat survey – or risk losing the property.
Mentmore Towers, the grade I-listed country house in Aylesbury, has featured in a number of films including the Christopher Nolan film starring Christian Bale as masked crusader Batman. It has also featured in 2001’s The Mummy Returns, Sacha Baron Cohen’s Ali G Indahouse, and more recently, the 2026 film Pressure.
However, the mansion – which was once owned by the Rothschild family – is at risk of being placed on the market if its current owner does not provide evidence within a month that a licensed bat ecologist has undertaken surveys at the property.
Buckinghamshire Council served the building a repairs notice on 4 August, stating that the property requires urgent action to be taken in order to fix failing masonry and issues with water ingress.
open image in galleryBefore any repair work is conducted, the owner – which has been Mentmore Towers Limited since 1999 – must ensure that ecological surveys and mitigation measures are undertaken, including a bat survey.
If the Secretary of State is satisfied that the building has been allowed to fall into disrepair, they can make an order for its compulsory purchase.
Mentmore Towers Limited must commission three bat-emergence surveys before August 2027 and once work has begun to repair the property, the council and Historic England officers must be allowed to inspect the construction efforts on a weekly basis.
The house has also been added to Historic England’s “at risk register”, where it states that the property is at immediate risk of “rapid deterioration or loss of fabric”.
open image in gallery
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Henrietta Billings, director of SAVE Britain’s Heritage, said in a statement: “We welcome this action taken by Buckinghamshire Council requiring the current owner to carry out urgent and overdue repairs to this great house.
“We urge the owners, who have owned the building for over 25 years, to step up and undertake immediate repairs. This exceptional landmark has been neglected for too long.”
The Independent has contacted Buckinghamshire Council for comment.