Bury St Edmunds (United Kingdom) (AFP)

Kentwell Hall mansion in eastern England has survived over 450 years of tumultuous history.

Like many stately homes, often requiring costly renovations, its future is threatened by the epidemic which has forced it to close to the public.

Built when the Tudors ruled England in the 16th century, the red-brick edifice with multiple turrets, whose land extends near the market town of Bury St Edmunds, requires extensive renovation.

Their funding is compromised for lack of revenue generated by visitors or events such as weddings or conferences.

Its owner Patrick Phillips, a former lawyer who has worked since his acquisition in 1971 to maintain the splendor of the place, saw his turnover of 1.5 million pounds sterling (1.75 million euros) in 2019 record a dizzying drop of 90%.

"It is extremely painful for us to try to manage this place without income," he told AFP, pleading for a faster lifting of the confinement.

Essential work to repair a 730-meter moat, which has collapsed at a critical location for the structure, is not possible.

And lack of funds to empty them and start the work, "we can not assess the seriousness", laments Patrick Phillips, evoking a "real disaster".

Critical of the roadmap for getting out of confinement developed by the government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, he believes that historic homes like his should have been allowed to reopen earlier than May 17, a deadline also applying to museums and inside pubs and restaurants.

"We are all suffering needlessly," he insists.

- Mold and humidity -

By presenting, in February, his plan to exit containment in place since early January, the third decreed in the United Kingdom since the start of the pandemic, Boris Johnson defended a cautious approach, showing his wish that this relaxation of restrictions be " irreversible".

But the wait is long for historic homes, while non-essential businesses are allowed to reopen from April 12.

"These are essential activities whose contribution is essential," argues James Probert, a manager of Historic Homes, an organization representing 1,500 private historic homes in the UK.

"These are very, very important listed buildings that are part of our national heritage," he continues.

"We are not saying that they have to allow these activities to reopen on April 12. But we are asking them to at least consider it," and that the decision be made "in light of reasonable scientific advice."

In total, work in progress in these historic homes reached 1.4 billion pounds (1.6 billion euros) in 2019, of which 400 million were considered urgent - an amount that swelled during the pandemic, according to James Probert. , in particular with pervasive mold and humidity problems.

- "Financially decimated" -

Besides building maintenance, their 34,400 employees also pay a heavy price.

Around 3,000 are at risk of losing their jobs despite the government-subsidized partial unemployment system.

Charles Courtenay, the 19th Earl of Devon, whose family has lived at Powderham Castle in southwest England for more than 600 years, also says he is "financially decimated" by the health crisis.

He had to contend with the water damage to the roof of the castle - although the extent of the damage did not reach that suffered during the English Civil War in the 17th century.

And for now, the financial support provided by the Historic England heritage protection association has just kept the costs under control.

Powderham will reopen "as soon as possible", assured Charles Courtenay, stressing that the majority of the revenues were invested in the maintenance of the building or its management.

He remembers last summer, when he was able to reopen the gardens: this made the castle a "community space where people could come and go".

"We were proud and delighted to be able to make this space available" during this "difficult" period.

© 2021 AFP