Spooky Manor Gets a High-Tech Makeover with 3D Digital Mapping Magic

West Horsley Place, a historic manor in Surrey, has become even more famous after being featured as Button House in the BBC sitcom Ghosts. Now, this centuries-old building is being protected in a new way, thanks to a digital mapping project led by engineers from the University of Surrey. Over the course of a year, the team used high-resolution laser scanners to create a detailed 3D model of the Grade 1 listed house, which dates back to the 15th century. This technology allowed them to capture millions of measurements, mapping every room and structural feature in the house.

The digital survey was very thorough, taking 20 days to complete. The engineers were able to find areas of the house that might be changing or getting weaker, even if those changes could not be seen with the naked eye. This is important for the people who look after the house, because it means they can spot problems early and fix them before they become serious. In the future, the team hopes to add real-time sensors to the house. These sensors would track things like temperature, humidity, and even small shifts in the building’s structure. This would act as an early-warning system, helping conservation teams keep the house safe for years to come.

The digital model also opens up new ways for the public to experience West Horsley Place. Visitors could take virtual tours, use educational materials, or even enjoy augmented-reality stories that bring the house’s history to life. Dr Marco Francesco Funari, who led the project, compared looking after a historic building to caring for a patient: you need to know its history, diagnose any problems, suggest treatments, and keep monitoring its condition. Ilona Harris, the director of West Horsley Place, said that this collaboration gives them a valuable new way to understand and care for the house. She believes that using digital innovation will help protect the manor’s legacy and make it possible for more people to learn about its rich history.