Florence Welch steps out in embroidered coat as Somerset estate renovation faces archaeological concerns

Florence Welch stepped out of the BBC Live Lounge studios in London on Tuesday, cutting a stylish figure in a black sleeveless embroidered coat layered over a crisp white blouse and tailored black trousers. She finished the look with sleek black heeled boots and a black velvet bucket bag, accessorizing with gold jewellery and gold-framed aviator sunglasses. The 39-year-old singer appeared in high spirits as she flashed a smile for photographers outside the studio.

Fresh attention has turned to Welch's sprawling Somerset estate, a 12th-century country pile valued at about 1.9 million pounds, amid new reports that renovations have stalled after builders raised concerns about digging up medieval skeletons. Welch bought most of the estate four years ago and has been seeking to unite four buildings that have stood apart since the 1940s. The move has been slow, with the project beset by planning hurdles and, more recently, archaeological considerations that could affect digging work.

An archaeological assessment submitted to Somerset Council noted clear potential for remains dating to the medieval period. It said that if human remains are encountered and need to be removed, they would be cleaned, recorded, and lifted under a Ministry of Justice licence, with exhumation and post-excavation treatment carried out as required. The report also indicated that associated deposits, such as pyre sites, mausolea, and mortuary enclosures, would be fully investigated and excavated. The Daily Mail reported that Welch has agreed to hand over any medieval artefacts to the Somerset Museums Service where appropriate.

The estate comprises four buildings across three stories, with more than 50 rooms, a swimming pool, and landscaped gardens. Welch has not yet moved in, despite approvals from the local council and years of preparations that began after she purchased the property in 2020–2021. The project has long been described as a long-range dream to live in a historic, gothic-style home that connects to the area’s medieval past. In interviews over the years, Welch has spoken about her fascination with history and architecture, and the property remains central to that vision.

In 2011, Welch told Vogue that she had long desired a gothic castle or church, though touring schedules limited time at home. Local folklore surrounding the estate mentions a grey lady ghost, a legend that predates Welch’s ownership. While it is unclear whether the singer is personally aware of the ghost, the tale adds to the property’s mystique for fans of her music and for observers of her creative interests.

Welch’s spirituality has also been a talking point in her public life. Her mother, Evelyn Welch, is a professor and Bristol University’s vice-chancellor, and has described Florence as an animist. The artist has spoken in various interviews about spiritual themes and the occult in her work and life. In a 2015 interview with Vice, she recalled childhood experiences of superstition and imagination, saying she spent time in libraries and historic buildings convinced that ghosts and other unseen forces were real. She has even described forming a witch coven with friends during school years, an anecdote that has circulated widely among fans and media outlets.

The Somerset project has drawn interest from local authorities and the public, with no reported objections from neighbors thus far. As the renovations continue, Welch remains a fixture of both the contemporary music scene and a broader cultural conversation about art, history, and the ways in which artists bring personal narratives to life through architecture, spirituality, and public appearances.