Wentworth Woodhouse
Wentworth Woodhouse was built by the branch of the Wentworth descended from the Earl of Strafford, Thomas Wentworth, who was executed in 1641. It is on or near to the site of a much earlier house which had probably existed since Anglo Saxon times. The appellation 'Woodhouse' meaning a house made of wood was something worthy of note when most of our ancestors lived in mud huts.
The east front of the Palladian building is the longest of any stately home in the country (600 ft). "A pedant writes: Wentworth Woodhouse is actually 606ft long, not
600ft....."
. It was designed by Henry Flitcroft in 1737. John Carr added the Stable block in 1768.
The house was set in ornamental gardens including a walled kitchen garden which now forms part of the garden centre. The vast parkland contains two lakes and herds of deer. Wentworth Woodhouse is privately owned and not open to the public but you can stroll through the park. I don't think that the present owner has the slightest idea what to do with it so he is following the age-old tradition of doing nothing. Earlier owners are reputed to have asset stripped it. The stable block which is a grand building in itself was also empty last time I looked. Fortunately the old Gun Park and Kennels are now retails outlets as are the old garden buildings.
The previous owner Mr Wensley Haydon Bayley bought the mansion to house his picture collection. Mr Haydon Bayley was married in Wentworth Church some years ago. All are now gone, house, works of art and wife, along with 50 odd other millions of Haydon Bayley money. Had I but 50 million to lose!
View of part of the gardens of Wentworth Woodhouse from the Garden Centre.
There are very nice walks around Wentworth Park and the lakes - watch out for gamekeepers, fisherman and deer, especially the deer. Some of the footpaths are discretionary and may be closed.
There is a string of ponds in Wentworth Park, Morley Pond, Dog Kennel Pond and Mill Dam and fishing is for permit holders only (Details can be found at Recreation in Rotherham >> Sport >> Fishing - Wentworth Fisheries).