Comments on: A Brief History of Wentworth

By: Chas Harrison

Chas Harrison — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 12:25:12 +0000

Love Wentworth and surrounding area, been there many times with a companion. Stayed over a few times as well – two good pubs!
Been trying to get hold of a copy of ‘The Big House and The Little Village’ but with no success. Closest I got was borrowing a copy from local library who had to borrow it from another library. If anyone can point me to where I might find a copy I would be grateful.

By: Elisabeth Krueger

Elisabeth Krueger — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 21:58:43 +0000

My grandmothers name is Sarah Edwards Wentworth and ever since I was a child I remember her telling us stories about how our family had a castle in England. I was so fascinated about it as a child and have become increasingly so as I have gotten older. My grandmother remembers as a child having a Wentworth coat of arms in a frame hanging up. She recently visited the town of Wentworth along with the castle and Woodhouse with my mother and uncle. I have done some research recently about the family tree. I heard statements when I was younger that we were related to Queen Anne Boleyn and in turn Elizabeth I. I found that there was a Marjory Wentworth (which amazingly enough is the name of my grandmother’s sister) that was the mother of Jane and Thomas Seymour. We know that Jane Seymour was one of the wives of Henry VIII, and also Thomas who went on to marry Catherine Parr after Henry’s death. Also that Marjory’s mother was a Howard, which leads us to the families of Anne Boleyn (mother was a Howard) and also Catherine Howard. Amazing!! Hopefully one day I will be lucky enough to visit!

By: hayley comrie

hayley comrie — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 17:55:33 +0000

Hello Ruth, how fascinating it must have been to have had a private tour around such a historic residence. I live at higher stubbin round the corner from wentworth where my husband is intrigued by the story of the house and the mystery that seems to surround it now-as no-one seems to know who lives there as no -one has seen them,. How did you arrange the private tour.

By: Ismene Brown

Ismene Brown — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 16:48:00 +0000

Hello, perhaps Ruth Robson or someone else could tell me how to contact Mr Newbold. My mother, who is about to be 80, lived in Wentworth as a child – her father was the Wentworth Woodhouse chaplain then and she often stayed in the house. We would like to see if it’s possible for her to take a trip from her home in Hertfordshire to visit it again and refresh those long-ago memories. It sounds as if we could at least approach Mr Newbold to see if she could pay a brief visit. Could anyone kindly email me on ismo2@o2.co.uk with a contact?

By: ruth robson

ruth robson — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 09:38:13 +0000

I visited Wentworth Woodhouse yesterday with a Leeds art group and were given a private tour of the ‘home’ by the current owner and one of his sons. He purchased the property at the age of 72 yrs 11 years ago. He has spent a fortune restoring a small part of it to a high standard during that time. Plenty of work remains to be done but the owner’s architectural interest and obvious ‘love’ for the great task he has undertaken will go a long way towards maintaining the stately home for the future. By the way, the intrically designed marble floor in the ‘marble saloon’ is in beautiful condition and all the plasterwork and other detail glitters in gold leaf. All thanks to Mr Newbold and family.

By: M Weatherall

M Weatherall — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 20:46:22 +0000

I recently visited Wentworth House and was amazed at the size of it. It looks wonderful and I have purchased the book ‘Black Diamonds’ to read of its history.
I was informed it is now privately owned. I wonder who lives there now and how they came to own such a large impressive home. Anyone any info on the present owners?
M Weatherall

By: Rebecca Wildsmith

Rebecca Wildsmith — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 19:47:52 +0000

My parents just gave me Black Diamonds to read as my father was born & lived his childhood in Barnsley & my mother lived in Wentworth Woodhouse as a child during the 2nd World War & they met aged 14 & 17, in the gardens of Wentworth as my father went there to sketch & draw.

My Mother’s father, Bernard Ithurbide, (a French Basque) was head chef to Lord Fitzwilliam VII. Bernard’s wife, (my grandmother) lived at the time in London with her three daughters & at the outbreak of war all children had to be evacuated from London. Lord Fitzwilliam invited Bernard’s family to Wentworth Woodhouse for the duration of the war… they ended up staying there longer than the war lasted!

By: Elizabeth Hudson

Elizabeth Hudson — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:35:45 +0000

Hi I have just finished reading the Black Diamonds and couldn’t put it down. I was a student at Wentworth – Lady Mabel PE College from 1962 – 65. I was staggered at how little I knew about the place when I was in residence. However, The writer Christine Bailey mentions the Marble Saloon as having beams hanging from the ceiling and gymnastic equipment in it. Never in my time and there was certainly no evidence that there ever had been. It was our dance studio and we felt very privileged to use it. The floor was covered in wood and we used it also for badminton. We treated it with great reverence. Our Gymnasium was in stable block and the only facility of its kind in the whole building. I cannot believe that marble saloon was ever desecrated in the way it was described. My admission booklet from 1962 shows a wonderful photo of marble saloon and it certainly has no gymnastic equip. evident. The book has left me with very nostalgic memories of my time in Wentworth. I had a wonderful 3 years. Best wishes to all who help to preserve its memory. Elizabeth Hudson nee Murray

By: susan Stonehewer

susan Stonehewer — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 19:10:36 +0000

my grandmother was born in Wentworth and so was my mother. They lived in The Roundhouse in Mill Lane. Her brother lived in The Roundhouse all his life . They were called Dean. I have numerous great aunts that lived in the village after they were wed. One was at Barrow feild Gates. My mothers sister was married at St Trinity`s and I was there being only 10 months old at the time. I used to live with my grandmother when I was young and then used to go for holidays later.She lived in Mill Cottage in Mill Lane again she never moved far. The Round House was divided into two dwellings and my great grandparents had 12 children .My great uncle lorry used to work at the sewage plant in Mill lane. My grand mother was named Wilkinson but my granfather died fairly young. She later remarried a man named Stanley Horn who came from Harley. He used to work in Elsecar pit and retired after spending 52 years there, starting at the age of 13 years. I remember a Mrs Miles who used to live on Main St and she used to have the best plum tree in Wentworth , it was always laden with fruit. My grandmother told me that she had evacuees during the war. I also have read Black Diamonds I found it very interesting. My mother used to tell me that they would all go and watch the “Hunt ” on Boxing Day. I will be visiting again shortly to bring back some more memories . Best wishes to you all Sue

By: Susan Smith

Susan Smith — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:04:38 +0000

I am in the middle of Black Diamond which has been a real eye opener. Firstly , I had never realised before that it was possible to become so incredibly rich on the backs of the grinding poverty, insecurity and harsh working conditions of so many people. Secondly, the number of skeletons in the Wentworth family during their last 100 years of its existance.