Hoober Stand
Designed in the 18th century by Henry Flitcroft, situated on the highest ridge in the Wentworth area (some 157m above sea level) and commanding fine views all around from the viewing platform at the top of the Stand after climbing the 155 internal stone steps. Of pyramid construction, roughly 30m high and almost devoid of architectural ornamentation on its exterior but with the true dignityof 18th century craftsmanship revealed inside.
Open to the public on Sunday afternoons between 2-5pm between Spring Bank Holiday and 30th September only. Parties catered for on request to the Estate Office, Wentworth.
The Stand itself was built in 1747-8 to commemorate defeat of the Jacobite rebellion in 1745, when the 1st Marquis (then plain Thomas Watson Wentworth) fought on the side of King George II. In recognition of his contribution, the King elevated Wentworth to Marquis, and the new Marquis decided to build the 30 metre tower to show his gratitude.
The inscription above the doorway reads:-
This pyramidall building was erected by his Majestys most dutiful subject Thomas Marquess of Rockingham in grateful respect to the preserver of our religious laws and libertys King George the Second who, by the blessing of God having subdued a most unnatural rebellion in Britain anno 1746 maintains the balance of power and settles a just and honourable peace in Europe 1748
The tower is built in the shape of a tapering pyramid topped with a hexaganol lantern. The design creates the illusion that the building is toppling over and the lantern at the top seems to move depending on your viewing angle. Rest assured though, this is a very solid piece of construction and is well worth a visit.
Web Links
You may like to visit Ink Amera for more extensive coverage of Hoober Stand and all other Wentworth follies.
Posted on July 3rd, 2010 at 10:49 pm
‘John Thompson states that he was born in Upperstand in the 1871 census, aged 50yrs. Various other censuses have him declaring he was born in 1) Wentworth 2) Silkstone.
From 1841 – 1887, when he dies, he worked at The Old Wire Mills in Thurgoland.
A repairman once showed me an old map and found Upperstand shown as a farm…I have not been able to find it again on any Ordinance Survey or old map in a County Record Office. All I know is that it seemed to be situated in a sparsely populated area.
Can anyone identify its position?
Thank you.’
Having been advised to view your website re. Hoober Stand I think the farm to which I refer, above, could be in this vicinity. Do you have an old map c 1800 – 1850 showing Upperstand Farm?
Thank you.
Posted on July 5th, 2010 at 9:16 am
There is a site with maps from 1855, if you search here…
http://www.old-maps.co.uk
…for Wentworth you can browse the area & zoom in. We don’t have any maps ourselves but if it existed in 1855 you should be able to find it there. They also sell prints taken from the old maps should you want one.
Make sure you get the right site address though, there is another site (same address without the hyphen) where they just try & sell you maps.
Posted on July 13th, 2010 at 7:51 pm
Hello,
Me and a friend of mine are very intrigued about the little black fenced up cove to the rear of Hoober Stand down in the ditch, We’ve heard so many theories about it but would love to know the truth.. What is it? When was it built? And why?
Please put our minds at rest
Posted on July 14th, 2010 at 3:41 pm
Hello Jude,
No idea what it is, sorry, the times I’ve been up to Hoober I didn’t go too far around the grounds, although I’m pretty sure I know where you mean.
I’m going back there at some point soon to get some nicer photos for the site, I’ll take the opportunity to have a poke around & I’ll get some photos of it for this page so at the very least everyone can wonder what it is.
Posted on July 14th, 2010 at 6:24 pm
Fantastic, that would be awesome, thank you.
Maybe then someone could tell us. my thoughts are that it could be a mine shaft or drifter, it could even be part of the Roman Rig? It certainly looks man made and really old, We took a torch up a few days ago because its pitch black in there, and from what we could see through the barrier was a strange little room, an odd shape and then the start of a tunnel… I can’t wait to figure out the mystery, I love Wentworth