Wentworth Castle: The stunning Yorkshire castle famed for its parties and events
The old order which had existed for generations at Wentworth Castle, Stainborough, near Barnsley, continued for a few years in the 20th century, then underwent significant changes.
At the outset of this period, Wentworth Castle and estates were owned by T.F.C. Vernon Wentworth, born in 1831.
The eldest son of Frederick William Thomas Vernon Wentworth, he succeeded his father in the large Yorkshire and other family estates in 1885. He was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge.
The house was originally titled Stainborough Hall from at least the early 17th century before taking the present name and undergoing alterations and additions.
It was extended in the Baroque style between 1710-1714 and a few years later a Palladian wing was added.
On January 18 1901, Vernon Wentworth’s wife Lady Harriet Wentworth died. They had married in 1859. She was the daughter of the first Marquis of Clanricarde.
Her obituary said she had given generous help to deserving institutions, wishing to assist the poor in the surrounding districts, especially Barnsley.
At her insistence, a committee of ladies and gentlemen was formed to administer her generosity.
The office of Lady Harriet Wentworth’s Charity at Pontefract Road, Barnsley, had been a centre where charity and help had flowed to sufferers for many years.
The Vernon Wentworth’s were noted for their parties especially during the shooting season. On two occasions the Duke of Clarence attended.
After his wife died, Vernon Wentworth occupied Aldeburgh Lodge, his Suffolk residence. In spite of this, events continued to be held at Wentworth Castle.
On July 4 1901 a notice said that the Fete of the Wentworth and Canning Habitations of the Primrose League would be held in the park but would be closed to all visitors not holding the Primrose League tickets.
After a lengthy illness Vernon Wentworth died at Aldeburgh Lodge on January 1, 1902.
He was succeeded by his son Bruce, a captain in the Grenadier Guards and Tory MP for Brighton between 1893 and 1906. He had unsuccessfully contested as a Tory in the Barnsley Division.
During February 1902, the will of Vernon Wentworth was proved, the estate being valued at nearly £980,000, including a net personalty upwards of £656,000.
The Yorkshire estates (including Wentworth Castle) were left to Captain Bruce Vernon Wentworth and his male issue, with remainder to his younger brother, Commander Frederick Vernon Wentworth, who got the Suffolk property.
Captain Wentworth settled the plate, pictures, old furniture, and articles of vertu at Wentworth to devolve as heirlooms, and the like articles at Aldeburgh Lodge were to pass similarly with the Suffolk estates.
The arrangements for the Coronation celebrations at Wentworth Castle were carried out on Thursday July 3, 1902 through the kindness of Captain Wentworth.
Adults and school children sat down in a large shed in the park, and sports and other amusements followed.
On Thursday August 2, 1906 a bazaar, garden party took place at Wentworth Castle in aid of the funds of the Yorkshire Society for the Encouragement of Kindness and Humane Treatment to Pit Ponies.
Later in 1906 – at a shooting party at Wentworth that included Captain Wentworth – it was announced ‘nearly one thousand head were killed in the Wombwell Wood Preserves.’
Additions made to the house by Captain Wentworth included a ballustraded terrace in front to the mansion’s Baroque wing.
This was besides planting a narrow lime tree avenue known as Lady Lucy’s Walk. In March 1908, Captain Wentworth became the new Sheriff of Yorkshire for the ensuing year.
The Coronation celebrations in June 1911 at Wentworth Castle were said to have been on an ambitious scale with Captain Wentworth giving every help and encouragement to the inhabitants of Stainborough.
All the residents were entertained to tea, sports, and fireworks were provided and a big bonfire lit. Every child received a medal.
At the annual meeting of the Lady Harriet Wentworth and Barnsley charity on January 28 1913, Captain Wentworth again subscribed £400 and the general public £100.
In the previous year, relief was granted to 221 applicants and about £40 was spent on sending people to convalescent hospitals.
The Mayor of Barnsley said they were indebted to Captain Wentworth for his continued generous gifts.
By kind permission of Captain Wentworth, a grand Garden Party was held in the Wentworth Castle grounds on Thursday July 29, 1915.
This was under the heading of the Nursing Association for the Borough of Barnsley in affiliation with the Queen Victoria Jubilee Institute.
An announcement from auctioneers Christies said that on November 13 and 14, 1919 they would – at the order of Captain Wentworth – sell the Old Masters from Wentworth Castle.
Then, on November 20 and 21, the furniture, silver and tapestry from the same mansion.
On November 13, 32,000 guineas was realised for Carpaccio’s ‘St Eustace’, later renamed as ‘Young Knight in a Landscape’.
The highest figure reached for a single lot, at Christie’s sale on the 20th was 4,400 guineas for a suite of Louis XV furniture (settee and six chairs), in Beauvais tapestry, woven with subjects from Aesop’s Fables.
The total realised by the day’s sale was nearly £31,000.
In the 1930s, events continued to take place in the Wentworth Castle grounds.
On Monday May 6, 1935 arrangements were made to relay the King’s broadcast speech at 8 pm through loud speakers at Wentworth Castle.
On June 1, 1935 an account said close upon 1,400 Girl Guides took part there in the Barnsley Division Jubilee Celebrations.
Two years later, a report said a fine show of rhododendrons was open to the public at Wentworth Castle in aid of the Yorkshire Personal Service League.
An article from August 30, 1947 announced that Barnsley Education Committee was hoping by summer the following year to have established a new teachers’ training college in Wentworth Castle.
Wentworth Castle, and over 60 acres of ground, was bought for around £30,000 from Captain Wentworth who was allowed four rooms to live in for which he paid a rental of 30s a week.
A big expansion of permanent training college facilities for women was announced by George Tomlinson, Minister of Education, when opening Wentworth Castle training college on October 23, 1948.
A thousand new places and 15 new two-year training colleges were part of the plan.
Captain Bruce Vernon Wentworth died on November 12, 1951 aged 88 leaving £985,359 (net personalty £944,334: duty paid £755,922).
The house was occupied by the training college until 1978 when it became the Northern College of Residential Adult Education.
The Wentworth Castle Gardens and Stainborough Park Trust acquired the Wentworth Castle grounds in 2002.
Support from the National Lottery and other contributors saw the gardens open to the public in 2007.
Financial struggles caused the area to close in 2017. A partnership of Barnsley Council, Northern College and the National Trust saw the site reopened in 2019.