Wentworth is an old estate village with virtually all buildings belonging the Wentworth Estate. They can be recognised by their distinctive green paint. Indeed cottages that still belong to the estate can be picked out in several surrounding villages in the area.  Leave car park and turn left to follow road past Rockingham Arms Public House. At end of village bear left into Cortworth Lane, sign posted Nether Hague, Greasbrough. Cross over Clayfield Lane.  Note the disused windmill to the left which was replaced in the 19th Century by a new one on Mill Lane, now also disused.  Continue forward along road and bear left into Coaley Lane. At brow of hill turn right into Street Lane.  The Needles Eye folly can be visited by turning left through a kissing gate opposite the end of Street Lane and walking approximately 100m along the side of the wood. When you reach a gap between trees you will see the folly to your left. The earliest documentation of this folly is from the early 1700s making it the oldest of the Wentworth follies. Local folklore maintains that the folly was built in order that the Earl of the time could win a wager that he could drive a coach & four through the ‘Eye of a Needle’. This however would have been impossible as the archway is far too narrow.  Keep forward past row of cottages on left. In approximately 100m turn left at footpath sign and veer right on path towards woods. Cross over stile and follow footpath into woods. At Y junction bear right and follow path through woods keeping a field to the right to reach Hoober Stand.  Hoober Stand is the most famous of the Wentworth Follies and is visible for many miles from all directions. It is a triangular tower, over 100 feet high and 518 feet above sea level. It was constructed between 1747 and 1749 to celebrate the crushing of the second Jacobite rebellion and the elevation of Thomas Watson Wentworth to the first Marquis of Rockingham. It is reputed that on a clear day York Minster, some 40 miles away, can be seen from the top of the tower. Unfortunately, because of mining subsidence, the tower is now closed to the public.

Q1: According to the inscription over the doorway what did King George II subdue in 1746?

Keep forward with Hoober Stand to left to pass a cottage and reach a tarmac lane. Turn right on lane and at farm buildings follow road round to right. At T-junction turn right and in 50metres (Opposite a bungalow ‘Clematis’) turn left, ignoring main track and go through kissing gate into woods. Follow path through wood and go through kissing gate into field. Follow path across first field and along left hand edge of next field and keep forward to reach road*. Turn right and follow road for approximately 1km.
(* - If you turn left on reaching the road, there is a pub serving food in approx. 100m.)

Q2: Just after the brow of the hill, as the road starts to descend, what is the name of the cottage on the opposite side of the road?

As you descend the hill the Mausoleum can be seen among the trees to the right. The Mausoleum is not strictly a mausoleum at all since the body it commemorates lies in York Minster. It was erected in 1788 by the 4th Earl Fitzwilliam in memory of Charles, the 2nd Marquis of Rockingham.  Cross Cortworth Lane and keep forward into the village of Nether Haugh. After a post box and house No. 21 turn right into a lane. As you walk along the lane you will see Keppel’s Column on the horizon in front of you.  Keppel’s Column is 115 feet high and was erected in the 1770s. It records the acquittal by court martial of Admiral Keppel, a political ally of the Marquis of Rockingham.  At end of houses turn right onto a narrow green lane and keep forward along top of field. At end of field the Mausoleum can be seen in the woods to the right. At end of field turn left downhill. At bottom of field turn right and cross diagonally over next field. At far side of field turn left and follow hedge. At bottom of field turn right over footbridge and cross stile. Turn right along edge of field and end turn left along farm track. Keep forward with row of trees to left. 50m before reaching gate cross stile on right in bush.  Head diagonally left across field then cross another style onto a tarmac track and turn right. Keep forward along this track ignoring all turnings to eventually enter the parkland of Wentworth Woodhouse. You may be fortunate enough to see the deer herd as you walk through the park. Keep forward for a considerable distance to eventually go over a rise and see the Woodhouse in front of you. Wentworth Woodhouse is the ancestral home of the Wentworth family. The family first came to prominence when Thomas Wentworth became adviser to King Charles I shortly before the Civil War. Indeed he became one of the most hated men in England with the nickname ‘Black Tom Tyrant’. He was beheaded when Parliament gained the upper hand. Eventually the estate passed to Thomas Watson Wentworth who became 1st Marquis of Rockingham in 1746. His son Charles inherited the title and served two periods as Prime Minister. During the second of these he concluded the peace that allowed the United States independence. Through his marriage to a heiress of the Bright family the estate was enlarged to cover most of South Yorkshire. The family had many diverse industrial interests in the area including mining, iron foundries and a pottery. The Fitzwilliams set up a miniature welfare state providing cheap decent housing, home coal, schools and medical facilities for their workers. The title died out with the 10th Earl Fitzwilliam who died without male heirs in 1979.  Wentworth Woodhouse is built mainly in the 18th Century Classical style. The West Front was added between 1725 and 1734 being constructed of red brick and sandstone. In 1734 work was started on the East Front and completed several years later. The house, which at 606 feet long. is the longest house in England. It is said to have 365 rooms, but each count appears to produce a different number according to what is considered to be a room and what is not. Tradition tells of servants actually getting lost as they went from one section of the house to another.  At brow of hill turn off the main track and bear right onto a grassy track and follow this track along edge of fence to right hand side of the house. Rejoin tarmac track and keep forward.

Q3: What three words can be seen above the columns at the centre of the house?

Continue, passing the impressive stable block on the left.  This stable block was built by the 2nd Marquis of Rockingham who was also responsible, with some friends, for building the grandstand at York’s Knavesmire Racecourse. The stables at Wentworth housed 84 horses and were so large that they included an indoor riding school and coach houses.  Keep forward to reach road. Cross road and turn left. Follow pavement to reach Wentworth Village, pass the Rockingham Arms Public House and return to car park.

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This trail is registered until 31 December 2008.

PAGE UPDATED Monday, 08 September 2008