A preservation and heritage organisation is in the process of devising plans for a distinctive accommodation space within Wentworth Woodhouseโs South Pavilion
The Landmark Trust, one of Britainโs leading building conservation charities aims to preserve endangered historic buildings. Through careful restoration, these architectural treasures are given a new lease on life, becoming accessible to all for self-catering vacations.
The Landmark Trust explains: โWe hope to create a Landmark for two in the South Tower of the East Front. Around 1770, the upper chamber of the South Tower was adopted by Mary, 1st Marchioness of Rockingham, as her parlour. She had it decorated with fine plasterwork and wall plaques on Classical themes, and the scheme is an important survival of feminine taste in the Georgian period.
โThis secluded eyrie in one of Englandโs most notable houses will, we hope, become a truly elegant place to stay.โ
The rental revenue generated from the Trustโs portfolio of properties sustains their upkeep, ensuring their continued presence in our cultural and societal heritage.
The 2018 Wentworth Masterplan initially proposed transforming the area known as โBedlamโ โ once designated for energetic Georgian bachelors โ into commercial spaces appealing to both national PLCs and local businesses.
When Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust took over the grade I-listed mansion in 2017, the 23 Bedlam rooms were in the worst condition. Situated on three floors of the South-East Wing on the East Front, there were holes the size of footballs in the roof above and gutters and drains were blocked. Roof timbers had rotted and ceilings and plasterwork were being destroyed.
Bedlamโs roof, along with those of the mansionโs chapel and riding school, was one of the first to be tackled when ยฃ7.5m of Capital Works/emergency repairs began in late 2018, using grant funding awarded in the Chancellorโs Autumn 2016 Statement and managed by Historic England.
Sarah McLeod, CEO of Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust, (WWPT) said: โOur priority is to use the spaces we have at Wentworth Woodhouse to generate healthy income for our ongoing restoration tasks and to boost the local economy.
โWhen we launched our master plan in 2018, Bedlam was designated for commercial office lets. It is in a prime position, right alongside the state rooms on our famed East Front and this stunning and impressive location has easy access to the M1, M18 and A1 motorways.
Bedlam was originally the nickname of the Bethlem Hospital asylum in London.
WWPT historian, David Allott, said: โThe fact that the name was adopted at Wentworth Woodhouse gives an insight into the high jinks which happened in that wing.
โIn Georgian and Victorian times young gentlemen of the house slept there, as did visiting bachelor guests and their male servants. The rooms would have been well-furnished, comfortable โย and a safe distance from those occupied by single women.โ
The men-only domain switched to women-only when the rooms became the dormitories of the Lady Mabel College of Physical Education from 1950 to 1977.
Permission for change of use from residential to commercial would need to be granted by Rotherham Borough Council and extensive repairs and refurbishment are still needed.
Feasibility studies have started, thanks to ยฃ10,585 of funding from the Architectural Heritage Fund and ยฃ12,500 from the Pilgrim Trust. The lengthy study will test the current market for office lets and examine refurbishment costs.
