Wadworth Hall
Encyclopedia
Wadworth Hall is a grade 1 listed Manor House
, in the village of Wadworth
(near Doncaster). It was built in 1749 for the Wordsworth family by the renowned northern architect James Paine. It is currently a private residence and is and has been since approx. 1995 under some much needed restoration. The house, however, has served a number of purposes over the 250 years it has so proudly stood in the tranquil countryside of south Yorkshire.
The Wordsworth name appeared in the 11th century after a wave of migration was caused by the Norman Conquest of Britain in 1066. The Wordsworth Family lived in Yorkshire at 'wadsuuorde' or wadsworth. The English Language has only been standardised over the last few centuries and names were frequently misspelt on official documents due to illiteracy, giving us a possible explanation of why the Hall and its surrounding village is called Wadworth (a variation of wordsworth).
First found in Yorkshire, the family were seated at wadsworth, recorded in the Domesday Book
taken in 1086 as 'king's land', a moorland with two churches and scattered houses. An isolated building within the village is said to be the setting of Emily Bronte
's famous novel Wuthering Heights
. The village was granted by King William to Roger de Bully (believed to be the ancestor of the Wadsworths) for his assistance at the battle of Hastings
in 1066.
The estate was then passed on to the Ross family in the 19th century and it is believed by the current owner (who has executed far more extensive research into the hall's past than me), that the famous explorer, James Clarke Ross may have once lived there as the house was in his family. This is believed to be the case after the discovery of a letter written by the explorer's Granddaughter in which she states that her grandfather met his wife-to-be, the then owner's favourite niece, while staying at the Hall which was left to them.
After its use as a family home, it was sold to the 'West Riding county council' in 1957 and was transformed into a nursing home
before it was then sold on to a firm of architects. The architects (tragically, yet ironically) neglected the grand building by converting it into bland offices. In the mid 90's, the architects downsized and the current owner, Andrew Cusack, moved his computing business in, on part the ground floor of the hall. A year later, the opportunity arose for Mr Cusack to purchase the hall. After acknowledging its tragic neglect, he did so. He quotes "It was in a poor state, it was all lit by striplights and the magnificent fireplaces were all still boxed in. I did quite a lot of renovations which, in truth, increased the price to myself when I bought the freehold for the whole of the property two years ago,".
Mr Cusack and his fiance are still lovingly restoring this beautiful house, and since Mr Cusack has moved into the property, its condition has improved dramatically. Wadworth Hall is well on its way to being restored to its original state, and its current owners should be commended for their extraordinary contribution and commitment to the restoration of the house.
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
, in the village of Wadworth
Wadworth
Wadworth is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster in South Yorkshire, England. It has a population of 1,229. Notable buildings in the village include Wadworth Hall.-References:...
(near Doncaster). It was built in 1749 for the Wordsworth family by the renowned northern architect James Paine. It is currently a private residence and is and has been since approx. 1995 under some much needed restoration. The house, however, has served a number of purposes over the 250 years it has so proudly stood in the tranquil countryside of south Yorkshire.
The Wordsworth name appeared in the 11th century after a wave of migration was caused by the Norman Conquest of Britain in 1066. The Wordsworth Family lived in Yorkshire at 'wadsuuorde' or wadsworth. The English Language has only been standardised over the last few centuries and names were frequently misspelt on official documents due to illiteracy, giving us a possible explanation of why the Hall and its surrounding village is called Wadworth (a variation of wordsworth).
First found in Yorkshire, the family were seated at wadsworth, recorded in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
taken in 1086 as 'king's land', a moorland with two churches and scattered houses. An isolated building within the village is said to be the setting of Emily Bronte
Emily Brontë
Emily Jane Brontë 30 July 1818 – 19 December 1848) was an English novelist and poet, best remembered for her only novel, Wuthering Heights, now considered a classic of English literature. Emily was the third eldest of the four surviving Brontë siblings, between the youngest Anne and her brother...
's famous novel Wuthering Heights
Wuthering Heights
Wuthering Heights is a novel by Emily Brontë published in 1847. It was her only novel and written between December 1845 and July 1846. It remained unpublished until July 1847 and was not printed until December after the success of her sister Charlotte Brontë's novel Jane Eyre...
. The village was granted by King William to Roger de Bully (believed to be the ancestor of the Wadsworths) for his assistance at the battle of Hastings
Battle of Hastings
The Battle of Hastings occurred on 14 October 1066 during the Norman conquest of England, between the Norman-French army of Duke William II of Normandy and the English army under King Harold II...
in 1066.
The estate was then passed on to the Ross family in the 19th century and it is believed by the current owner (who has executed far more extensive research into the hall's past than me), that the famous explorer, James Clarke Ross may have once lived there as the house was in his family. This is believed to be the case after the discovery of a letter written by the explorer's Granddaughter in which she states that her grandfather met his wife-to-be, the then owner's favourite niece, while staying at the Hall which was left to them.
After its use as a family home, it was sold to the 'West Riding county council' in 1957 and was transformed into a nursing home
Nursing home
A nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing unit , care home, rest home, or old people's home provides a type of care of residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living...
before it was then sold on to a firm of architects. The architects (tragically, yet ironically) neglected the grand building by converting it into bland offices. In the mid 90's, the architects downsized and the current owner, Andrew Cusack, moved his computing business in, on part the ground floor of the hall. A year later, the opportunity arose for Mr Cusack to purchase the hall. After acknowledging its tragic neglect, he did so. He quotes "It was in a poor state, it was all lit by striplights and the magnificent fireplaces were all still boxed in. I did quite a lot of renovations which, in truth, increased the price to myself when I bought the freehold for the whole of the property two years ago,".
Mr Cusack and his fiance are still lovingly restoring this beautiful house, and since Mr Cusack has moved into the property, its condition has improved dramatically. Wadworth Hall is well on its way to being restored to its original state, and its current owners should be commended for their extraordinary contribution and commitment to the restoration of the house.