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Wentworth Castle Gardens
Glorious gardens, woodland and parkland, created for the privileged few and preserved for everyone to enjoy.
Wentworth Castle Gardens are the only Grade-I listed gardens in South Yorkshire. They were created in the 18th century by the Earls of Strafford as a symbol of wealth and status, and as part of an intense rivalry with their cousins at Wentworth Woodhouse.
Today, 220 years on, the place the Earl and his descendants shaped has become somewhere that helps tackle a core element of social justice: the right to education for all. First as a teaching college and later Northern College, for over 70 years this former stronghold of the elite has provided life changing opportunities for some of the most marginalised members of society in Barnsley and beyond.
Wentworth Castle Gardens is now run as a unique partnership between Northern College, National Trust and Barnsley Museums. We aim to put people at the heart of everything we do, inviting our communities to shape how Wentworth Castle Gardens will continue to develop over time.
We want the stories we tell – both historic and contemporary – to be relevant to everyone, and for Wentworth Castle Gardens to be a place where people can explore; from learning new skills and discovering hidden stories, to quiet contemplation whilst immersed in nature.
Our learning programme is inspiring pride and confidence in the next generations and we’re providing meaningful opportunities for people to be involved including family, wellbeing, arts, sports and horticultural inspired activities, work placements and volunteering.
Maryam Samaam - Rope of Hope
The Rope of Hope is on display in the gardens to mark the visit of Little Amal to Wentworth Castle Gardens, Barnsley on 30 October 2021.
Encounters: Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu is remembered as the woman who introduced inoculation into Britain. The National Trust and Barnsley Museums have commissioned Gobbledegook Theatre to deliver a project exploring Lady Mary’s life in 2022.
Kindred
The Kindred action research programme brought together 21 partners from arts, heritage, education and social services to support Barnsley communities.
Colour Forms, Artist Residency
The evolution of Wentworth Castle Gardens was explored in 2020-21 through an exciting Artists in Residence project. Local artists worked collaboratively with community groups to create an art installation which reflected the stories of this special place.
The Taking Root Exhibition
Members of Feels Like Home come from all over the world. In the Taking Root project they have worked with artists and poets at Wentworth Castle Gardens to explore their personal journeys through the national flowers of their countries of origin, flowers that have made the journey here too. Louise Lane, award winning botanical artist, created the beautiful flower illustrations whilst award winning poet, Andrew McMillan, shared writing skills with the group.
Fine Fettle
Fine Fettle supports adults with lived experience relating to mental health to engage in outdoor activities in the beautiful woodlands of Wentworth Castle Gardens.
Walk with Amal at Wentworth Castle Gardens
At the heart of The Walk is ‘Little Amal’, a 3.5 metre-tall puppet of a young refugee girl. Representing all displaced children, many separated from their families, Little Amal is travelling over 8,000km embodying the urgent message “Don’t forget about us”.
Wentworth Castle College of Education
Wentworth Castle, originally known as Stainborough Hall, is a Grade I listed country house in Stainborough, South Yorkshire, which is presently occupied by the Northern College for residential and community education.