Wentworth Ghosts

Behind the Great Facade

Wentworth Woodhouse is world renowned for the splendour of its imposing architecture; it’s extensive
and magnificent grounds. Not forgetting the impressive pedigree of its distinguished occupants.
The history of this South Yorkshire landmark is more than worthy of an in-depth inspection.

Once past the record breaking façade of its famous East Front, any would-be researcher will find a
much more unfamiliar and undocumented façade that hides a plethora of dark and sinister
secrets that include:

1. Strong connections to the eventual overthrow of the Jacobite Rebellion.
2. The planning and execution of Civil War events.
3. Family feuds that marred the aristocratic lifestyles of the Watson Wentworth’s and Wentworth Fitzwilliam generations
4. The visitation of long dead family members who are believed to still walk the halls and staircases of the home they held so dear.
5. The prowling of devilish beasts that wanders menacingly around the extensive grounds and surrounding area.
6. The practise of witchcraft in around the monuments that grace the now woodland area within the estate.

The list goes on, far too long to include in its entirety.

I shall attempt to spotlight some of these strange and bizarre events in the paragraphs that follow. For the reader to appreciate the significance of past events in current alleged claims of paranormal activity in the Wentworth Woodhouse area I have included a brief historical breakdown of the immediate area for a source of quick reference.

A Brief History Breakdown
Wentworth first recorded name Wintreuuorde, derived from the name of the early Anglo-Saxon settler, Wintra, who carved a clearing out of the woods.

1086 the time of Domesday Book Wentworth was recorded as being owned by Roger de Busli.

Middle Ages Wentworth was split into three estates. Owned by: Adam of Newmarch, William le Fleming and the Fitz Swein family.

1305 The Newmarch portion passed eventually to the Woodhall and then Jackson family after being owned briefly by the Woodhall family.

1565 Thomas Wentworth bought the former Newmarch portion from the then owners the Jackson family.

1614 Thomas Wentworth, son of William Wentworth acquired Wentworth Woodhouse Estate upon the Dissolution of Bolton Abbey.

1620 Thomas Wentworth was elected as a Member of Parliament for Yorkshire.

1624 Thomas Wentworth was elected Member of Parliament for Pontefract.
1625 Thomas Wentworth’s return to Parliament for Yorkshire was blocked by the Royalist party.

1628 Thomas Wentworth returned to Parliament, but had now changed his allegiance to the Royalist Party.

1633 Thomas Wentworth went to Ireland as Charles 1’s Chief Governor and earned the title Earl of Strafford as a consequence.

1640 Thomas Wentworth returned to England and was impeached by Parliament.

1641 Thomas Wentworth was executed for treason on Tower Hill, London.

1652 William Wentworth finally inherited the title 2nd Earl of Strafford. He died without male heirs in 1695.

1695 Lewis Watson became 1st Marquess of Rockingham.

1724 Lewis Watson died.

1746 Charles Watson Wentworth became 2nd Marquess of Rockingham

1782 Charles Watson Wentworth died without male heirs.

After the death of Charles-Watson Wentworth without male heirs the peerage was passed to the Fitzwilliam family, through the female side. The Fitzwilliam Earldom stayed seated at Wentworth Woodhouse until the death of the 10th Earl William George Fitzwilliam in 1979. Whereupon Wentworth Woodhouse went into private ownership. It should be noted however, that from 1949 the east front of Wentworth Woodhouse was leased first to West Riding County Council for use as a teacher training college, under the name Lady Mabel College of Physical Education, this establishment merged with Sheffield City Polytechnic in 1977 until 1986 when a unsuccessful bid was made to turn Wentworth Woodhouse into a high class hotel.

During the time 1949 to 1986 the Fitzwilliam family have retained living accommodation in the original and private west front.

The above information is only a brief snippet of the complex and eventful history of some of the occupants of Wentworth Woodhouse. To include the complete history would run into several hefty volumes, I have included them in the hope that the reader may be able to compare and possibly use in their analysis of the current paranormal activity currently believed by many to be occurring in the vicinity of this long treasured location.

Modern Day Paranormal Activity in the Area
I believe that, with the possible exception of the alleged claims of witchcraft being practised around the Hoober Stand area, many of the claims of paranormal activity are firmly rooted in, and can be traced back to specific eras in the locations documented history.

If the reader will bear with me I will attempt to give a few examples for the basis of this theory.

However, I feel I must begin by stating my scepticism regarding, probably the most famous alleged claim of the appearance of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford manifesting on the staircase of Wentworth Woodhouse’s famous East Front. The cause for my concern is that Thomas Wentworth was responsible for the building of the original West Wing of this great house, which preceded the later, and much more impressive East Front by several years. With this fact in mind, one has to wonder why the ghost of the great Earl would choose to manifest at regular intervals in a building that was not there during his existence.

With that said, let us now turn our attention to the remaining claims of alleged paranormal activity.

The Wentworth Shuck or Padfoot
There have been many sightings over recent years of a large black dog-like creature that manifests in the woods and secluded back roads of the Wentworth area. Witnesses have described it as being as large as a calf, having long black shaggy fur, red eyes and visible breath that issues from its mouth and nostrils. One witness in particular, a local man and keen cycling enthusiast claimed that this strange beast kept pace with him, despite his strenuous efforts to outrun it, only for it to pass through the spokes of his cycles front wheel before vanishing into thin air before his eyes, leaving him shaken and understandably curious ever since.

Could this menacing apparition be the spirit of one of the Fitzwilliam Hounds once housed in the world famous stable and kennel block at Wentworth?

Hoober Stand: Figure in the Window
Could the figure seen standing in the upper floor window of this magnificent folly, be that of Charles Wentworth gazing out over his the extensive estate that he, his father and many of his ancestors had amassed with amazing rapidity in previous years.
Charles Wentworth had commissioned the influential architect, Henry Flitcroft to build this impressive 90 foot tall pyramidal structure as a permanent monument to his late father’s achievements in quelling the Jacobite Rebellion. It is well documented that Charles spent many hours in this building which he held dear in his heart, along with the other monuments erected around the enormous grounds, mainly The Mausoleum, Keppel’s Column, and Needle’s Eye.

The Phantom Lady of Wentworth
Although not see recently this female phantom who roams the corridors of the East Front as two possible origins. Some believe it to be Lady Mary Bright, wife of Charles Wentworth and only daughter of Colonel Stephen Bright of nearby Carbrook Hall. The second suggestion is that the apparition is that of a anonymous female member of the Fitzwilliam dynasty who brought shame on the family with her illicit affair with one of the male servants and still walks the corridors on route to her secret rendezvous’.

The Phantom Monk of Wentworth
Again there are two trains of thought regarding the appearance of this long dead Brother. One, is that the original site of the Wentworth Woodhouse West Front was acquired somewhat controversially upon the Dissolution of Bolton Abbey, and that one of it’s brethren still walks in search of his monastic connections. The second suggestion relates to the once again controversial purchase by Thomas Wentworth of Pillars and stone from Monk Bretton Priory for the princely sum of £700 to use in the building of a new aisle in the old church at Wentworth to house the monuments of his father and himself. If the the latter is the case then, many believe that this mysterious apparition could be the victim of a residual haunting, with the monk having strong emotional ties to his former monastery.

The Phantom Child of Wentworth
This particular apparition is much harder to explain, or track down any feasible origins. It is well documented that the peasant children of Wentworth lived in extremely harsh conditions and fatal illness and tragic accidents were, as a sad consequence common. Such was the plight of the Wentworth children that, Lady Mabel Smith, formerly of the Wentworth Woodhouse dynasty, and of whom the Lady Mabel College was named, went to great lengths, and suffered much concern in her efforts to improve the children’s welfare.
The Wentworth Woodhouse estate has always been an extensive and profitable industrious area, where, in its heyday child labour was prevalent maybe the apparition is of a child cut down in his youth while going about his daily toils.
Sadly this particular aspect of Wentworth’s history remains open to speculation and is tinged with countless accounts of local folkloric records.

As with this and many, many paranormal matters Wentworth and Wentworth Woodhouse remains shrouded in mystery and unanswered questions that only continued investigation can conclude, fortunately Project Reveal remain at the forefront in this quest, employing their scientific and sympathetic methodology in searching for truthful answers,

Wayne Ridsdel
Project-reveal.