The House from a circa 1910 postcard
House & Family History: The earliest recorded member of the Wortley family at Wortley was Alnus de Wortley, who is mentioned in the Pipe Rolls for 1165. Sir Thomas Wortley, born 1440, lived in what is today believed to have been Wortley Hall; Thomas's grandson, Sir Richard Wortley, rebuilt Wortley Hall in 1586. During the Civil War Sir Francis Wortley commanded a Royalist garrison at nearby Tankersley, and led the battle on Tankersley Moor, where he was captured by the Roundheads and taken to the Tower of London. From the 17th century until the mid-18th century, Wortley Hall moldered in decay until Edward Wortley commissioned the rebuilding of the house in the mid-18th century. During World War II Wortley was occupied by the army; post-1945 the decay of the house set in again after the army vacated, leaving it in poor condition. On May 5, 1951 Wortley Hall was reopened as an education and holiday center, supported by the union movement. Lady Mary Wortley-Montagu, famous author and advocate for smallpox inoculation, lived here in the 18th century with her husband, Sir Edward Wortley-Montagu.
Collections: The artist Sir Edward John Poynter painted four large historical paintings for the Billiard Room at Wortley between 1871 and 1879.
Garden & Outbuildings: Peter Atkinson designed stable block circa 1800.
Architect: Giacomo Leoni
Date: 1743Architect: Peter Atkinson
Date: Circa 1800Architect: Matthew Brettingham the Elder
Date: 1757-59Architect: John Platt
Date: 1784-88Architect: William Burn
Date: 1867-73John Bernard (J.B.) Burke, published under the title of A Visitation of the Seats and Arms of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland, among other titles: 2.S. Vol. I, p. 139, 1854.
Title: Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840, A - HARDBACK
Author: Colvin, Howard
Year Published: 2008
Reference: pgs. 77, 156, 195, 645, 809
Publisher: New Haven: Yale University Press
ISBN: 9780300125085
Book Type: Hardback
Title: Christie's Auction Catalog: The Forbes Collection of Victorian Pictures and Works of Art I, Feb 19, 2003
Author: NA
Year Published: 2003
Reference: pg. 194
Publisher: London: Christie's
ISBN: NA
Book Type: Softback
House Listed: Grade II*
Park Listed: Grade II
Past Seat / Home of: Sir Thomas Wortley, 15th century; Sir Richard Wortley, 16th century; Sir Francis Wortley, 17th century; Sir Edward Wortley-Montagu, until 1761; Mary Stuart, Countess of Bute and 1st Baroness Mount Stuart, 1761-94; Colonel James Archibald Stuart-Wortley-Mackenzie, 1st Baron Wharncliffe, 1794-1845; Edward Montagu Stuart Granville Montagu-Stuart-Wortley-Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Wharncliffe, 1845-99.
Current Ownership Type: Corporation
Primary Current Ownership Use: Mixed Use
Ownership Details: Owned by Wortley Hall Ltd., a member of the Co-operative Union and the Registry of Friendly Societies. The house is available for B&B stays and conferences.
House Open to Public: By Appointment
Phone: 01142-882-100
Fax: 01142-830-695
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.wortleyhall.org.uk/
Historic Houses Member: No