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.

John 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.

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