Home / Arts and Entertainment / Historic South Tower Reborn for Luxury Stays
Historic South Tower Reborn for Luxury Stays
8 Mar
Summary
- South Tower's 18th Century glory to be restored for holiday lets.
- Historic features at risk from dry rot require urgent repair.
- Craftspeople will be trained in traditional skills during restoration.
The next phase of restoration at Wentworth Woodhouse in South Yorkshire involves returning the South Tower to its original 18th Century condition. The Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust has partnered with The Landmark Trust, a charity specializing in historic building restorations, to bring the damp and decaying tower back to life.
This collaboration will see the South Tower, once a private retreat for the 2nd Marchioness of Rockingham, Mary Watson-Wentworth, converted into a holiday let. The tower, accessible via a private footbridge, contains unique 18th Century decorative features that are currently at risk from dry rot. Urgent external repairs were completed in 2022, but internal preservation is now critical.
Craftspeople will be trained in traditional skills throughout the restoration process. The project has secured 70% of its required funding, with work anticipated to commence as early as the summer. This initiative follows Wentworth Woodhouse's history, which included serving as Lady Mabel College, a training facility for women PE teachers, between the 1960s and 1980s.
