Wentworth Castle

Not the day we had planned due to the M62 closed between junction 29 and 30.
Fortunately after a stop start for 20mins we were able to come off and onto the M1.
So instead of going to Brockadale , Yorkshire Wildlife Reserve near Kirk Smeaton , we ended up at National Trust, Wentworth Castle, near Barnsley.

A warm and mainly sunny day, but so so windy!
We had a walk round the gardens first, and then after our picnic lunch we walked round the parkland.
As always lots of photos taken, but it was this beautiful fallow deer which just had to be my main blip. Just look at those eyes.
There are 61 Fallow deer and 5 bucks, and 85 red deer and a stag called Bertie. We didn’t see any of those.

I’ve added a collage of some of the other photos.
The Castle is actually a Folly. Built in 1731 by Thomas Wentworth who was trying to outdo his cousin who owned Wentworth Woodhouse.
( a very interesting family feud)
The fabulous avenue of towering lime trees named Lady Lucy’s Walk.
The Victorian Conservatory. The restoration was completed in 2013.
The tall obelisk dedicated to Lady Mary Wortley- Montagu who in 1720 introduced inoculation of the smallpox into England from Turkey.
The Rotunda finished in 1742. Based on the temple of  Vesta at Tivoli, near Rome.

The castle itself was previously known as Stainborough Hall. The original Stuart house built in 1670s. The Baroque wing added in 1790, a Palladium style wing added in the 1890s.
Today the house is home to Northern College, a pioneering adult education institution.

We had a lovely and enjoyable day. Must have walked 2/3 miles.
It’s a great place to visit.

We did remember to vote when we got back home!