WENTWORTH Castle Gardens is to become the first National Trust attraction in South Yorkshire and will be open to the public again as soon as next summer, the Chronicle can exclusively reveal.
Barnsley Council is investing £4.1m to see the site, which has been closed for almost 18 months, reopen with improved parking facilities and a new visitors’ centre.
In return for the council’s one-off investment, the National Trust will take over responsibility for the site for the next 25 years, although it will remain in the council’s ownership.
It frees the council of ongoing maintenance responsibility for the site.
The partnership between the council, National Trust, and Northern College which is based at the site, expects to see up to 135,000 visitors to the gardens annually within the first three years of operation.
Leader of Barnsley Council Coun Sir Steve Houghton said: “This is a nationally important visitor attraction here in Barnsley, and we have a duty to look after it.
“By investing in it now we are safeguarding its future not just in the short-term, but for the next 25 years, while providing an extra boost to the local economy.
“People will be coming into the borough to visit it as well as our other visitor attractions.
“It’s creating more than 20 jobs, and bringing the National Trust to South Yorkshire for the first time so it’s putting Barnsley on the map for the right reasons in that way too.”
Discussions have been ongoing between all three organisations since the site closed in April 2017.
The National Trust plans to enter into a 25-year lease that will see it bring its wealth of experience in managing and conserving historic places.
Joanna Royle, assistant director for the National Trust in the north, said: “We’re looking forward to building on the hard work of Wentworth Castle and Stainborough Park Heritage Trust at the site while sharing the rich heritage and stories of the gardens and its creators.
“But above all, we want to ensure that everyone visiting next year will be made very welcome and once again be able to enjoy this as a place to explore, walk, relax, play and spend time together outdoors.
“We are delighted to be working together with Barnsley Council, The Northern College, and the local community to help safeguard it.”
Diana Terris, Barnsley Council’s chief executive, said: “Anyone who has ever visited Wentworth Castle Gardens can’t deny how stunning the grounds are. We’re excited to be partnering with the National Trust and The Northern College and look forward to reopening the grounds to visitors.
“We’ll work closely with the National Trust, through our award-winning Barnsley Museums service, to get our local communities involved in development of the site.
“I would like to thank the staff and volunteers who have maintained the gardens while we’ve been going through the process of securing a future for the site.”
Yultan Mellor, principal and chief executive of Northern College, said: “The college is delighted that the future of the gardens has been secured. We look forward to working in partnership with the National Trust to maximise the benefits the wonderful grounds surrounding the college offer.”
New catering and retail areas and improved car park are part of the plans.
John Edwards, chairman of the Wentworth Castle and Stainborough Park Gardens Trust, said: “I am thrilled that the belief and hard work of the staff, the garden’s many volunteers and my fellow trustees has come to this marvellous result. It has taken ten years to bring this treasure back to life and all who have helped deserve praise and thanks.
“We are so proud that this premier contribution to Barnsley’s rich heritage looks to be secured for everyone, both near and far, to enjoy.”
