THE CLOSURE of Wentworth Castle Gardens has been branded a ‘sad day’ for Barnsley.

The Stainborough tourist attraction shut to the public on Monday amid a funding crisis after an annoucement earlier this year that it has failed to make enough money to stay open as a year-round attraction.

Wentworth Castle and Stainborough Park Heritage Trust, which manages the Grade I listed parkland, is winding down and is working with Barnsley Council to look at finding a way to reopen the gardens in future.

Dozens of messages and photos have been posted on Wentworth Castle Gardens’ Facebook page by those who visited in the days running up to the closure.

People said it was ‘sad and emotional’ to see the park close and others held out hope that a solution can be found to keep it open.

Read more in this weeks Barnsley Chronicle