Heritage Open Days: Working histories at Wentworth

Enjoy free entry to Wentworth Castle Gardens during the final weekend of the Heritage Open Days Festival. Take a rare look inside St James, the former estate chapel, and uncover stories of the people whose work shaped life on the estate.

Come and enjoy the gardens and parkland as autumn begins to unfold. Bring a picnic or pick something up from the café, stretch your legs and admire the views.

During the three-day event, you can step inside St James, one of the site’s Grade II listed buildings. Usually a learning space for Northern College students, this Gothic Revival chapel was built in 1841 for the Vernon-Wentworth family and is rarely open to the public. The chapel will be open from 10.30-3.30pm each day. Volunteer stewards will be on hand to share the history of this special building.

Inside the chapel, discover the stories of the people who helped keep the Wentworth Castle Estate running, from laundry maids and gardeners to other members of the estate workforce. Younger visitors can raid the dressing-up box and transform into estate workers from the past.

To reach St James, you will need to go via the second-hand bookshop above the café, where you can browse an extensive collection of pre-loved books and perhaps take home a new favourite read.

There are other events happening over the Heritage Open weekend - please see separate event listings.