Wortley Hall is a former stately home in the small village of Wortley, located south of Barnsley, Yorkshire. It has been owned by individuals and organisations associated with British trade unions and the wider labour movement since 1951. It operates as a non-profit co-operative and is registered under the 2014 Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act (Registration Number 14116R).[2]
The Grade II* listed building was built from 1731 to 1761 on the site of the previous hall, and is constructed of sandstone ashlar with graduated slate roofs to an irregular floor plan, mostly in two storeys with a seven-bay south front.[1] The hall has formal gardens and is encircled by approximately 26 acres of ancient grounds and woodlands that are Grade II listed.[3]
The society is currently used by several trade unions and other organisations as a venue for residential training courses and other meetings. The house and grounds are open to visitors, can be booked by the public for social gatherings, and is a licensed venue for weddings. Yearly highlights include the South Yorkshire Festival[4] and the Vintage Car Show,[5] which attract over 2000 visitors.
Shareholders elect a management board, composed of twelve volunteers, at the Annual General Meeting. The board appoint the General Manager who oversees the day-to-day running of the Hall. The current General Manager is Johnathan da Rosa, the President is Brian Steel, the Political Secretary is Michael Bailey, and the two Vice Presidents are Kath Sims and Jess Whyke.[6]
Montagu left the Wortley Hall estate to his daughter Mary. In 1735 she had eloped with John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute, who later became prime minister. From her it passed in 1794 to their son, Colonel James Archibald Stuart (1747–1818), who added the surname Wortley to his own and later also added Mackenzie. He left the estate to his son Colonel James Archibald Stuart-Wortley-Mackenzie (1776–1845) who was one of the two MPs for Yorkshire from 1818 to 1826, when he was created Baron Wharncliffe.
In 1950, a group of local trade union activists identified the hall as a possible educational and holiday centre, and established a co-operative which succeeded in purchasing the hall for those purposes. It was formally opened on 5 May 1951.
In popular culture
In 1980, the hall was used as the setting of the country estate in the Ken Loach TV film The Gamekeeper.
The hall was highlighted in series six, episode 12 of Great British Railway Journeys by Michael Portillo on BBC Two on 20 January 2015. Michael Portillo described its current role, met the general manager and stayed the night. He showed the links to trade unionism.
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