In the early 1950s I bought some shares in Wortley Hall to finance the restoration work being done at the time by members of the Communist, Labour, & Co-Op Parties with the excepted view that they would not ever return a dividend. Over the years I've often pondered what happened to shareholding's. Has anyone any news?

In the early 1950s I bought some shares in Wortley Hall to finance the restoration work being done at the time by members of the Communist, Labour, & Co-Op Parties with the excepted view that they would not ever return a dividend. Over the years I've often pondered what happened to shareholding's. Has anyone any news?

You could be a millionaire!

You could be a millionaire!

Hope so in by old age!!! It would be nice to know or read any research that's been done regarding the Hall. Once it was only suitable for pulling down. But some one got an idea to develop it as a workers conference & holiday home.
The shares were sold as a token gesture for funding the project.
The intention of making money out of them never ever thought of or intended.

www.wortleyhall.com don't know if this will help.

www.wortleyhall.com don't know if this will help.

Thank you, I'm now in contact via E-Mail.
It would be interesting to know if anyone as put together a brief article regarding its developement from 1950 to the present day.

Hi Albert,

Yes they have and it's available to buy from Wortley. It is a fascinating place, from the Sylvia Pankhurst Library to the AEU and FBU lounges - they host a good wedding too!

JT

Thank you, I'm now in contact via E-Mail.
It would be interesting to know if anyone as put together a brief article regarding its developement from 1950 to the present day.

I work in Wortley, we do most of the wedding flowers for The Wortley Hall and my daughter is a part time waitress there, next time I'm in I will try and get some information for you.
It's amazing to think that The hall just housed one family before it was owned by the unions,its a lovely house in a great setting.

I work in Wortley, we do most of the wedding flowers for The Wortley Hall and my daughter is a part time waitress there, next time I'm in I will try and get some information for you.
It's amazing to think that The hall just housed one family before it was owned by the unions,its a lovely house in a great setting.

In the mid 1950s I stayed over night several times and really enjoyed it.
But time passes, things move on, interest change along with responsibilities, But fundermentally my heart knows that the oppinions that I held in the 1950s were the right ones.

Hi Albert,

Yes they have and it's available to buy from Wortley. It is a fascinating place, from the Sylvia Pankhurst Library to the AEU and FBU lounges - they host a good wedding too!

JT

All being well i will be on the future walk which passess close to the Hall and I'll arrange to buy the book at the hall then. If anyone else taking part, fancys having a nebby at the hall then, it will give them a opportunity.
Thank you for letting me know.

I visited wortley hall for the first time last year. What a revelation! I do wish some of the other stately piles were given the same treatment - a Socialist Stately Home - every home county should have one!

I visited wortley hall for the first time last year. What a revelation! I do wish some of the other stately piles were given the same treatment - a Socialist Stately Home - every home county should have one!

Had you seen it in the fifties you would have held a different opinion.
Today what is seen is the work of a lot of devoted people.
I will hopefully be seeing it shortly when the walk goes past.
Will you be joining it?

I used go to Wortley Hall in the Sixties when I was in the A.E.U. had some great nights out there with my workmates and Girl friends...I remember a sort of secret door in the Library room book shelves that took you through to another room where the Bar was....And I remember The Earl of Wharncliffe as a Jazz Drummer in those days who played in a Sheffild Jazz band called the Johnnie Lennitz Quartet.

It's in good condition now but was no so half a century ago. It was the former country seat of the Earls of Wharncliffe. The Earldom still exists but the hall passed out of their ownership due to the improvidence of the previous earl and was ironically then converted to use as a venue for working-class functions.
The lodge on top of Wharncliffe Edge was, I believe, the former hunting lodge of the earls. It was supposed to be an ancestor of the family, More of More Hall, who despatched the Dragon of Wantley over by Wharncliffe Edge. The name itself is of Anglo-Saxon origin, meaning the cliff where querns (hand-mills for making flour) were quarried, like other Wharn- or Quern-names.

Incidentally, it was from this family that the famous 18th-century blue-stocking, Lady Mary Wortley Montague, came. I can't say what the Earls are up to now...sic transit gloria mundi...

See also http://www.answers.com/topic/earl-of-wharncliffe
http://www.wortleyhall.com/history.php

It's in good condition now but was no so half a century ago. It was the former country seat of the Earls of Wharncliffe. The Earldom still exists but the hall passed out of their ownership due to the improvidence of the previous earl and was ironically then converted to use as a venue for working-class functions.
The lodge on top of Wharncliffe Edge was, I believe, the former hunting lodge of the earls. It was supposed to be an ancestor of the family, More of More Hall, who despatched the Dragon of Wantley over by Wharncliffe Edge. The name itself is of Anglo-Saxon origin, meaning the cliff where querns (hand-mills for making flour) were quarried, like other Wharn- or Quern-names.

Incidentally, it was from this family that the famous 18th-century blue-stocking, Lady Mary Wortley Montague, came. I can't say what the Earls are up to now...sic transit gloria mundi...

See also http://www.answers.com/topic/earl-of-wharncliffe
http://www.wortleyhall.com/history.php

In the late 1940s early 50s. I think that the Earl lived with his mother at 'Carlton House?' which is on the lefthand side of the quiet lane that runs from, just after the Wortley cross roads, to Genoside. I recollect a dam being almost opposite side of the lane. During my travels on Wharncliffe Chase I often came across Red Deer especially near a pond which was in the middle of the chase and the Herons.
Whilst I stand to be corrected. The Duke along with his wife over the running of the pub in Wortley Village.
It's a long time since I was around those parts.

In the early 60s (63/64?) my dad took us there one afternoon to a dog show. Not really sure why as we had no interest in dogs whatsoever, maybe it was just a Sunday afternoon run.
My big memory is that of seeing a big dog with rolls of flappy skin and a breathing problem (bulldog? boxer?) sat on a plinth with a pink rosette attached to its collar. It looked absolutely fed up.
Don't really remember the building though. Is it open to the public?

Yes Bushbaby,Wortley Hall is open to the public, they serve lunch,dinner and bar meals and the bar is open everyday.
The gardens and the walks around the Hall are lovely - and it's free.
Worth a visit.

[QUOTE=twinky1;1882555]Yes Bushbaby,Wortley Hall is open to the public, QUOTE]

Cheers Twinks

In the early 1950s I bought some shares in Wortley Hall to finance the restoration work being done at the time by members of the Communist, Labour, & Co-Op Parties with the excepted view that they would not ever return a dividend. Over the years I've often pondered what happened to shareholding's. Has anyone any news?

You little closet capitalist you. ;)

You little closet capitalist you. ;)

Can not say much. I almost got barred last time that I made a joke!!
See the walking section. - Hope you are keeping well - Bert.

Who owns Wortley Hall now? Is it still owned by "the workers"?

It's in good condition now but was no so half a century ago. It was the former country seat of the Earls of Wharncliffe. The Earldom still exists but the hall passed out of their ownership due to the improvidence of the previous earl and was ironically then converted to use as a venue for working-class functions.
The lodge on top of Wharncliffe Edge was, I believe, the former hunting lodge of the earls. It was supposed to be an ancestor of the family, More of More Hall, who despatched the Dragon of Wantley over by Wharncliffe Edge. The name itself is of Anglo-Saxon origin, meaning the cliff where querns (hand-mills for making flour) were quarried, like other Wharn- or Quern-names.

Incidentally, it was from this family that the famous 18th-century blue-stocking, Lady Mary Wortley Montague, came. I can't say what the Earls are up to now...sic transit gloria mundi...

See also http://www.answers.com/topic/earl-of-wharncliffe
http://www.wortleyhall.com/history.php

When the former Earl (of jazz band fame) died in 1987, the title passed to an American (Richard Wortley), who still lives in the states, in Maine. I remember the former Earl and Countess losing a daughter, Lady Joanna, in a car crash in 1981. What a tragedy. My neighbours knew the Countess, and always said what a pleasant person she was to talk to. I have been to Wortley Hall, and seem to remember a tree growing out of the floor in (I believe) the dining room. Can someone put me right on this please?

I vaguely remember something my Dad told me a while ago, about HIS Dad (my Grandad) having something to do with Wortley Hall. In fact, I went to a wedding there a couple of years ago and he said the room which the marriage actually took place in should have some sort of a plaque on the wall which described why.. Think my Grandad was in engineering or something..

I wonder if they make a profit these days.

My gran used to go to Wortley Hall every year for her annual holiday, she loved the place !!
She died 5 years ago, but we recently went to view the place for a wedding and reception
the changes made there since my grannies visits are immense,changes are afoot

Suzieq

I remember going once in the early '60's. My uncle was a Doncaster councillor, ex - Ruskin College, had been on Brain of Britain, and was tipped to be a future big noise in the Labour Party.

He needed a lift to a conference there so my dad, the only one in the family with a car at the time, took him and I went along for the ride. All I remember was that in the hall there was a "hidden" room behind a bookcase.

There was a further share issue in the 70s. There was a scare that the shares may fall into the wrong hands and so another round up of the faithfull began. As I remember it George Caborn was, again, the driving force behind it. At the time I was on the AUEW district committee and most if not all of us bought shares. Would you dare to ask George what the expected dividend would be?
I went to the wedding of a friend there about four years ago and the place realy is stunning. The ceiling in the main hall has been done in the same design as it was originaly, superb.