| AdminHistory | The family and estate papers of the Wentworth, Watson Wentworth and Fitzwilliam families. The capital estate was at Wentworth Woodhouse at Wentworth, near Rotherham in South Yorkshire (formerly in the West Riding of Yorkshire). Some records relate to the estate in Malton in North Yorkshire (and there are related documents in the North Yorkshire County Record Office for that), and records relating both to the estates in Ireland of the Wentworths, Earls of Strafford and to the Fitzwilliam Irish estates in Wicklow. Other records relate to the London house in Grosvenor Square and a few items to other houses in Newmarket and Wimbledon.
Three groups amongst the Personal and Political Papers are of national importance:
Papers of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, minister of Charles I and deputy of Ireland, executed in May 1641.
Papers of the 2nd Marquis of Rockingham, 1730-1782, Whig Prime Minister, who died in office. Due to his stand in opposition there is significant information relating to the American colonies and events leading to American independence; other papers relate to his personal interests in horse breeding and horse racing as well as the completion of the building and decoration of the mansion at Wentworth, begun by his father, the 1st Marquis.
Papers of Edmund Burke, Rockingham's secretary, including manuscripts of his speeches, with notes and other writings.
The later Earls had a significant role in local and regional government.
Families:
Watson family of Wentworth Woodhouse, West Riding of Yorkshire
Wentworth, Watson-, family of Wentworth Woodhouse, West Riding of Yorkshire
Fitzwilliam family of Wentworth Woodhouse, West Riding of Yorkshire |
| Description | Dates in this catalogue are recorded in the New Style
Personal and Political Papers
Papers of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford (1593-1641) WWM/Str P/1-44
Papers of the Bright family of Carbrook, Sheffield, and Badsworth (1623-1752) WWM/BrP/1-214
Papers of Thomas Watson-Wentworth, 1st Marquis of Rockingham (1693-1750) WWM/M/1-28
Papers of Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquis of Rockingham (1730-1782) WWM/R/1-229
Papers of William Wentworth-Fitzwilliam, 4th Earl Fitzwilliam (1748-1833) WWM/F/1-134
Papers of Charles Wentworth-Fitzwilliam, 5th Earl Fitzwilliam (1786-1857) WWM/G/1-102
Papers of William Thomas Spencer Wentworth-Fitzwilliam, 6th Earl Fitzwilliam (1815-1902) WWM/T/1-117
Papers relating to Yorkshire and other elections, 18th - 19th century WWM/E/1-243
Papers relating to West Riding Militia, Yeomanry and Volunteers, 1794-1819 WWM/Y/1-75
Papers of Edmund Burke (1729-1797) WWM/Bk P/1-50
Papers of William, 2nd Earl of Albemarle, 1746-1748 WWM/Albemarle/1-2
Papers of Sir John Wentworth (d. 1820) and Sir Charles Wentworth (d. 1844) WWM/Gov/1-256
Estate Records
Manorial court rolls and papers for the manors of Tinsley, Wath upon Dearne, Newall Grange, Thornhill Hall, Greasbrough and Barbot Hall, Hooton Roberts, Wentworth, Tankersley, Ecclesall and others, 13th - 19th century WWM/C/1-10
Stewards' correspondence and papers, 18th - 20th century WWM/StwP/1-34
Maps and plans, 17th - 19th century WWM/MP/1-136
Opencast mining papers, 1941-1971 WWM/O/1-84
Account books and rentals, 18th - 19th century
(Includes rentals and accounts for English and Irish estates, household, farm, stable and colliery accounts, executors' accounts and inventories) WWM/A/1-485, 619-1650
Vouchers to accounts, 18th-19th century
(Includes estate and household vouchers etc, and vouchers for personal and family expenses) WWM/Vouchers
Deeds relating to English and Irish estates, including wills and settlements, 12th - 19th century WWM/D/1-1856
Records of the East Doncaster Estates Company (Cantley Hall estate) 17th - 20th century WWM/E Donc/1-234
Other Records and Manuscript Volumes
Manuscript volumes and treatises, 16th - 18th century WWM/MS/1-45
Miscellaneous papers WWM/Misc/1-287
Printed Material
American handbills, 1763-1775, undated WWM/AH/1-12
American newspapers, 1765-1782 WWM/AN/1-24
Handbills, 17th - 19th century, undated WWM/H/1-278
Newspapers (English, Scottish, Irish, French and Australian), 1763-1869 WWM/N/1-40
Pamphlets and books, 16th - 19th century WWM/P/1-19
Other records (unlisted)
(Acc. 1983/125)
Records of the Fitzwilliam East Doncaster Estates Company (Cantley Hall estate).
(Acc No 1986/25, 1986/25 add 1 and 1986/25 add 2)
Additional estate records (incl. maps and plans)
(Acc. 1994/14)
Title deeds of properties sold by the estate, c. 1930s - c. 1950s;
25" Ordnance Survey maps coloured to show parts of the estate; /Ordnance Survey maps showing coal seams.
(Acc. 1999/35)
Includes: correspondence files M28 - Lady Mabel [College] and M29 - Lady Mabel [College] (repairs); CF21a general correspondence 1977-81 & CF21c; general file-work plans 1972-1979
(Acc. 1999/121)
Additional papers
Acc. 2004/59)
Wentworth Estate, Rotherham
(15 vols) Wages book 1931-1948; Estate maintenance books (including repairs to Wentworth House) 1939-1954 (6 vols); Estate workers' books (daily duties) 1936-1948 (3 vols); Building and repairs book 1939-1947; Payment book of estate supplies 1939-1950; Weather Observations book 1942-1959; Woods Dept. accounts 1949-1955; Accident book 1910-1948.
1 extra vol (originally in house library?): Printed Act for Ordering Militia Forces 1756; 1 roll of maps: OS 6" + 25" of the estate, 1854-5, 1890's, and 1948-c. 1970. 1 bundle of papers marked 'Bradfield dedication' 1950s - 1980s. |
| CustodialHistory | The collection is now in two ownerships. The personal and political papers and those relating to the Irish estates were accepted in lieu of inheritance tax by H.M.Treasury in 2001 and allocated to Sheffield City Council. The estate and other papers remain in private ownership. |