servants to Earl FitzWilliam of Wentworth Woodhouse

[Duchess]

I was wondering if there would be any servant records around 1861 for servants who worked at Wentworth Woodhouse, Yorkshire. My great great great grandmother, her cousin was a servant to the household around 1861

[Geoffers]

The employment being a private arrangement, it would depend entirely whether the records of the family have survived in their private hands, or been deposited with the local records office.

As with so many things, the detail of surviving records is variable.

[Peter_uk_can]

I lived not far from Wentworth Woodhouse and know the place well, in fact my father was stationed within its grounds at an Anti Aircraft battery,which helped defend Sheffield during WWII.

The house has seen several owners and many changes in use over the years.

It sits close to Rawmarsh, South Yorkshire which did hold some Archival material in the local library, I am not sure if this library still exists. Perhaps your first route would be to contact Sheffield City Library Archives and seek direction from there.

[Duchess]

Im in Australia so getting to the Sheffield city library is not that easy

[Geoffers]

If they do not have an online catalogue, or the records are not catalogued on Access to Archives (A2A), you could try writing an e-mail/letter to ask them.

[Peter_uk_can]

I am no longer in close proximity to them either.

http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/libraries/archives-and-local-studies

[hughar]

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nra/searches/subjectView.asp?ID=F10803 will give you an indication of what is available and where it can be found.

[BorderReiver]

You may find records of payments made to servants in the Wentworth/Woodhouse Muniments - Household Accounts.

They are held at Sheffield Archives on Shoreham St. Sheffield

[arthurk]

Wasn't that where Graham Norton's ancestor worked? (As in the BBC's "Who Do You Think You Are?") I can't remember if it was the same time period, though.

Arthur

[BorderReiver]

Graham Norton's ancestors came from nearby Greasbro and worked on the Wentworth/Woodhouse Estate. They were shipped out to the Fitzwilliam's Estate in Ireland but it was much earlier - early 18th Century I think.

My G5 grandfather came to work on the Estate in 1769.

[arthurk]

Well at least I got the place right. But he did find some records in Sheffield Archives.

Arthur

[Duchess]

Through my research three of my Denton family were servants to the FitzWilliam family at different times.
William Denton (1841-1851) he was at the Westminster house as a Footman
Ann Denton (1861) she was at the Wentworth House, she was a Stillroom maid
Charles Denton (1871) he was a servant at the Milton Home, his job was a groom

[Feen]

Hi Duchess, have you seen Black Diamonds by Catherine Bailey, about the Fitzwilliam family, the mines and Wentworth Woodhouse? It's a very interesting read but mostly concentrates on a slightly later period than when your family members were working at Wentworth Woodhouse. But it's an extraordinary story and includes some interesting info on what was involved in running a place that size.

Sadly most of the family's own archives were deliberately burnt by the last? earl about 40 or 50 years ago |banghead| I do wish people wouldn't do that!

[dearmariana]

I'm looking for info on servants as well... Tom (possibly Ragsdale) who was former Gamekeeper at Wentworth, and his sister Sarah Elizabeth (Sally) Ragsdale who was a domestic servant.

[Amlet]

May I suggest getting hold of a copy of "Black Diamonds - The Rise and Fall of and English Dynasty" by Catherine Bailey. It gives a good history of Wentworth and the Fitzwilliam family - including their spectacular decline. It's a very readable book and provided me with much insight where my ancestor Thomas Globe lived and worked.

Richard

[dearmariana]

May I suggest getting hold of a copy of "Black Diamonds - The Rise and Fall of and English Dynasty" by Catherine Bailey. It gives a good history of Wentworth and the Fitzwilliam family - including their spectacular decline. It's a very readable book and provided me with much insight where my ancestor Thomas Globe lived and worked.

Richard

Hi Richard, thanks, I have actually ordered that on Amazon. I noticed in another forum, and ordered on Amazon right away. I've heard good things about it! Thanks for the tip!

[mfwebb]

Black Diamonds is an absolutely brilliant read, doubly so for me because of my connections with the coal mining industry and my involvement in the many coal mining subsidence claims on Fitzwilliam land and properties around Wentworth Woodhouse. The demise of the family makes particularly interesting reading, including the inheritance scandal which led to the deliberate burning of a huge quantity of private papers in the family archive. This was about 1976 if I remember correctly -- I remember the rumours about the fire at the time but was not fully aware of what was burnt until I read the book a couple of years ago.

Happy reading when the book arrives.

[Ruffio]

Hi All,

I live about five miles from Wentworth and go there regulalrly. As you say, Graham Nortons family worked on the irish estate Vic Reeves visited Wentworth to see how his ancestors worked as gamekeepers. Another more recent programme was the Dan Cruckshank one on private country house some lovely views of inside the house. The present family are hoping to turn it into a hotel/museum. The Black Diamonds book has a lot of information and at one time there was discussion it would be made into a film.
I understand Sheffield Archives is undergoing a refirb and is temporarily on Surray St. at the library. but can be emailed at [email protected]

[steveg66]

My great great great granddad worked and lived on the estate in 1841 (wood nook), he was Charles White. Anyone have any idea where I can find more info. Thanks

[bevken]

My Grandma was a kitchen maid then cook at wentworth in the 1920s her name was Annie Oliver :)