Much is known of Wentworth Woodhouse’s ‘his story’ of the rich and powerful Earls and Marquesses that ran the huge estate.

But what about the women whose lives played out within its walls?

Their stories have often gone untold or overshadowed. Until now.

A new and exclusive house tour is running throughout March for Women’s History Month telling the stories of these women of substance.

“History tends to be about the great men,” says Victoria Ryves, head of culture and engagement at the house. “You’re taught at school about kings, generals and people who did extraordinary things. It can be hard for people to connect with those stories. For people to feel an affinity with a place like Wentworth Woodhouse, they’ve got to find people like them in the stories we tell.”

From mothers and maids to politicians and principals, women were the backbone of this grand stately home who kept it going through turbulent times.

Volunteer researchers at the house spent nine months digging through archive material from the Wentworth Woodhouse collection held at Sheffield Archives.

This new tour will shed light on six inspiring women whose achievements – big and small – have made a significant contribution to the history of Wentworth Woodhouse.

“These women weren’t afraid to be themselves and were all incredibly strong in their own way. They were often told no but still did it anyway. They would have been incredible dinner party guests,” says Victoria.

Mary Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marchioness of Rockingham

Lady Mary emerged from the shadow of her husband’s political career to become his ‘Minerva at the elbow’ named after the Roman goddess of wisdom.

Husband Charles was twice Prime Minister and led the Whig opposition to Britain’s war with the colonists of North America in the mid-1700s.

But Lady Mary was acknowledged as an almost equal partner in Rockingham’s leadership. She called herself his secretary, with opposition party members sending their letters straight to her as they knew Charles would neglect to respond. She also campaigned to support Admiral Keppel’s defence during his Court-Marshall.

After her husband’s death, her love of horticulture and botany developed, and today’s academics are now appreciating her contribution. She collected and studied plants brought from the far corners of the British Empire. She also exchanged letters with leading botanists, including Sir Joseph Banks who helped develop Kew Gardens.

Sarah Senegal, laundry maid in the 1700s

Sarah Senegal must surely have had one of the earliest inter-racial marriages in Yorkshire. 

She was a laundry maid at the house in the 1700s when she married fellow servant, George Senegal. George was brought over from Sengal to work at the house between 1763 and 1778, first as footman before working his way to under butler.

They had a child who died in infancy, and not long after George also died. The two are buried in Wentworth churchyard.

Sarah went on to remarry another person of colour who had been a witness at her wedding to George. 

The story has been unearthed thanks to support from Dig Where You Stand, the archival justice movement unearthing untold stories of Black and racially marginalised people in South Yorkshire.

Lady Mabel Smith, the aristocratic socialist who founded Lady Mabel College

Lady Mabel was the Viscount’s daughter who championed socialism and saved Wentworth Woodhouse from financial ruin.

In the 1940s, she brokered a lucrative deal which saw much of the house become Lady Mabel College, a training college for female PE teachers.

But despite this, her name was taboo within the family, dubbed a ‘rabid socialist’ for going against the Fitzwilliam grain.

Mabel was the daughter of William Wentworth Fitzwilliam, Viscount Milton, who died before inheriting the earldom. It passed to her brother William who became the 7^th Earl Fitzwilliam.

She was highly critical of Billy’s extravagant lifestyle and wealth when the rest of society had so little. Her social conscience developed from seeing the living conditions of children on the Wentworth estate.

She became a Socialist politician in South Yorkshire, firstly as a West Riding county councillor and then a county Alderman.

Passionate about improving education for children, she served on numerous government education committees and helped to set up Ecclesfield Grammar School in the early 1930s.

When her brother died in 1943, and the earldom was inherited by her nephew Peter, running and maintaining his vast stately home Wentworth Woodhouse was posing problems. The coal industry which had earned them their wealth was about to be nationalised, and grand houses were being demolished at the rate of one a week. They needed a tenant who would not only pay rent but also maintain the property.

Lady Mabel came up with the solution. In 1947, she began negotiations for the family to lease most of the house and parkland, stables, riding school and Mews Court to West Riding County Council’s Education Authority, which was looking for a site for a new training college for female PE teachers.

A year later, Peter died in a plane crash and the family were met with death duties just five years after paying those for his father.

The Lady Mabel College plan went ahead and opened in 1950, giving a sporting chance to hundreds of women who resided at the training college.

Nancy Moller, the first principal of Lady Mabel College

Miss Moller was an educated woman who had achieved a master’s degree at Oxford University. She came to Wentworth in 1949 after 12 years as warden and secretary at Winkfield Hall and Royal Free School of Medicine for Women in London.

As Lady Mabel College’s first head teacher, she was instrumental in adapting the house for education purposes while retaining its best features.

An exemplary headteacher for six years, she was clearly a woman of principle. She fought the government over its plans for open-cast mining around the house.

She then resigned in 1956 after losing a battle with the Local Education Authority over the vast amounts of cheap and low-quality fish, fruit and vegetables the college was sent by LEA-approved suppliers. She hated the waste – and wanted to buy local.

Her resignation was met with much concern from staff, pupils and the local MP who raised her departure in the House of Commons.

Katherine Moffat, Governess for the 7th Earl’s children

Scottish born Miss Moffat had been nanny to Countess Maud who was raised at Aske Hall in Richmond. Countess Maud was one of five children of Lawrence Dundas, 1^st Marquess of Zetland.

The family were very theatrical and Miss Moffat was involved in its annual Christmas production for friends and relatives.

The relationship between the two women was strong. Miss Moffat was invited to the wedding of Lady Maud and Viscount Milton, the future 7th Earl Fitzwilliam, and moved to Wentworth Woodhouse when they had children.

She was their Governess between 1880 and 1920. Moffy taught the girls in ladylike refinements, painting, embroidery, riding and foreign languages.

Her theatrical skills were also put to good use again. She staged Snow White at a 1910 bazaar in Wentworth village schoolroom to raise funds for repairs to the church roof and organ. Snow White was played by the eldest Fitzwilliam child, Lady Elfrida, and her younger sisters, Lady Joan and Lady Donatia, played two of the dwarves.

Maud Wentworth-Fitzwilliam, the Countess who gave a lifetime of service to the village

Countess Maud was the undisputed head of her family, known as a real matriarch who was loved and respected by all.

When Maud and her husband William became the 7th Earl and Countess Fitzwilliam in 1902, they inherited a Victorian house in need of modernisation. They installed electric light, central heating, bathrooms and other modern requirements.

But she was also active in the wider Wentworth community, being involved in the Scouts, Girl Guide and YMCA.

Her charitable nature saw her create rehabilitation opportunities for disabled servicemen after the First World War, provide food kitchens for miners in the 1926 Great Strike, and raise money to buy Spitfire planes during the Second World War.

The future ‘her story’ of Wentworth Woodhouse

History never ends and in another two hundred years, people will read the story of the remarkable 21st Century heroine of Wentworth Woodhouse, Dame Julie Kenny DBE DL, whose recent death is being mourned across Yorkshire and beyond.

Dame Julie spearheaded a five-year campaign to save Wentworth Woodhouse for the nation. Her determination and business acumen were integral to its success. 

In 2017, the Preservation Trust, which she founded and chaired until her death, bought the house and began a £155m regeneration.

Dame Julie’s own career is fascinating, having come from a working-class family in Hillsborough to build a multi-million-pound security systems company.

She was made a Dame in 2019, was High Sheriff of South Yorkshire in 2012, the second female Master Cutler, and a commissioner of Historic England.

Sarah McLeod OBE, the Trust’s CEO, has been with Julie at the helm of the regeneration since 2017. 

Sarah had previously spent 16 years at the Arkwright Society at Cromford Mills, where she rose from administrator of their Heritage Lottery Fund to CEO.

During her time at Wentworth, Sarah has launched the trust’s Masterplan and Cultural Strategy, delivered £30m in capital works, including roof repairs and restoring the Camellia House, and generated an annual turnover of £3.5m. 

Sarah, who was awarded an OBE last year for her services to heritage, and the Trust have pledged to continue to fulfil Julie’s vision for Wentworth Woodhouse.

Women of Wentworth Woodhouse is on from 2nd to 28^th March with tours running on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Find out more at here.