A once-in-a-generation rescue

Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT) appointed us in 2017 to rescue the Grade I-listed building from collapse. The roof was in such poor condition that more than 60 buckets were regularly deployed to manage leaks, with the water ingress threatening the celebrated 18th-century interiors. Alongside stabilising the building, the project seeks to secure a sustainable and economically viable future for the site, which will benefit the local community.

The site is an architectural gem of national significance. The earliest parts of the house date from c. 1630 and were built for the first Earl of Strafford. They are incorporated into the rear of the west front, a Baroque building of 1725-35. Measuring 187 metres (606ft) the impressive east front is claimed to be the longest domestic façade in England. In 1734 construction started on the east front to the designs of Henry Flitcroft. Stone-faced, chastely Palladian and rigidly symmetrical, its lower wings were altered and heightened by John Carr from 1782-4.

Emergency repairs

Completing in 2021, urgent repairs were carried out to the expansive roof – 14,000 slates covering 3,250m2 – and its decorative stone elements to address the impact of water ingress into the historic interiors.

Strict adherence to conservation principles meant restoring and repairing where possible, replacing only where necessary. Modern improvements – including a breathable roof insulation layer and better guttering and reservoir rainwater management – were inserted with great sensitivity, respecting the building’s integrity. With the roof repaired and insulated, the building is watertight, drier and more energy-efficient.

With the building stabilised, the project now focuses on securing Wentworth Woodhouse’s future by ensuring its historic outbuildings find new uses.