Latest news with #WentworthWoodhouse
Yahoo
a day ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Rose garden the 'perfect tribute' to adventurer
A sensory rose garden has been unveiled at a country house in Rotherham in memory of a local adventurer. Margaret Vickers, who died in 2023 aged 90, was a "passionate" gardener and motorsports enthusiast - and was believed to be one of the first people in Rotherham to own a Vespa scooter. Her partner Audrey Morris donated £30,000 to create a garden in her honour at Wentworth Woodhouse, a place they "loved to visit". Audrey, 80, said the restored 18th-Century walled area, opened ahead of the RHS Flower Show later this month, was the "perfect tribute" to Margaret. Herringthorpe-born Margaret was an avid hiker, climbing the highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales. She was a member of the Sheffield Scooter Club and helped to launch the Rotherham group - and was also a motorbike and sidecar racer. Audrey and Margaret became partners in the 1970s, later setting up a typesetting business, and were together for more than 50 years before Margaret's death. Audrey said: "It looks wonderful and as the roses mature, it will become even more beautiful and more heavily scented. "I will go and sit there to remember Margaret and watch the roses grow." The Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust said the restoration had turned the "overgrown space into a place of beauty and tranquility". CEO Sarah McLeod said: "Audrey's generous gift meant we could restore one of our garden's prettiest and oldest features. "Their colours and scent make the garden an unmissable summer destination for all rose-lovers." The RHS Flower Show will run for the first time at Wentworth Woodhouse from 16-25 July. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North Wentworth Woodhouse celebrates European award Inside 'UK's biggest restoration project' RHS at Wentworth Woodhouse
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Wentworth Woodhouse rose garden the 'perfect tribute' to adventurer
A sensory rose garden has been unveiled at a country house in Rotherham in memory of a local Vickers, who died in 2023 aged 90, was a "passionate" gardener and motorsports enthusiast - and was believed to be one of the first people in Rotherham to own a Vespa partner Audrey Morris donated £30,000 to create a garden in her honour at Wentworth Woodhouse, a place they "loved to visit".Audrey, 80, said the restored 18th-Century walled area, opened ahead of the RHS Flower Show later this month, was the "perfect tribute" to Margaret. Herringthorpe-born Margaret was an avid hiker, climbing the highest peaks in England, Scotland and was a member of the Sheffield Scooter Club and helped to launch the Rotherham group - and was also a motorbike and sidecar racer. Audrey and Margaret became partners in the 1970s, later setting up a typesetting business, and were together for more than 50 years before Margaret's said: "It looks wonderful and as the roses mature, it will become even more beautiful and more heavily scented."I will go and sit there to remember Margaret and watch the roses grow." The Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust said the restoration had turned the "overgrown space into a place of beauty and tranquility".CEO Sarah McLeod said: "Audrey's generous gift meant we could restore one of our garden's prettiest and oldest features."Their colours and scent make the garden an unmissable summer destination for all rose-lovers."The RHS Flower Show will run for the first time at Wentworth Woodhouse from 16-25 July. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Memorial service held Sheffield's Dame Julie Kenny
A service has been held to celebrate the life of one of South Yorkshire's most admired business Julie Kenny was honoured publicly at a memorial at Sheffield Cathedral on Thursday afternoon followed by a reception at the city's Cutlers Julie was an entrepreneur and civic leader who played a key role in saving Wentworth Woodhouse, near Rotherham, for the nation. She died in February aged an address at the service, her son Laurence described his mother as a "fantastic role model". Dame Julie, born in Hillsborough, set up a successful security firm which Mr Kenny now works chair of the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust, she oversaw the major restoration of the Grade I-listed country house and its development as a visitor her appointments were Deputy Lieutenant of South Yorkshire, Master Cutler of Sheffield and High Sheriff of South her achievements her son described his mother as having a "troubled upbringing growing up on a council estate"."She always wanted to create a better life for us kids, that was her focal point. She never missed an opportunity to say she loved us and tell us we could be anything we wanted as long as we were happy." She was made CBE in 2002 and awarded a damehood in Dean of Sheffield, the Very Reverend Abi Thompson, described it as an "honour" to take the service at Sheffield Cathedral, which was attended by friends, former colleagues and entrepreneurs as well as representatives of the many charities, organisations and business enterprises she gave her time to."I met her when she became the Master Cutler, and in a few moments I got a sense of what kind of person she was," she said."She always had a steely look in her eye, someone not to be messed with."She was comfortable in every situation but she was formidable. A woman who could sit with the wealthiest and poorest and make them all feel special." Sarah McLeod OBE, the chief executive of the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust, also spoke at the service, having worked closely with Dame Julie. The defence secretary and Rawmarsh and Conisbrough MP, John Healey, described her as a "remarkable woman who was proud of her roots".Donations were taken for a legacy fund set up by the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust in her memory. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
BBC News
20-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Wentworth traders' 'traffic chaos' fears over RHS Flower Show
Owners of businesses in a village where a major national flower show is to be held next month have spoken of their fears over possible "traffic chaos".The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Flower Show will take place at Wentworth Woodhouse, a stately home near Rotherham, between 16-20 Sales, who runs an independent shopping complex opposite the estate, said while people in Wentworth village were "keen" for the event, she asked: "But at what cost? We need to be able to function. The parking situation is a worry: 12,000 a day is a lot of people."An RHS spokesperson said a traffic management plan would be in place to reduce the impact on "local highways, residents and road users". It was announced in April 2024 that the much-loved RHS Flower Show would be coming to South Yorkshire this year, with other locations around the country also to be used in RHS explained that the aim of holding the event in new places was to "promote gardening to as many people as possible". Ms Sales, who has run The Emporium on Cortworth Lane in Wentworth for 25 years, said the RHS gardening charity had "underestimated" the impact the event could have on the village and surrounding area."I don't think they realise how busy this road can get. An accident on the M1 and things get very interesting. It'll be traffic chaos," she warned."With the best traffic management in the world, you can't control the through traffic and the people that aren't supposed to be here."Ms Sales said her "biggest fear is the gridlock"."We had a little taster of this recently with a car show at the house, and it was backed up in both directions," she said. Meanwhile, Dave Smith, whose antique furniture store has been a fixture in Wentworth village for many decades, said he was also said he was worried about the area's infrastructure being able to cope with an influx of traffic, with particular fears over the "narrow country roads"."People will be arriving from all over the North, but they won't understand there's four to five entrances to the site," he explained."There's enough land in there for parking, but it needs to flow and I can foresee problems."Other business owners who spoke to the BBC, but who did not wish to be named, said they might shut up shop entirely for the five days of the Dan Wilde, who has run the Village Shop for just over a year, said he would be opening as usual after receiving "assurances" from RHS Flower Show organisers."Fingers crossed it'll go well, but I do worry about the parking," he said."If you see an empty space in the village, you're going to take it."It might not be positive for the week they're here, but until it's definitely a negative, we have to see it as a positive," he said. In a statement responding to traders' concerns, an RHS spokesperson said the organisation was "incredibly mindful of the experiences of both the local community and our visitors".The RHS consulted "local partners, such as the local council, emergency services, Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust, and nearby landowners to ensure we plan each event meticulously and prioritise the safety of all", the spokesperson traffic control measures would be in place for the event, they said, including "20mph speed restrictions, temporary no waiting or parking orders, temporary traffic signals, traffic officers directing traffic, and multiple access points into and from the site".The spokesperson added that everyone involved was "incredibly excited" to bring an RHS Flower Show to Rotherham, "and to work with local communities, businesses and organisations to deliver an amazing show full of unique gardens, talks and tips, children's activities, floral installations and refreshments to enjoy". Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
BBC News
15-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Wentworth Woodhouse celebrates European heritage award
A restoration project at a historic country house in Rotherham has won a European heritage Preservation Trust at Wentworth Woodhouse has transformed the Grade II* listed Camellia House which is home to some of the oldest surviving camellia plants in the Western project had previously won a national accolade in the Georgian Group's 2024 Architectural the Camellia House has been selected as one of the 30 outstanding winners of the European Heritage Awards Europa Nostra Awards which identify and promote best practice in the conservation and enhancement of cultural heritage. The Camellia House underwent a £5m restoration funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England and other building had stood as a roofless ruin on the Heritage At Risk register, but has become a public tearoom and heritage was the only project in the UK and one of only three winners outside of the EU Creative Europe Programme, which co-funds the awards jury, made up of 11 heritage experts from across Europe, said: "The revival of a rare camellia collection and the integration of energy-efficient features demonstrate a balanced approach to horticultural, architectural and environmental heritage."The winners will be celebrated at the European Heritage Awards Ceremony 2025 on October 13 during the European Cultural Heritage Summit in Brussels. Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust chief executive Sarah McLeod said: "We are bursting with pride to be heading to Brussels to receive this highly respected European heritage award."An exceptional conservation team collaborated to take our Camellia House from a roofless wreck in danger of collapsing, back to its original grace and beauty - and vastly improved its sustainability and green credentials."Dorian Proudfoot, chief executive of Donald Insall Associates, the architects behind the renovation, said: "It is incredibly rewarding to see our client's vision to create an inclusive, world-class destination being recognised in Europe's most prestigious heritage award." Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
