Wentworth woodhouse

Hi all.

I have just done my first shift volunteering at Wentworth woodhouse on the maintenance team.

It's an amazing building and such an opportunity to work on the largest private house in the UK (frontage is over twice that of Buckingham palace!)

Lots of engineering opportunities to keep me busy, after all they reckon it will only take about 50 years to get things sorted.

If I get any juicy renovations I will post my progress.

Best regards Mick

Used to go there when it was the Lady Mabel Fitzwilliam PE college, had a friend studying there. Magnificant building, you are lucky. The grand entrance hall and staircase have to be seen to be believed!!

Used to go there when it was the Lady Mabel Fitzwilliam PE college, had a friend studying there. Magnificant building, you are lucky. The grand entrance hall and staircase have to be seen to be believed!!

I know Phil! I'm on cloud nine!

There are plans to work on the brass ballesters of the staircase so I may get involved in that.

The state of decay is so bad due to water ingress and years of neglect.

But the old lady is shaking the dust off and breathing again.

It's such an imposing building, now covered in scaffolding for the roof repairs to get her water tight.

Mick

AND!!! you have shaken the cobwebs of memory, I remember in the seventies telling my grandfather about some of my visits there, and he said his father had been invited and taken him to tea there! Apparently I was told by the girl who was a student there that they used to bus men in for the dances and discos that the college held, because there were virtually no men there at all! What the connection with my great grandfather is I have no idea, but one member of that generation was a Brassfounder in Leeds, and his daughter, Sarah Whitley married Louis Le Prince (QV) who was the real pioneer of motion pictures in Leeds. One of his first films shows my ancestors, my great grandfathers brother and family, and also Louis son in the "Roundhay garden scene" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR2r__ZgO5g. It is good to hear that Manny Shinwells dirty work is going to be put right!

Phil.

AND!!! you have shaken the cobwebs of memory, I remember in the seventies telling my grandfather about some of my visits there, and he said his father had been invited and taken him to tea there! Apparently I was told by the girl who was a student there that they used to bus men in for the dances and discos that the college held, because there were virtually no men there at all! What the connection with my great grandfather is I have no idea, but one member of that generation was a Brassfounder in Leeds (or maybe Halifax, not sure), and his daughter, Sarah Whitley married Louis Le Prince (QV) who was the real pioneer of motion pictures in Leeds. One of his first films shows my ancestors, my great grandfathers brother and family, and also Louis son in the "Roundhay garden scene" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR2r__ZgO5g. It is good to hear that Manny Shinwells dirty work is going to be put right!

Phil.

Bugger, double posted again!

How wonderful, Mick. WW is only a few miles from here, and this year we are going on a tour, when it reopens. I've seen some photos, and we have walked through the estate, gardens and garden centre.

The house is open now even though work is ongoing. You can book online I believe.

There are plans for some hard hat tours to go up on the roof and see the ongoing work.

They have bought a cnc laser engraver and are engraving roofing slates with your name and a message for posterity and a donation to funds. Hope I get to play with the laser as it's a big un.

I have the what's on guide via email so if anyone wants a copy let me know.

Mick

Well I have done a couple more days at the woodhouse.

Repaired some door locks in the long gallery, made some brackets for a garden machine bonnet that needed repair and had a squint at the cnc laser.

It is a mighty thing and looks very capable. I will have to go on a course to use it but it will be worth doing I'm sure.

They are looking for ideas to use it other than engraving roof slates for donations, we have tons of broken slates so I'm trying to come up with a use for them.

Quite a lot of scaffolding gone up and much more to go to complete the roof over the roof so we can replace the slate original. If you fancy looking up close at the works you will be able to go up on the scaffolding and have a butchers at above roof level. Some of the statues and urns are going to be lifted down with a mobile crane to repair them at ground level. I've been given a whole room to convert into an engineering shop, with zero budget so I'm looking for surplus equipment to donate to the trust. Already got a nice pillar drill, a linisher and some other bits and Bob's. If anyone has any leads on surplus tools that need a good home please get in touch.

I'm sure its going to be a real labour of love!

Good luck.

Jim

There's a Myford and many tools at Sheffield Auction Galleries this week, Viewing Thursday, auction Friday or Saturday.

Spent another day repairing all sorts at the big house.

The new workshop will be started in a week or two when the laser engraver moves out. Already got hold of various machines to kit it out and it will be a dedicated metal work room to keep the wood worms away (hem hem carpenters)

I've been told three phase can be put in as a matter of course as the electrics are going to be upgraded and they may as well do it while they are on with it.

Regard Mick

Well the new workshop is now available for construction. The laser has gone to a better place; much cleaner room lol.

I'm now faced with planning the machines and layout for it.

Hopefully the size, 6.6 x 3.5 metres will be plenty to include benches, storage and machinery space.

Anyone care to comment on the use of the space is more than welcome, I'm hoping to set it up as a specialist restoration shop for on site projects.