Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Borneo orangutan
Malaysia • 12 days, 11 nights
Wild Borneo: Secrets of an Ancient Rainforest
from
Pastel de nata
Portugal • 8 days, 7 nights
Portugal: A Culinary Adventure from Porto to Lisbon
from
View all trips
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom England Wortley Wortley Hall
AO Edited

Wortley Hall

This once private residence is now a popular wedding venue and training center for trade union officers.

Wortley, England

Added By
Alan Newman
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
  Dave Pickersgill
  Jim Probert
  Dave Pickersgill
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Originally constructed in the 12th century, this building has seen numerous changes to its external appearance. The structure was once a private residence mainly of the Wortley family, who were also known as the Earls of Wharncliffe. It was extensively refurbished in the early 19th century. In the 1950s however, with the family falling on relatively hard times, the house and immediate gardens were put up for sale.

The house was purchased by a consortium of trade unions and political parties for use largely as a training center. Since, it has been used as a social event space and has become known as the Workers' Stately Home.

The 20th-century refurbishment of the property was carried out on a voluntary basis by local workers. The property continues as an important center of residential courses for the training of trade union officers.

Many of the rooms are named after famous historic members of the socialist movement, trade unions, and other organizations that supported the refurbishment. The site has become an important venue for musical performances especially those organized by the Workers' Music Association.

To provide for the upkeep of the building, it has also been adopted as a very attractive wedding venue and continues to offer hotel and restaurant services. Non-residents can use the restaurant and the traditional "afternoon tea" is excellent.

Related Tags

Buildings History & Culture Architecture

Community Contributors

Added By

Dr Alan P Newman

Published

September 2, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Wortley Hall
The Flats
Wortley Hall and Gardens, Wortley, South Yorkshire, England
Wortley, England, S35 7DR
United Kingdom
53.49173, -1.531626
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Wortley Top Forge

Wortley, England

miles away

Green Moor Village Stocks

Wortley, England

miles away

Thurgoland Tunnel

Thurgoland, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Wortley

Wortley

England

Places 3

Nearby Places

Wortley Top Forge

Wortley, England

miles away

Green Moor Village Stocks

Wortley, England

miles away

Thurgoland Tunnel

Thurgoland, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Wortley

Wortley

England

Places 3

Related Places

  • London, England

    The Ostler's Hut

    This is London's smallest listed building.

  • Granary in Jankowo up close

    Jankowo, Poland

    Walter Gropius's 1906 Spichlerz

    A Bauhaus co-founder designed this quirky, abandoned granary.

  • The Yokohama Customs Headquarters.

    Yokohama, Japan

    Yokohama Customs “Queen’s Tower”

    The Port of Yokohama’s customs headquarters building resembles a Moorish kasbah, complete with a minaret.

  • Army & Navy Building

    Mumbai, India

    Army & Navy Building

    This 19th-century heritage building once housed a department store that supplied British provisions in the city.

  • Rijal Alma

    Rijal Alma, Saudi Arabia

    Rijal Alma

    A 900-year-old village located in the highland of the Asir region that features historic architecture.

  • Gooderham Building

    Toronto, Ontario

    Gooderham Building

    Known as "Toronto's Flatiron."

  • The Ancient House

    London, England

    The Ancient House

    One of London's oldest houses contains a mixture of both old and modern features.

  • The Guild of Ancient Merchant Taylors

    Bristol, England

    The Guild of Ancient Merchant Taylors

    An ornate doorway leads to the former site of one of the city's oldest society of merchants.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.