A large part of Wentworth Garden Centre occupies the site of the great former kitchen garden complex built in the late 18th Century by the Fitzwilliams of Wentworth Woodhouse.

The foundations for the surrounding walls were started in 1786. The North and South facing walls are 'hot' walls i.e. they once contained heated flues. Glasshouses erected against these walls would have supplied the finest and most delicate fruit such as peaches and apricots.

The gardens were subsequently developed with the planting of orchards, ornamental and herb gardens etc. Further features were added early this century by Maud, Countess Fitzwilliam (d.1967) wife of the 9th Earl with the creation of the beautiful Japanese garden.

Inevitably, much of the cultivated area fell into disrepair, until the creation of the garden centre in 1976. The gardens are being substantially and faithfully restored by ourselves as part of an ongoing process. Recent projects to be completed are the replanting of the maze, originally 'grubbed' out many years ago, the creation of a deer paddock complete with fallow deer and an re-instating the fountain and cascade in the Japanese Gardens.

One particularly unusual feature to be found in the gardens is the 'Bear Pit'. Often mistaken for an 'ice house', the chamber has contained bears within living memory.

The gardens are open year round (subject to the weather) and admission is by donation please.

The Garden Centre's gardens are part of the 'Gardens of South Yorkshire', a group of nine gardens across South Yorkshire who support each other. For more information visit:

http://www.gardensofsouthyorkshire.com/