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 ATffRN#.UM EXCURSTOK 
 
 WEDNESDAY, Uth JULY, 1849. 
 
 GUIDE 
 
 WE NT WORTH HOUSE 
 
 AND PAEK. 
 
 
 
 
 
 MANCHESTER: 
 
 PRINTED BY ALEXANDER IRELANT? AND CO., DUCIE-PLACE, EXCHANGE, 
 
 1849. 
 
arrangemen'^s. 
 
 The excursionists are required to be at the Victoria Railway Station, Hunt's 
 Bank, at one quarter past Eight o'clock, as the train will start punctually at 
 half-past Eight o'clock. 
 
 Conveyances will be provided at the Masbro' Station by the master of the 
 Prince of Wales Hotel and the Eailway Refreshment Rooms, at moderate 
 rates, for those persons who require to ride the whole distance. 
 
 The Committee wish it to be distinctly understood, that the excursionists 
 are at full liberty to form themselves into pic-nic parties. To facilitate this 
 arrangement, a carriage will be provided at Darfield Station to convey the 
 baskets, &c., of the members to Wentworth, if properly labelled. 
 
 Mr. Davidson, manager of the Athenseum Restaurant and Cafe, will be 
 in attendance on the lawn in the " Milton Tent." A cold collation will be 
 prepared for those who secure tickets by previous application at the Athenaeum. 
 A supply of cold viands, ices, confectionary, refreshing beverages — as coffee, 
 lemonade, &c., will be prepared for.general sale at moderate prices. A ladies' 
 tent will also be provi(^d, under female superintendence. 
 
 The members and their friends will pass into the house by the front en- 
 trance in parties of about twenty-five persons; five minutes will elapse between 
 each party; and the time occupied in going through the house will be little 
 more than half-an hour. 
 
 The route by Darfield is recommended, as being the nearest and the most 
 beautiful approach to Wentworth House. The band will proceed via Darfield, 
 occasionally enlivening the visitors as they pass through the woods and planta- 
 tions. During the day the band will perform on the terrace, and immediately 
 upon the performance of the national air at six o'clock p.m., the band and the 
 visitors will require to quit the inner park, in order to arrive in sufficient 
 time for the train. 
 
 The train will return in the evening from Masbro' Station at seven o'clock 
 punctually, calling at Darfield, at one quarter past seven o'clock. The train 
 can only remain two or three minutes at Darfield to receive the pedestrian ex- 
 cursionists. 
 
ATHENJIUM EXCURSION. W?>i?tl3 
 
 The Railway Route selected for the excursion to Weniworth, passes 
 through the most luxuriant and picturesque portion of Yorkshire, 
 embracing Blackstone Edge — the York and Lancaster Alps ; C alder Vale, 
 Ellendale, and Dearaedale, as well as the towns of Rochdale, Todmor- 
 den, Dewsbury, and Wakefield. 
 
 That portion of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, known as the 
 Manchester and Leeds, has been formed at an expense of three millions 
 and a half, or £46,000 per mile ; the length from Manchester to Nor- 
 manton being fifty-one miles. Middleton station is six miles, and Blue 
 Pits nine miles from Manchester. About a mile faither on is Rochdale, 
 so called fiom the river Roche, its never failing source of wealth. 
 Littleborough station is sixteen miles from the great manufacturing 
 metropolis of England ; and at the distance of another mile the deep 
 cuttings give indi«ation of the approach to the Summit Tunnel. The 
 original contract for this great work was let at £35 per yard, and on the 
 failure of the first contractors, it was re-let at £43 per yard, but it has 
 ultimately cost the company £280,000, or £97 per lineal yard. This 
 tunnel is nearly two miles in length, and at its eastern extremity the 
 line is 540 feet above the level of the sea, or 350 feet above the town of 
 Manchester. Immediately after leaving the Summit, two smaller 
 tunnels, Deanroyd and Wiuterbutlee, are entered. Approaching the 
 station at Todmorden, the extensive works of the late John Fielden, 
 Esq., M.P., are seen on the right of the line, and on the brow of a 
 majestic hill beyond, is the Waterloo Obelisk. The vale of Todmorden, 
 or the valley of the Fox mere, on the left, is a bold and picturesque dis- 
 trict, abounding in legendary lore. On the viaduct beyond the station, 
 is a stone, defining the boundary of the counties of Lancaster and York. 
 Passing Eastwood station (21 miles) the Chaaiestown curves are ap- 
 proached, of which due notice is given by the engine driver slackening 
 his speed. The sum of £31,000 has been fruitlessly expended in an 
 attempt to make a short tunnel at this point of the line, but in conse- 
 quence of repeated landslips, the late eminent engineer, George Steven- 
 son, was defeated. A large outlay has since been incurred, in altering 
 the line to an open cutting. The beauties of the vale of Calder, now 
 begin to disclose themselves, presenting some of the richest scenery in 
 England; one view in particular, near Mytholmroyd station, is equal 
 to the finest of the Highland glens. The line of railway being curved 
 round the base of the lofty hills, which encircle Hebden Bridge, My- 
 tholmroyd, Luddenden Foot, and Sowerby Bridge, a succession of 
 beautiful scenery, varying in its character, is presented to the excur- 
 sionist, for ten miles of the route. Sowerby Bridge, the birth-place 
 of Archbishop Tillotson, is 28 miles from INIanchester, and Elland 32 
 nijles. The railway spans the river Calder, in several places between 
 Elland and Mil-field, Three miles after leaving the latter station, the 
 town of Dewsbury ('41 milesj is seen on the left of the railway. Here 
 
 fi^S2^456 
 
4 
 
 Kdwm, King of Nurlluuiibria, had a royal mansion, a.d, 627. Wakefield 
 is AS miles IVuni Manchester; the, church, which is visible from the 
 railway, is one of the finest in Englanil, and was given by William, Earl 
 Warren, to God, Saint Pancras, and the Monks of Lewes, iu Sussexy 
 it was consecrated a.d. 1329, by Wm. De Melton, Archbishop of York. 
 Two miles from Wakefield, is the junction with the Midland railway, 
 but the train will proceed onwards for three quarters of a mile, to Nor- 
 manton station, in order to have the engine reversed. Oakenshaw 
 station is three miles from Normanton, here the Wakefield and Goole 
 railway passes under the Midland, 
 
 The Chevet Tuiinel, beyond the Oakenshaw Station, is 600 yards in 
 length, and was formed, in some degi'ee, at the expense of Sir William 
 Pilkinglon, near to whose house it passes. A short distance beyond, 
 the low ground is crossed by a viaduct of 1 10 yards in length, consisting 
 of several arches, and by a long and high embankment. Here on the 
 riglit will be seen Wooley Park, the seat of Godfrey Wentworth, Esq., 
 and Roystone Church. At the end of the long embankment, and near 
 to Cudworth Bridge, the village of Monk Bretton appears on the hill to 
 the right. Cudworth Bridge Station, in the valley of the Dearne, is 
 two miles below the town of Barnsley. The woods skirting the valley 
 are very beautiful, and of considerable extent. New Park, Spring" 
 Wood, on the left, is well known to fox hunters. The beautiful village 
 of Dai-field may be seen on tlie hill to the right ; the village of 
 Houghton on the left. On the slope of the hill below Darfield is 
 Middlewood Hall, formerly the property of the Earl of Masborough. 
 At Darfield Station most of thq visitors will alight; the few who may- 
 prefer the longer walk, or to ride the entire distance, will pass on 
 to Masbro'. 
 
 Preceded by an excellent band, the excursionists will proceed en route 
 for Wentworth. About half a mile from the Darfield Station, the road 
 crosses the Dearne and Dove Canal. Farther on is the Bull's Head, a 
 pleasant roadside inn, which afi'ords accommodation for large parties, 
 and will be found convenient to those who desire to return sufficiently 
 early to take tea. Here a road branches oflf, and, through a plantation to 
 the left, leads to the North Park. 
 
 Passing through the massive iron gates, the beauties of the place 
 begin to disclose themselves. The park gradually becomes more woody, 
 the trees on either side for tMo miles, form a natural screen from the 
 summer sun and the winter storm ; the rabbits are in abundance, the 
 wild rose and honeysuckle in luxuriance. By an easy ascent the visitor 
 arrives at the Needle's Eye, an arabesque monument, surmounted with 
 an earl's coronet — in the opening of which seats are provided for the 
 pedestrian. 
 
 On the right may aow be seen the monument of Hooberstan — a 
 monument raised by the late Marquis of Rockingham in commemora- 
 tion of the termination of the rebellion of 1745. This monument is 
 ascended by 150 steps, and commands a most extensive view of the 
 surrounding country; York Minster may be seen from Hooberstan on 
 a clear day. 
 
 Leaving Rainliam Park and crossing *the highway, the visitor arrives 
 at the inner or Wentworth Park. On the right, the noble mansion of 
 the Wentworths suddenly bursts into view. Spread over the lawn in 
 front of the house may be seen peculiar breeds of the bison, and 
 
5 
 
 innumerable red deer, grazing in small llocki.'. The btock oi" deer is* 
 never less than nine hundred, but ihis number does not appear large^ 
 owing to the great extent of the parks which are thirteen miles in cir- 
 cumference. 
 
 ROUTE BY MASBRO'. 
 
 From the station at Masbro' to Wentwoilh there are two i-oads. The 
 principal, chosen by those who secure a conveyance, passes through 
 part of Rotherham ; on the right, is the church, a spacious and vener- 
 able cruciform structure in the early style of English architecture, with 
 a central tower and spire higlily eniiched ; the exterior of the entire 
 edifice, it will be seen, is elaborately and tastefully sculptured. The 
 route for .the pedestrian passes over the railway bridge to the left, 
 thence to the right through Masbro' to the termination of the carriage 
 road at Mr. Chambers' villa, by the side of which building a narrow 
 pleasant lane is entered. Crossing a few fields of standing corn, the 
 pedestrian passes Bassingthorpe farm, and proceeds onward until the 
 path winds to the right, and gently descends the hill to the high road. 
 Proceeding to the village of Greasboro' which is seen on the opposite 
 side of the valley, the fine road leading to the park is entered. Here 
 the beauties of Dearndale begin to display themselves. On the right 
 will be seen the Mausoleum, ei'ected by the late Earl Fitzwiliiam in 
 honour of his uncle, the Marquis of Rockingham. The height of this 
 building is ninety feet, and it consists of three divisions. The first is a 
 square Doric basement ; the second storey is ol the same form, but of 
 the Ionic order ; each of its fuur sides opening into an arch, and dis- 
 closing a beautiful sarcophagus standing dn the centre; on the frieze, is 
 this inscription — "This monument was erected by We'Vitworth, Earl 
 Fitzwiliiam, 1798, to the memory of Charles Marquis of Rockingham." 
 This is surmounted by a cupola, supported by twelve columns of the 
 same order. The basement storey is an apartment rising into a dome, 
 supported by eight columns, encircling a white marble statue of the 
 departed marquis in his robes, as large as life, by Nollekins. In the 
 four recesses of this apartment are placed fine white marble busts 
 of Edmund Burke, the Duke of Portland, Charles James Fox, Admiral 
 Kepi^el, John Lee, and Lord George Cavendish. 
 
 Proceeding onwards by a picturesque road which passes through the 
 woods, Morley Lodge with its noble archway is reached. Here the inner 
 park is entered by a carnage road Avhich rises to a slight elevation called 
 Temple Hill. On arriving at a turn in the road by the woods, the princely 
 mansion suddenly appears in view, at a distance of a quarter of a mile, 
 
 Charles William Wentworth, the present Earl Fitzwiliiam, is descended 
 from Sir William Fitzwiliiam, ambassador at the court of William, Duke 
 of Normandy, and a marshal of the army which conquei'ed England in 
 1066. In 1620 the peerage of Ireland was conferred on the family, and 
 in 1746 the title was advanced to an English viscounty and earldom. 
 William, the third earl, married Lady Ann Wentworth, the eldest daugh- 
 ter of Thomas, Marquis of Rockingham, from whence the name and 
 estates of Wentworth are derived. The Marquis of Rockingham, it will 
 he remembei'ed, was pi-ime minister of England in 1765 and 1766, and 
 retired from power with his secretary, the eloquent Edmund Burke, after 
 refusing, for himself and his assistant, the usual perquisites and emolu- 
 ments of office. It has been long expected that the present Earl Fitz- 
 wiliiam would be raised in the peerage to the marquisale of Rockingham, 
 
6 
 
 which he represents by the female line ; but his course, as a politician, 
 has been strictly independent of party or ministerial patronage. Although 
 the sovereign authority has not entitled him to be called " most noble,'' 
 he is by universal consent of queen, tenantry, and people, acknowledged 
 as most virtuous, and most generous. 
 
 Wentworth House was erected by the Marquis of Rockingham about 
 the year 1730; it is situated between Bamsley and Rotherham, at the 
 distance of four miles from the latter town, in the midst of a beautiful 
 country, and iu the centre of a park that is one of the most exquisite 
 spots in the kingdom. The mansion, for extent and magnificence, is 
 not excelled: it consists of an irregular quadrangle, enclosing three 
 courts, with two grand fronts ; the principal one to the park, which ex- 
 tends in a line upwards of six hundred feet, forming a centre and two 
 wings. Nothing in architecture can be finer than this fa9ade. A noble 
 rusticated stylobate, sixty feet long, projecting twenty feet, supports six 
 magnificent Corinthian columns, on pedestals, with a balustrade en- 
 closing the area. These columns support an angular pediment, within 
 which are the arms of the Marquis of Rockingham ; and, on the archi- 
 trave, immediately above the columns, is that nobleman's motto, " Mea 
 Glouia Fides,'' On the pediment are placed three elegant statues, 
 and one at each angle of the principal front, with vases and balustrade. 
 The wings are in a similar style of architecture, and the effect of the 
 entire edifice is at once pleasing and magnificent. 
 
 The interior is very superbly fitted up. The grand htill, or reception 
 room, is GO feet square and 40 feet high, with a gallery 10 feet wide 
 carried round the whole ; this is Hupported b}^ 18 fluted Ionic columns, 
 the shafts of sienna, with the baSfes and capitals of pure white marble. 
 In niches between the columns are marble statues of Antinous, Flora, 
 Venus de Medicis, &c.; over these are medallions containing relievos 
 from the designs of Athenian Stuart. The roof is supported by 
 Corinthian pilasters connected by festoons, and the ceiling is executed 
 in ornamental compartments. The floor is of white and yellow marble, 
 corresponding in pattern to the ornamental ceiling. Some idea of the 
 splendour of this hall may be gathered from the circumstance, that the 
 floor and decorations have required the constant i)resence of workmen 
 for the last three years, and they are still iinfinished. 
 
 Adjoining the hall is the sculpture room, containing busts of the late 
 carl. Lord Dundas, by Chantrey ; Lady Milton ; a figure of a heathen 
 goddess, by Nolleldns ; statues of Venus, Minerva, Juno, and Diana, a 
 centaur, Cupid and Psyche, and numerous beautiful specimens of 
 sculpture. In the centre is placed a fine tripod, with the head of John 
 the Baptist in relief. The chimney-piece, of white marble, with a frieze 
 of mosaic work, is an object deserving attention. 
 
 The dining room is a handsome apartment, the Avails and ceiling are 
 of pale blue, with French white ornaments. It is adorned with the 
 following pictures : — No. 37, Thomas, first Marquis of Rockingham, 
 by Sir Godfrey Kneller ; No. 40, William, second Earl of Stratford, and 
 his sisters, by Vandyke ; No. 38, Mrs. WentAvorth ; No. 39, Lady 
 WentAVorth, the mother of the first Earl of Strafford, painted in 1606 ; 
 and No. 41, Sir William Wentworth, the father of the Earl of Strafford; 
 No, 36, Lady Proby; No. 43, Charles Wentworth, second and last 
 Marquis of Rockingham, by Sir Joshua Reynolds. 
 
 From the dining room three small libraries are entered ; in the prin- 
 
cipal is the celebrated painting by Vandyke, of Wentworth Earl of 
 Strafford and his secretary. Several engravings having been taken of 
 this masterpiece of the great artist, it has becouie familiar to the jiatrons 
 of the fine arts. Here also will bti recognised some of the beauties of 
 the court of the Second Charles, all painted by Sir Peter Lely, including, 
 No. 48, Lady Anne Wentworth, afterwards Countess Fitzwilliam, and 
 Lady Arabella Wentworth ; No. 49, the Duchess of Portsmouth ; and 
 No. 50, the Duchess of Cleveland. In one of the smaller libraries 
 there are some rare Indian ink prints of Charles James Fox, Grattan, 
 and the grandfather of the first Earl of Strafford. In the ante-room 
 are two paintings by Sir Joshua Reynolds, taken from the great window 
 at Oxford, %iz.. No. 25, a Shepherd Boj ; No. 23, Sir Joshua Reynolds 
 and Jervis, the glass staiuer, as shepherds. 
 
 After passing through two smaller rooms, the visitor enters the pic- 
 ture galleiy, which contains many of the chefs d^ceuvres of the best 
 masters. The principal which may be noted are tln-ee paintings by 
 Salvator Rosa, viz., No. 60, a portrait of Masaniello; 63, Tribute 
 Money; and 61, 57, Tancred and Armena, by Vandyke ; 65, one by 
 Teniers ; 62, the Italian Poets ; 72, one by Titian, and next to it a 
 small painting by Raffaelle ; 73, Ruins of Rome, by Paniili; 76, a 
 Landscape, by Claude ; 77, the Prophet Jeremiah, by King ; 79, the 
 Offering of the Wise Men, by Rubens ; 80, a Bandit, by Hurlstone ; 
 95, Hemietta Mai-ia, Wife of Charles L, by Vandyke ; 67, Joseph and 
 Potiphar's Wife ; 58, the Marchioness of Rockingham ; 85, James 
 Stanley, seventh Earl of Derb}-; 84, Margaret Clifford, Countess of 
 Derby ; 88, Lady Milton, the earl's fii-st wife ; 90, Caidinal Richeheu ; 
 91, Dr. Harvey. Leaving the picture gallery from a door near the 
 centre of the room, a neat breakfast parlour is crossed to a small room 
 in which some valuable old china is displayed, as well as a model of 
 Rotherham Chm'ch. Adjoining is the bedroom of George the Fourth, 
 with the massive state bed in wliich his Majesty slept. A full-length 
 portrait of the king, painted by PhilHps, adorns one of the walls. The 
 dressing room used by her Majesty when visiting Wentworth is next 
 crossed ; the walls of this room are hung with silk, which has the 
 appearance of glazed paper ; the design is neat and simple. 
 
 The Marquis of Rockingham's dressing and bed rooms are in the 
 same suite ; in the latter, there is a portrait of Lady Margery Went- 
 worth, the daughter of the Earl of Strafford. The chapel is also adorned 
 with rare and valuable paintings by the old masters, and some excellent 
 copies of paintings by- Rubens. Samson slaying the Philistines is a 
 valuable picture. The St.^artholomew,by Spagnoletto, and the Virgin, 
 No. 125, and Christ, No.T26, by Caido Dolci, are splendid paintings. 
 From the chapel the visitor next proceeds to the museum gallery, in 
 which there are cabinets of fossils. The collection has been carefully 
 arranged by the present noble owner of this princely mansion, as 
 evinced by the descriptive labels in his lordship's hand^Titing. Among 
 other articles the specimens of fossil ferns and the oolites ai-e exceed- 
 ingly choice. The sample of asphalte that floats on the Dead Sea is 
 deserving attention, and the superb antique cabinets in this apartment 
 are perfect gems. The larger cabinet is veiy costly, the cornices and 
 ornaments being of pure gold, and the workmanship correspondingly 
 beautiful in finish, and elaborate in its details. 
 
 The gilt drawing room is a beautiful apartment, chaste and elegant 
 
both in its proportions and Lleoorations. The furniture is richlj' gilt, 
 especially the couches of blue velvet and burnished gold. The chimney- 
 piece is of spotless white marble. Three beautiful paintings adorn this 
 apartment. 1st. The celebrated portrait of the late Earl Fitzwilliara, 
 by Sir Thomas Lawrence, in the unfinished state in which it was left 
 by the death of this distinguished painter; 2nd. Whistle Jacket, a 
 favourite horse, painted by Stubbs, the size of life ; and 3rd. a portrait 
 of the present Earl Fitzwilliam when four years of age, painted by Sir 
 Joshua Reynolds. 
 
 Adjoining the gilt drawing-room is the Vandyke room, which is un- 
 questionably a most chaste and elegant apartment. The ceiling and 
 walls of dead white, elaborately carved and neatly fringed with burnished 
 gold, in rich contrast with the sombre portraits of the great and the 
 beautiful, cannot fail to inspire the contemplative visitor with placid ad- 
 miration. The chief paintings are: — No, 11. Henrietta Maria, queen of 
 Charles I. and daughter of Mary de Medicis, by Vandyke. Archbishop 
 Laud, by the same artist. No. 4, Charles IT., by Sir Peter Lely. No. 
 7, William Stanley, second Earl of Stafford; No. 8, his wife, both by Sir 
 Peter Lely. No. 9, Charles L, by Janssen. No. 16, Catherine of Bi'a- 
 ganza, qiieen of Charles II., by Sir Peter Lely. No. 5, The first Earl 
 of Stafford. No. 13, Lord Baltimore. No. 22, The Earl of Cumber- 
 land. 
 
 In the ante-room are beautiful models of the church baptistra and 
 leaning tower of Pisa, with several choice paintings by Sir Joshua 
 Rej^iolds, Sir Peter Lely, and others. No. 18, The Infant Hercules, is 
 by Sir Joshua Reynolds ; and Nos. 23 and 25, by the same artist. No. 
 17, Prince Rupert, by Sir Pete? Lely; and No. 24, William Duke of 
 Cumberland, by Sir Joshua Reynolds. In this room are four choice 
 paintings which, from their great value and merit, demand particular 
 attention. They are — No. J 9, A Sleeping Ciqnd, by Guide. No. 27, 
 Tribute Money, by Paul Veronese. No. 31, A Magdalen, by Titian ; 
 and No. 34, Christ crowned with thorns, by Annibal Caracci. No 29, 
 A woman and parrot, is by the celebrated Flemish painter Jordaens. 
 No. 32, George the Second, is by Shackleton. Several portraits of the 
 Stanley family also adorn this apartment. 
 
 The lower room, under the great hall, is called the pillared hall ;- in 
 it are the horns of an immense elk, from his lordship's estate in 
 Ireland, a splendid vase, and several fine pieces of sculpture. 
 
 The ornamental pleasure grounds, at the back of the mansion, are of 
 great extent ; seats and statuary are placed in the most favoured spots 
 for obtaining a view of the park and adji|pent country. The green- 
 houses, pinery, and collection of exotic plants, are varied and interesting. 
 The aviary of foreign birds and the menagerie should be visited. 
 
 From out of the bosom of a majestic wood, two miles south of the 
 house, a graceful Doric column rears its head; it was erected by the 
 Mai-quis of Rockingham, to commemorate the acquittal of his friend. 
 Admiral Keppel. 
 
 The Committee feel assured they do hut express the seiitiinents of the Directors 
 and Members in stating their lively sense of Earl Fitzwilliam' s kindness in afford- 
 ing them this pleasing opportunity of visiting Wentwotth. 
 
 A. IRELAND AND CO., PRINTERS, DUCIE PLACE, MANCHESTER. 
 
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
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