Wednesday, March 20, 1:00 pm Eastern – Bright Prospects: Curating & Conservation at Wentworth Castle Gardens & Beninbrough Hall, Online
This is the final episode of the second series in the Gardens Trust’s new partnership with the county gardens trusts, looking at restoration in action. Join Yorkshire Gardens Trust to learn about researching, restoring and reinterpreting a selection of glorious gardens in the county. The chosen projects cover four centuries of garden design and showcase the skills, sensitivities and determination needed to conserve and enhance historic gardens. This ticket is for the course of 3 sessions. or you may purchase a ticket for individual sessions, costing £8. [Gardens Trust and Yorkshire Gardens Trust Members may purchase tickets at £15.75 for the series or £6 each talk]. Register at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/restoration-in-action-yorkshire-tickets-780066468807 Attendees will be sent a Zoom link 2 days (and again a few hours) prior to the start of the first talk (If you do not receive this link please contact us), and a link to the recorded session will be sent shortly after each session and will be available for 1 week.
Both created at the same time in the early 18th century by some of the same craftsmen, these two Yorkshire sites have seen centuries of change and challenge before coming into the care of the National Trust.
Wentworth Castle Gardens near Barnsley was conceived as a grand expression of aristocratic pride and taste. The remains of this vision sit at the core of the site, overlaid with important 19th and 20th century influences. The contemporary Beningbrough Hall near York was the creation of a wealthy young gentry couple hoping to consolidate and enhance their family status. The remarkable preservation of their house stands in contrast to the much-altered garden and parkland.
Most recently, both sites have shifted from being private spaces to thriving public assets. How has this developed and how is the contemporary National Trust working at these places to further enhance their social benefit alongside ensuring the care and conservation of nationally significant heritage assets?
Matthew Constantine is a heritage professional with over 25 years of experience. He now works as a Cultural Heritage Curator for the National Trust in Yorkshire, including supporting the site teams at Wentworth and Beningbrough to understand, care for and interpret their places.
