Echoes of the House: Stories in Light and Motion is an Arts Council England-funded exhibition which unlocks the stories stored in the walls of the Grade I listed mansion in Rotherham.
As Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT - the charity whose sole purpose is to restore and regenerate the site) approaches it’s 10-year anniversary, it is exploring the many lives of the House through the voices of those often unheard, while strengthening community pride, expanding family engagement, and showcasing the house as a place shaped by real people across time.
Immersive digital storytelling, inspired by historic cinematic devices (zoetropes, magic lanterns) with contemporary art installations, brings to life the stories of workers, families, servants, tenants, volunteers, local communities and the staff who care for it today. Together they have shaped and sustained the house and the wider estate for generations.
At its height, Wentworth Woodhouse was sustained by an extraordinary workforce - 70 indoor servants and 35 gardeners.
Included in the exhibition is the interconnected story of the Swift and Moore families which stretched back into the 1800s. Ancestors worked in the Fitzwilliam Estate and at Milton as labourers, builders, farmers, and miners, while later generations entered domestic service. James Swift devoted fifty years to the Fitzwilliam family, rising from stable boy to coachman, mechanic, and chauffeur to four successive Earls.
A spokesperson for WWPT said: "Today, through the work of the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust, the House continues to evolve. Not as a frozen monument to the past, but as a living place shaped by the people who continue to care for it, work within it, and share its stories.
"Each room reveals stories of labour, pride, resilience, and belonging across time. Inspired by historic story-telling techniques, with a contemporary and digital twist, the exhibition uncovers the human experiences that continue to connect people to Wentworth Woodhouse today."
Echoes of the House: Stories in Light and Motion runs until November 8 and can be viewed through a general admission ticket to the house.
Wentworth Woodhouse website
Images: WWPT
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