About the house

As you walk about the parkland, the house holds forth with one of its two wings, the Baroque wing and the Palladian wing. This is the outward show. Not many modern houses today are distinguished by showing off their extensions. Today, an extension means more internal space, another room or two; the owner saying I like it here but I want more space. That principle applied to the 18th century too, but more importantly, it was to shout status and power.

Hidden behind what can be said to be merely extensions to the side and rear of the original house is what was called the Cutler House. It was bought, in 1708, along with the estate, by Thomas for £14 000 in the desire to be near what he considered his true country seat, that at Wentworth Woodhouse, less than 10 miles away. The house originally belonged to the estate of Sir Gervais Cutler in the 17th century, Thomas himself being born in Stanley Hall, near Wakefield.

This is now the main entrance to Northern College which is centred in the building. After World War Two, it became a teacher training college after it was bought by Barnsley Council.

The year 1711 was a big year for Thomas. A culmination of a military career and of royal support. He was created 1st earl of Strafford (the second creation of the title), and he got married. He married to Anne, the daughter of Sir Henry Johnson. She was a Buckingham girl and she came with brass, enough brass to help Thomas advance his property dreams. In that significant year, he became a member of the Privy Council, that body of men considered important enough to advise the king.

Thomas Wentworth had gained the King's notice early in life after the Battle of Steinkirk, a losing fight against the French, during the Nine Years War fought by allied nations against the French to try and control France's ambition and power in Europe. He became a major after the Battle Landen in 1693, a brigadier general in 1702 and a major general in 1704. As a colonel in 1698, he was commanding the 1st or Royal Regiment of Dragoons who were known as Raby's Dragoons. He was still in his 20s and moving up. By the time he married and was settling down, he was 39.

Thomas now had ambitions and the means for developing the modest building he had bought and so began the creation of what we see today. The house imposed its presence on the landscape as viewed from the south and east, establishing the fact that, although he was disinherited with the estates he thought he was due, here Thomas was now.

It might be of reasurance to him that his splendid Baroque extension is now a landmark from the M1 motorway, the road that runs north from London to Yorkshire, and is glimpsed by many northward bound travellers. The estate he lost is hidden away from 21st century eyes. Bigger? Yes. But well off the beaten tracks.

He has achieved the dominant position he desired after losing out in inheritance that he felt was his. The other house, which may be grander in having the largest frontage of any other house in England at least, is geographically and demographically hidden.