Yorkshire Philosophical Society

Event Information

Visiting Conisbrough Castle, Cusworth Hall & Brodsworth Hall – Cost £26 / person

Departing from Clifton Vue Cinema at 8.45 a.m., and Memorial Gardens Leeman Road at 9.00 a.m. we travel by coach firstly to Conisbrough Castle (EH), strikingly poised atop a hill and overlooking an old crossing point of the river Don. There are believed to have been buildings on the site from Saxon times but the origins of the present castle date from shortly after the Norman Conquest. The floored and roofed Keep stands impressively amid the remains of the inner and outer Baileys.

We then drive the short distance to Cusworth Hall. Originally a medieval hall, it was bought in 1669 by a lawyer called Robert Wrightson.The estate passed down through several members of the family until it ended up with William Wrightson, who became rich through marriage to a widow called Isabella Matthews from Newcastle.

William used some of the wealth to develop the buildings and gardens. When Isabella died William married again and they had three children. As a result of family and having risen to a prestigious post, William had the old hall replaced by a modern fashionable country house which was completed in 1744 using local stone. Two additional wings were added in 1753. After passing through many more layers of the Wrightson line, the estate was faced with huge death duties, most of the Hall contents were sold, and the estate was sold to Doncaster Council who opened it to the public in 1967 – initially as an industrial museum before changing it to a rural living museum. Current displays stem from a lottery funded renovation in 2007.

After an included very simple 2 course lunch at nearby Scawsby Mill, we have a short drive to Brodsworth Hall & Gardens (EH), a lavishly built Victorian country house where the contents from the 120 year tenure of the one-time owning family have been retained by EH for visitors to see. The 15 acre gardens should be a joy to behold in June.

Admission to Conisbrough and Brodsworth is free to EH members. Non-members will have an additional amount to pay (totalling about £13.30 depending on group numbers and discounts).

To download a copy of the form as a Word document, click here:-A Day in South Yorkshire (1)

To download the YPS booking terms and conditions, click here:-YPS booking t&c’s

Please complete and return the form below before 29 May if you wish to join the visit.

Alan Owen   –  Organiser

Visit to Conisbrough, Cusworth & Brodsworth Wed. 10 June 2015

To Alan Owen,   YPS,  The Lodge,  Museum Gardens,  York  YO1  7DR

Please reserve…….. places for me/us.      A cheque for £……is enclosed   (made out to YPS)

Name(s) ………………………………………             email ………………………………………

Address ………………………………………              Tel. No.  …………………………………..

…………………………………………                        EH member?              YES     NO      (Pl. circle)

…………………………………………                        Postcode ………………………………

Acknowledgement will be by email.    Please enclose SAE if postal acknowledgement required