The Rotunda

A wonderful place to visit Great walk Great café

Built in the mid 1700's and based on an Italian design. It was originally planned between 1708 and 1739 by Thomas, the first Earl of Strafford and completed in 1746 by William, the 2nd Earl of Strafford. It was built by the estate mason Joseph Bower and it is a copy of an ancient Temple at Tivoli in Rome. Note : There are public footpaths across the estate and you can approach any of the features complete with information boards however under current circumstances some of the footpaths and gates may well be closed and locked.

Beautiful location and I would love to actually see inside given the description on the information board. Bizarrely there was an alarm going off when we were near so it is obviously somewhat modernised inside. Really hope they manage to sort funding out for this park as it is a favourite place for me.

Neoclassical architecture at it's accessible best.

The Rotunda is not often open, so I was most fortunate that on the day I visited Wentworth Castle Gardens (weekend) it was open. Grade 2 listed Ionic temple, 18th century, built between 1742 - 1746. Restoration works to the tune of £280,000 were completed in 2010. Based on a temple to the Roman goddess, Vesta, at Tivoli in Rome.