The rural village of Wentworth near Rotherham, South Yorkshire, is known for its natural beauty, with rolling hills, stone cottages, and meadows. However, living here means following strict rules set by the Fitzwilliam Wentworth Estate, which has governed the area for centuries.
For instance, residents must paint their doors "Wentworth green," keep window frames off-white, and even match drainpipe colors.?Anyone wanting to change their property must seek approval from the Fitzwilliam Wentworth Amenity Trust, which oversees everything in the village. But, why?
The trust's primary goal is to preserve and enhance the historical charm of the village, and all inhabitants are required to adhere to its regulations. This strict control over the village's affairs ensures that its unique character and heritage are maintained for future generations.?Despite the regulations, many locals appreciate Wentworth's unique character, while others feel it's too rigid.
Additionally, buying a home in the village is incredibly challenging because 95% of the properties are owned by the trust that has been in power for almost 300 years. This trust acts as the landlord for most of the 1,400 residents.
When new residents move in, they are informed that any changes to their property must be approved by the Fitzwilliam Wentworth Amenity Trust, a subsidiary of the Fitzwilliam Wentworth Estate. This means that everything from architectural modifications to day-to-day operations in Wentworth is controlled by the trust.
There's also Wentworth Village Shop, that has been managed by Craig Horner, 53, and his wife Zoe, 54, for almost 18 years.With no supermarkets or takeaways in sight, it¡¯s the only shop for essentials and people can also buy sandwiches, jam and lemon curd.
Craig backs the trust in its aim to retain the village¡¯s historic values because even if the smallest changes for modernisation were allowed, he believes it would take away from its unique charm.
He said: ¡®Once you introduce one thing then it snowballs, and before you know it, you¡¯ve got neon signs, chip shops and all sorts ¨C which they would never allow anything like that.¡¯
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