Mexborough and Swinton Times February 24, 1928

Netherwood Hall
Offered To Wombwell U. D. C.
Possible Isolation Hospital A Handsome Old Mansion.

Important possibilities are foreshadowed in the announcement that the Mitchell Main Colliery Company have written to the Wombwell Urban District Council offering to sell to the Council the mansion known as Netherwood Hall. The Council have already had under consideration the question of the suitability of the hall for adaptation as an isolation hospital, and a deputation has been appointed to inspect the premises and report to the Council in due course. This inspection was carried out on Tuesday, but whether the committee consider that a hospital scheme involving the acquisition of the Hall a practicable one will not be known until the next meeting of the Council.

The offer has been made at what would appear to be an opportune juncture. In their anxiety to see the township adequately equipped in this respect, the Wombwell Council have been casting about for some time. Hitherto Wombwell has been a partner in the Kendray Hospital, Barnsley, but the terms of partnership have been the subject of much dissatisfaction and criticism. Shortly, Wombwell’s complaint is that in the administration and upkeep of the’ Kendray Hospital they ‘have- had more responsibility than authority. The governing bodies in other towns around ‘Barnsley have been thinking more or less on the same lines, and a “revolt” against Barnsley’s rule developed. Certain of these authorities’ came to ‘heel again, but Wombwell persisted in its demand for adequate representation on the governing body of the Kendray Hospital, or complete independence. Wombwell took a leading part in the Ardsley House scheme, which project, however, was abandoned after the estimated cost had been worked out. Since that time Wombwell has made -over, tunes in other directions, and the Wath and District Joint Hospital Board have agreed to consider the question of admitting Wombwell as a constituent member.

Netherwood Hall was formerly the home of the Garlands, a family prominent in the early history of Wombwell, and some consequence in the county. They are now associated with Wombwell by name only, the various branches having scattered.

One of the Garlands who came into possession of the Hall was John Garland. A. daughter of this John Garland was Mary Garland, later Mrs. Webster, mother of the late Mrs. John Robinson, and grandmother of Mrs. ‘John Halmshaw, whose family occupied the Hall recently. Henry Garland, a former owner, had, three sons, and one of these, Arthur Garland, sold the place to the Mitchell Main Colliery Company about thirty years ago, and went to live in Lincolnshire. The Garlands were related to the famous William Birks,.”the honest Yorkshire lawyer,” under whose will they benefited.

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For ten years after Netherwood Hall had been acquired by the Mitchell Main Colliery Company, the family, of the. late Mr. J. E. Mitchell lived there, and for fourteen years after that it was occupied by’ the family of Mr. J. W. Halmshaw, formerly general manager at Mitchell Main, and now residing at Monk Bretton. For the past four years it has been’ used as the offices of the Mitchell Main Collieries.

Netherwood Hall is quite an in building, and covers a considerable area, of ground. The aspect is south-east, but some of the rooms open to the south. The Hall was probably erected about 200 years ago, and is stone built throughout. The architecture is of the “solid” type of the period, and very similar to the rectory at Darfield and Swaithe Hall. The rooms are lofty and the, walls panelled, the panels in one room containing rare old paintings. There are fine open staircases.

The situation is rather low lying, but the hall itself, occupies an eminence from which the gardens dip gently to the river Dove. Once well stocked .with fruit trees, possessing a vinery, and abounding in blooms, the gardens used to be a vision of glory. The spot is somewhat secluded and still not without attractions, but the prospect has been marred to some extent by the collieries, less than half-a-mile away.

The Darfield Main pit yard adjoins the, grounds, which are about eight acres in extent. In the event of the scheme maturing, more land will probably be available.