Help us to honour Dame Julie Kenny’s memory and ensure the future of Wentworth Woodhouse
Dame Julie Kenny was a truly remarkable woman whose generosity and passion inspired all those who had the privilege of knowing her. Throughout her life, the widely-respected local businesswoman threw her heart and soul into one of her greatest passions – the survival of Wentworth Woodhouse.
Her unexpected passing in February 2025, at the age of 67, sent shockwaves throughout Yorkshire and beyond – and left the Team at Wentworth Woodhouse heartbroken. She played a pivotal role in the fight to secure its purchase in 2017 and, as Chair of the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust for 8 years, her unwavering dedication has helped to kickstart a 20-year programme of regeneration for the House & Gardens. Julie’s vision extended far beyond restoring the building – she dreamt of a place that would create opportunities for local people, through education, community engagement, job creation, and skills development.
But now the Trust has found a way of honouring Dame Julie and ensuring that she will always play a crucial role in protecting Wentworth Woodhouse. With the support of her family, The Dame Julie Kenny Legacy Fund has been launched to keep her memory burning bright – and ensure the future of the place she set out to transform into a ‘house of opportunity’ for South Yorkshire’s communities.
Unlike almost all other great historic homes, Wentworth Woodhouse did not come with the security of an endowment, making this fund vital for the Trust to continue the work that meant so much to Julie – not just maintaining and restoring the House & Gardens, but enriching the lives of people across South Yorkshire.
Sarah McLeod OBE, the Trust’s CEO, had worked alongside Dame Julie since 2017. She commented: “Julie had an unwavering vision for Wentworth Woodhouse. She saw what many people couldn’t – its potential to become a beacon of opportunity and change for the region and town she loved. Her vision extended far beyond restoring this magnificent House. She truly believed it could become a catalyst for change for people from all walks of life. She wanted it to be regenerated, so it would create opportunities through education, community engagement, and the preservation of our local heritage. Her leadership saw us make impressive progress, but the work is far from over. Most of our 300-plus rooms remain derelict. It will take at least a decade to raise the many millions needed so the site can reach its full potential. With no endowment to sustain us, each year the Trust operates under immense financial pressure and this impacts on the education and community engagement programmes that Julie was so passionate about. The fund will be Julie’s legacy. It means she can support us in the years to come, just as she did in life. Every contribution will play a vital role in continuing her vision.”
The Trust is working closely with Julie’s husband, Iain, and her three children, Oliver, Laurence, and Charlotte, to jointly manage the fund and agree how the funds will be used. On behalf of the family, Laurence Kenny said: “Our mother was a truly exceptional woman, who achieved so much in her lifetime, and remained fiercely proud of South Yorkshire. She provided support and energy to so many organisations and good causes. Since her untimely death, we have received hundreds of messages from people telling us how she touched their lives. We hope everyone will help us to honour her memory and her vision for Wentworth Woodhouse. Her name is synonymous with the House. Her Legacy Fund will ensure it remains so and will provide vital long-terms support, as the Trust continues the work that meant so much to her – restoring the House so it can enrich the lives of people across South Yorkshire.”
Every contribution to The Dame Julie Kenny Legacy Fund, no matter the size, will play a vital role in continuing Julie’s mission and fulfilling the promise she made for Wentworth Woodhouse and the communities it serves. Donations can be made via the JustGiving page.
Thank you for helping us to honour Julie’s memory and ensuring her work lives on.