This book writen by Catherine Bailey of London is probably the most read book in Yorkshire.
Published in 2007 it tells the true story of the Rise and Fall of an English dynasty who lived at Wentworth Woodhouse, in Wentworth, South Yorkshire. It is the finest and largest Georgian house in Britain and belonged to the Fitzwilliam family. It is England's forgotten palace which belonged to Britain's richest aristocrats. "Black Diamonds" tells the story of its demise: family feuds, forbidden love, class war, and a tragic and violent death played their part.
But coal, one of the most emotive issues in twentieth century British politics, lies at its heart. This is the extraordinary story of how the fabric of English society shifted beyond recognition in fifty turbulent years in the twentieth century.
Martyn assisted and advised Catherine with her painstaking research for the book which took over three years.
To get a glimpse of some of the characters of the village of Wentworth and the places they lived and worked plus the family and servants of the Big House itself take a look at our Wentworth book. It is all about Wentworth Woodhouse and the village and villagers of Wentworth over the last 100 years and runs alongside Black Diamonds.