Peter Birt (c. 1723 – June 1791) was a businessman from Airmyn, Yorkshire, England, who made his fortune from the Aire and Calder Navigation and used part of his wealth to build the mansion named Wenvoe Castle.

It provides a water route from the North Sea inland to the Pennine waterways by way of the Humber estuary and the River Ouse.

Smeaton issued a report on 28 December 1771 that recommended construction of new locks and canal cuts, large-scale dredging to ensure that even in a dry season the water was at least 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) deep, and a bypass canal cut below Haddlesey.

The planned cut was extended in 1772 to almost 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) between the River Aire at Haddlesey and the Ouse at Selby.

[6] The local industrialists and woollen merchants resented Birt's control, said the Navigation was poorly maintained and demanded reform.

[4] The Navigation Company was immensely profitable for the next fifty years or so, with Birt and his heirs receiving 10% of the income.

Birt decided to move away from his residence at Airmyn Hall and find a place to spend his retirement where he was less well-known.

[10] The building was massive, with a large central rectangular block from which low wings extended from each side.

[10] A contemporary writer said the house and grounds, "exhibits a charming effort of bad taste and bourgeoisity.

[19] The main block of Wenvoe Castle was badly damaged by fire in 1910, and later the whole building was torn down apart from a pavilion.