An early Georgian house built around a Tudor core, Dunham Massey was extensively reworked in the early years of the 20th century. The result is one of Britain’s most sumptuous Edwardian interiors, housing exceptional collections of 18th-century walnut furniture, paintings and Huguenot silver, as well as extensive servants’ quarters. Here is one of the North West’s great plantsman’s gardens with richly planted borders and majestic trees, as well as an orangery, Victorian bark-house and well-house. The ancient deer park contains a series of beautiful avenues and ponds and a Tudor mill, originally used for grinding corn but refitted as a sawmill c.1860 and now restored to working order.

Dunham Massey is built around two courtyards, one cobbled and the other centred around a fountain and informal garden. Tours of the interior take visitors through the ranges around the main court, with the highlight being the library. A crucifix by Grinling Gibbons hangs above the mantlepiece, and models of the heavens stand beside the bookshelves. In the Tudor long gallery is Dunham Massey's most prized painting, Mars, Venus, and Cupid with Saturn as Time, by Guercino.

Interest is not confined to the sumptuous showrooms; the servant's quarters have been restored to provide a glimpse of life below stairs.

The house is set in attractive gardens of special interest to keen plantsmen. An orangery shares space with fine old trees and planted borders, a Victorian bark house and well house. The deer park surrounding the house and gardens contain lovely walks beside ponds.

The deer park survives, with a herd of fallow deer and the paths through it from the house follow the radiating lines of the avenues of trees laid out by the 2nd Earl. When he inherited, in 1694, the estate was heavily in debt and he spent all of his life ensuring that in turn, he would leave things in a much better fashion. Both his father and grandfather had been heavily involved in the turbulent politics of the seventeenth century, on the Parliament side during the Civil War. The 2nd Earl left only one daughter, a cultured and intelligent woman, who, as several of her ancestors had done, married a member of the Grey family. Even earlier than the Booth's political career, the Grey family had tragically involved themselves in the struggle for power in late Tudor times. The sad tale of Lady Jane Grey, queen for nine days, was only one example of the Grey family history. Further back, the little Princes in the Tower, murdered so they could not succeed to the throne in the fifteenth century, were step sons of Sir John de Grey.


Admission prices:

House & garden: £6.50,child £3.25, family £16.25. Groups £5.
House or garden only: £4.50, child £2.25. Reduced rate when arriving by public transport.

More information:

Guided tours: Optional guided tours of house most afternoons and garden tours Mon and Wed at no extra charge. Booked evening tours of house and garden – charge applies

Country walks: Guided deer park walks Mon, Wed, Fri throughout the year at 1.30. Free walks leaflet

Handicap accessibility: in main car park, 200yds. Transfer available. Drop-off point.
Building: 11 steps to entrance. 4 wheelchairs. 4 steps at front entrance to house. Steps to saloon and great hall. Many stairs with handrail to other floors. Seating available. Photograph album.
WCs: Adapted WC next to restaurant on first floor and near visitor reception.
Grounds: Accessible route. 2 single-seater PMV, booking essential.
Shop: Level entrance.
Refreshments: Steps to entrance with handrail, lift available. Accessible picnic tables.

For visually imparied visitors: Braille guide and large-print guide – more information

Refeshments: Stables Restaurant (licensed) on first floor of old stables. Open for corporate and private bookings outside normal hours, parties only. Children's menu. Kiosk in car park.

Picnics: Extensive picnic area. Picnics not permitted in deer park

Family / baby facilities: Baby-changing facilities. Front-carrying baby slings and hip-carrying infant seats for loan.

Educational trips: Suitable for school groups. Education room/centre. Live interpretation. Hands-on activities. Children's quiz/trail. Family activity packs. Family tours. Family activities during school holidays.

Pets: Dogs are allowed. Good walks around estate, but must be on leads in deer park at all times

Directions: Foot: Close to Trans-Pennine Trail and Bridgewater Canal. Cycle: NCN62 1ml. Bus: Big House Bus from Altrincham Interchange, Sun April-Sept only; otherwise Arriva/Warrington Transport 38 Altrincham Interchange-Warrington. Station: Altrincham 3ml; Hale 3ml. Road: 3ml SW of Altrincham off A56: M6 exit 19; M56 exit 7.

Parking information: Parking, 200yds. Park visitors £3.80 car, £1 motorbike, £10 coach/minibus, refundable on purchase of adult house and garden ticket. Coaches bringing booked groups park free. Shuttle service operates between car park and visitor facilities 19 Mar–30 Oct

CONTACT
Dunham Massey
Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 4SJ
Telephone : 0161 941 1025
Infoline : 0161 928 4351
Fax : 0161 929 7508
Email : mdmjxf@smtp.ntrust.org.uk

Read more at the UK Heritage website