Dunham Massey Hall is a National Trust property just to the south-west of Manchester. It came into their care when the last Earl of Stamford died in 1976. I wouldn’t say that the outside has much to commend it – in fact I’d say it looked rather drab, but it’s an interesting place with a long history for sure.
It was started before the civil war, but not completed until after, had some colourful owners, until the last. The estate covers 3000 acres, including a deer park, gardens, stables, and mill.
The Mill (above) is the oldest building on the estate, once used to mill corn, but later as a saw mill. Below is the Carriage House, and as you can guess from the clock face, dates from 1721. Near here is the entrance to the house, first via the kitchen!
Apparently it wasn’t un-usual for small fire to happen, or at least there was a fear of them, so just inside the door of the house proper, is a very early fire truck! Just around the corner is the main “office” from where the estates affairs were once run.
If you thought the front of the building reminded you of an early hospital, then you won’t be surprised to learn that it was used as the Stamford Red Cross Military Hospital from April 1917. During the second world war it was a US Army Camp, and shortly later the eastern part of the estate as a POW camp!
Another good day out with the F3. I did stroll the deer park and did see a couple of deer in the distance, but got no decent images to share here. If you would like to read further there is a good concise history here. These images were made on the other half of the roll from the last post of Bodnant gardens, somehow I thought the film performed better under these conditions.
S.H.O.U.T. 