Discover the house at Dunham Massey

Servants bells, above the door to the study, for Lord Grey's room and dressing rooms at Dunham Massey — Explore the Georgian house at Dunham Massey, see the extensive collection, and uncover the stories of those who lived and worked here. | © National Trust/John Hammond

A noble country residence, an intimate family home, and a backdrop for politics, work and play; every room in the house at Dunham Massey has its own tale to tell.

A family legacy

This season, step through the front door to find new experiences as well as favourite places inside this country house with a backdrop for politics, work and family life. A centrepiece to the 300-acre walled estate and home to one of the National Trust’s largest museum collections, the house holds treasures and objects spanning 500 years of estate history.

Dunham Massey is first and foremost the tale of two great families, the Booths and the Greys, and two owners who called it their childhood home. Cherished as the birthplace of Lady Mary Booth, later 4 Countess of Stamford – the estate, nature and community continued to thrive under her sole management and care in the 1800s, courtesy of her father’s rare bequest. Over a century later, following the rise and fall of family drama, last owner Roger Grey, 10Earl of Stamford felt responsibility weigh heavily on his shoulders. Incredibly proud of his ancestral history, his devotion to reinstate the content of this family home resulted in a remarkable legacy. He left Dunham Massey estate, house and contents to the nation in 1976, in the care of the National Trust.

Highlights

The Library looks almost the same as Lady Mary and her father left it. Many books belonged to her, with no less than 250 containing her personal bookplate. Purchased for educational purposes and often annotated, the variety of literature reveal their wide interests – books on religion, politics, genealogy and history are all here, as are several scientific tomes and three astronomical instruments. See the 17th-century Flemish stained glass showing architectural views, biblical scenes, the twelve Sibyls and an incomplete set of the Labours of the Months.
Noble owners may take centre stage at Dunham, but little would have been achieved without a small army of servants. Below stairs, a complex, hierarchical world ensured the smooth running of this vast house, many of these rooms can still be explored today.

The Kitchen has survived mostly intact as it was in use right up until Dunham Massey was given into the care of the National Trust in 1976. See one of the earliest and largest agas ever made and a kitchen filled with early 20th-century foods – some you might recognise in your house today.

Discover the Butler’s Pantry which survives exactly as it was in the early 20th century and was the only room in the house where a servant influenced the interior. When it was built, the 9th Countess wanted a stone-like surface but the butler preferred wood. Look down on your visit to see who won that argument.
Marvel at a series of landscape views from one of the finest visual records ever made of a country house, shown together for the first time. See the earliest painting, Dunham Massey from the South-East by Adriaen van Diest (1697), shows the house as it was at the start of the 2nd Earl’s ambitious schemes for the house and estate. Then step in to the Great Hall, to see the four other views which were painted some 50 years later by John Harris and show the house rebuilt and the radiating avenues of trees in place.
Step into part of the 2nd Earl's collection of silver. He collected more than 1,000 pieces, most handcrafted by Huguenot silversmiths, and carefully recorded in his inventory, entitled The Particular of my Plate. What survives is one of the largest groups of silver plate ever made for a single patron. The collection includes the earliest known silver egg cup holder, silver chamber pots and silver used for washing, lighting, eating, drinking and even for worship, all made by the finest silversmiths of the day.

Plan your visit

A slow looking experience

Meet Rembrandt

Friday 27 March – Sunday 12 July

Rembrandt van Rijn’s ‘Self-portrait in a Feathered Bonnet’ (1635) is one of the great treasures of the National Trust’s collections and, for the first time, it’s on a national tour, enabling more people than ever before to ‘meet Rembrandt’ for a special slow looking experience.

Find out more

A woman wearing a volunteer lanyard is seen talking to visitors, pointing to an item on the shelf, in the Libary at Dunham Massey, Cheshire — A volunteer talking with visitors in the Library at Dunham Massey, Cheshire | © National Trust Images/Paul Harris

Historic tours

Over 400 years old, The Mill at Dunham Massey is the oldest building within the park's walls. Visitors are taken on a journey through history, from its time as a cornmill to a sawmill, and finally into the care of the National Trust today. Have a go at grinding some corn into flour, feel the spray from the water wheel, and see the unique example of a surviving frame saw.

Experience the Mill, presented by a hugely knowledgeable group of dedicated volunteers. Tours are dependent on availability with timings confirmed on the day. If you’re interested in attending a tour, please check on arrival for options and timings.

9 March to 1 November - Tuesday to Friday. Accessible route availiable.

Tours are at: 11.45am – 12.15pm, 1.15pm – 1.45pm, 2pm – 2.30pm & 3pm - 3.30pm.

What's on for families in the house

Throughout the house

Pack your bags and stamp your Pineapple passport

This year, children are invited to take a journey through the historic house, accompanied by Speechly the Pineapple, named after William Speechly a horitculturalist who wrote A Treatise on the Culture of the Pine Apple which is held in the Library. Pineapples were once a symbol of wealth and they were often displayed in grand houses to be admired. Inspired by this, travel around the house with your pineapple pal. Grab a Pineapple Passport from the entrance of the house, spot the suitcase stacks, and collect stamps for your passport.