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10 April 2019
Dunham Massey in Spring
Dunham Massey, originally built in the early 1700s for the Earl of Stamford, contains one of the most impressive & extensive collections of furniture, paintings and ceramics within the National Trust.
Nestled on the edge of urban Manchester and rural Cheshire, the magnificent hall & gardens provide visitors with mystery, adventure & stories.
The gardens are truly for all seasons, with a huge variety of colours in the borders, and there's also an ancient deer park to explore.
The Hall & Gardens were donated to the National Trust by the last Earl of Stamford in 1976.
The Orangery
We spent a lot of time enjoying the Orangery on this visit, the sunlight pouring through the semicircular-headed sash windows, the central one also a door, lighting up the plants and the traditional flagstone stone flooring.
One National Trust volunteer told us that the orangery roof would've likely been glass when first built, and changed to slate in the 19th century.
The building has Flemish bond brickwork, on a stone plinth with timber eaves cornice. Facing south to south east, the orangery benefits from full daylight from morning to mid afternoon, the small patio & garden bench outside providing a perfect sun trap.
Watch the video above to view the Orangery in detail.
The Gardens
Signs of early Spring were displayed in the vast gardens, with daffodils, bluebells and snowdrops in full bloom and brightly coloured tulips lining the canal walkways.
We found three of the garden volunteers busy weeding, mulching and pruning to help awaken the garden from its winter slumber.
They were all in agreement that the gigantic 8ft Lilies will be a must see come early June, as well as the Rose Garden, so we put a date in our diary to return then.
What's On
Being one of the most popular National Trust locations, there's nearly always something new happening at Dunham Massey.
2019 Events at Dunham Massey
- Percy The Park Keeper: regular themed tours around the gardens.
- "Faces of Change: Nature's Champions" April to June 2019. From David Attenborough and Beatrix Potter to Vivienne Westwood and Joe Strummer, see portraits from the National Portrait Gallery's collection of people who've shaped the way we think or feel about green spaces and nature today.
- Music In The Garden: May & June 2019. Relax with live music in the garden as tulips and bluebells spring to life. Dig out your picnic blanket, top up your glass and let the music carry you away!
Click through to the National Trust What's On guide for full details.
Get The Dunham Massey Look
Use our Traditional Flagstones to bring a taste of Dunham Massey's character to any garden or patio space.
We have colours and textures to suit varied tastes, including hand made Welsh Hên Slate, Yorkstone & National Trust Petworth.
Find Dunham Massey
The Hall & Gardens are conveniently located near to both the M56 and M6 motorways, to the south west of Manchester.
SAT NAV WA14 4SJ
Also worth a visit... our Knutsford Paving Display Centre is only 6.5 miles from Dunham Massey, at Fryer's Garden Centre, Manchester Rd, Knutsford WA16 0S.