Dunham Massey

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A quick online trip to the National Trust site and we gained free access to sites around the UK. Once again Jay and his trusty Honda arrived at 9.30 to another sunny day,ripe for visiting Dunham Massey ,one of the National Trust maintained homes. With low-priced online passes in pocket we departed sometime later after breakfast and headed down the motorway towards Altrincham and the Bridgewater canal - which is a stones throw from the park. Of course, being such a lovely day there were plenty of people who had made it before us and we were greeted by one of the last car park spaces available. So off we set on the path leading to the house and gardens. On the way, we passed a beautiful stone fountain in a circular setting surrounded by rhodedenhron bushes which housed grey squirrels - an amazing little oasis. We then proceeded past a really unusual tree which had been beaten and twisted by time before going through the archway which led into the grounds of the house. We also got tokens to join the tour of "below the stairs" in which we were educated as to the lives of servants in the 1700's - 1800's. There was some time to spare before we joined the tour so we visited the cafe (a converted loft with long oak beams and wooden floor and stone walls - very interesting and full of character) and had warm devon scones and caramel squares - scrumptious! We walked into the courtyard which was peaceful and quiet formal with a cherub fountain in its centre and walls covered in ivy, clematis and climbing roses. A delightful place. The tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and guided us through the kitchen/larder/laundry room and bedrooms which the servants frequented and gave us a real insight into how hard they worked in order to maintain the lifestyle to which the gentry had become accustomed! After this we did a tour of the house, which was, as you would expect, a stark contrast to the scanty furnishings of the servant quarters. The interior was opulent and despite its years, it had a warm feeling of being lived in. Most of the windows in the house had beautiful views and on finishing the tour we decided to walk around the formal gardens, which surrounded a large lake framed by bushes and shrubs ablaze with colour and in which was situated the Orangery. After leaving the formal gardens, we walked around the deer park, which was very spacious and had beautiful deer roaming around quite freely, although, we kept at a safe distance with our cameras in order to bring you these superb photos! Time was pressing on and the sun was beginning to cool off. We thought about cooling off too at one of the lovely local pubs which stood at the side of the canal. We decided to try the "Axe & Cleaver"/Chef & Platter (both the same place!). Our brilliant day out finished with a walk along the canal ... perfect timing as it just began to cloud over as we headed back to the car. Once again, a place well worth visiting to relax, learn and reflect.

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Photos

Take me to the Beech
The front of the house is only seconds away from the Beech! [Trees that is]

Entry Fee
The local wildlife indicates the price of entry "Not two deer"

Two of a kind
A couple of old dears and a couple of old deers

Picture in Picture
Rear View (not mine)

Old Timer
An old timer - the clock that is - not J

Fountain of Youth?
Perhaps this explains the vitality of the grey squirrel population

Barking up the wrong tree
We took an interesting "root" to the house via this strange tree - maybe it needed watering from the fountain of youth

Cherub Holds Center Court
Fountain inside the courtyard

The Orangery
The house where they keep all the fruits.....we didn't stay long

Axe & Cleaver
Yes - and we are vegetarian!

Comments

[The tomorrow people]

Book Form
Not sure my vocabulary extends to novels but glad you got to see it.