Dunham Massey - A Georgian Hall

You'll find Dunham Massey - the Hall , Gardens and Deer Park - not far from the small town of Altrincham near Manchester.

Originally owned by the Earls of Stamford the 10th Earl bequeathed the estate to the National Trust in 1976.

In 1066 Hamo de Massey was given land at Dunham by William the Conqueror and the first record of  Dunham Park itself was recorded in 1362.

By 1577 Saxton's map of Cheshire shows the Hall surrounded by a park.

The 2nd Earl of Stamford began tree planting in the formal French style in 1694.

By 1773 day trippers are using the newly built Bridgewater Canal to escape the muck and grime of Manchester to visit the Park and Gardens ..

In 1978 the Old Park is designated an SSSI ( if I remember correctly a Site of Special Scientific Interest ) to protect it's trees, deer, bats and beetles.

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