Dunham Massey

[poliphilo]

The house- 18th century- but built on an older footing- looks lovely reflected in the waters of its moat but is dreary on the inside. It belonged to a family called Grey who- apart from producing Lady Jane- the nine day's Queen- and signing the death warrant of Charles I- have barely troubled the pages of English history. The last Earl bowed out, childless,  in the 1970s,  leaving behind an atmosphere of defeat. There are a  lot of bad pictures, a lively Mengs and one excellent Guercino- all in need of a good clean. There are fancy dress costumes from the 20s and 30s and mementoes of the coronation of George VI- which seems to have been positively the last occasion on which the Greys got to shimmer on the public stage.  The invitation to the coronation of the present queen was apparently never posted.  The girl who was cleaning the splendid 18th century books in the snug little library (a contract that is coming to an end after five years) said most of them have never been opened. 

 

The grounds are lovely- gardens, old trees, canals,  lakes and a spacious deer park. If you have deer you can dispense with mowing machines.   

 

Comments

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

Interesting that such a grand place on the outside would be so dreary on the inside. Or maybe not.
Are budget cutbacks causing the book cleaner to lose her job?

I should import some deer. Our lawn might look tidier.
The odd structure in the third photo caught my eye.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

They've preserved it very much as it was left in the 1970s.

The book cleaner's company were contracted to work on the library for 5 years and their time is almost up. There's still work to do, so perhaps they'll be granted an extension.

The odd structure is known as The Bark House. it's an arbour lined with bark- very unusual. Behind it there's a brick built well house.

[airstrip.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes: the 1970s will pretty much make anything more dreary.

[karenkay.livejournal.com]

Is that a half-gazebo built on the back of a shed? What is it made out of?

Lovely photos.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It's called the Bark House. It's built of wood and lined with bark. The shed behind it is a well house.

Thanks

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's nice. And the weather's nice, too...

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It was so nice that I- very briefly- lay down in the park and went to sleep.