Description

SJ 78 NW DUNHAM MASSEY DUNHAM PARK

6/83
5.3.59 Dunham Hall

G.V. I

Great House. Mainly of 1732-40 by John Norris for George Booth, 2nd Earl of
Warrington, but with service court of c.1721 and alterations of 1905-7 by Compton Hall
including the centrepiece of the south front. Flemish bond brick with stone dressings
and green slate roofs. Double courtyard house. The South front of 11 bays was of
3 storeys until 1905 when it was made more C17 in character by the reduction of
the 3rd, 4th, 8th and 9th bays to 2 storeys, with dormers, and the addition of
the stone pedimented centrepiece of 3 bays with coupled columns flanking the
central bay. Modillion eaves cornice. Central coat of arms with motto. "A MA
PUISSANCE" (to the utmost of my power) The ground floor windows are sashes with stone.
architrave; the first floor similar but with keystones and pediments to bays
1,2,5,7, 10 and 11 and the second floor similar but square shaped. East: 11 bay with
stone plinth, plain eaves cornice and coped parapet. Windows generally 12-pane,
16-pane or Victorian sashes with architraves and keystone except for 2 semi-circular
headed stair windows. The right 2 bays project, the left 2 are recessed and a 3-bay,
1-storey bow window dominates the facade with its stone step approach. North: almost
symmetrical, 13 bays, each end 3 projecting. Stone plinth, eaves cornice and coped
parapet. Central doorway with perron has plain surround with pedimented window
above with side scrolls. The windows are sashes with architraves and keystones.
Bays 10 and 11 were extended in ashlar in 1905 and bays 13 and 14 have mullion and
transom windows. Main courtyard: 7 x 4 bays. Central pedimented entrance feature
to north and south in ashlar with Ionic pilasters, garland enriched entablature and
cross window above with segmental pediment. The north side has 6 full-height
2-light mullion and transom windows; otherwise windows are cross or sash windows.
Kitchen courtyard: 7 x 6 bays with a total of 11 mullioned windows on ground floor,
6 doors with stone surrounds and tripartite keystones, 2 oeils-de-boeuf, a segmental
arched carriage entrance, 17 sash windows with architraves to first floor and 7
eaves pediments. Interior: The main courtyard is one room deep with a corridor
on the inner side of west and south ranges. On the north side is the hall, with
plaster ceiling of 1905, above panelling and plaster frieze of the same date, in a
C17 style. The overmantel, probably by Mr Boujet, is of the C17. Green saloon has
a screen of 4 scagliola columns by John Shaw, 1822. The Chapel has oak panelling,
pews and reredos of late C17 and early C18 dates. J. Swarbrick,
Transactions of the Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society, XLII, 1925, pp. 53-78
National Trust, Dunham Massey 1981. BoE.

Listing NGR: SJ7348887422

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Dunham Massey Hall at Wikipedia
• Dunham Massey Hall official website
• Wikidata Q17528076

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East: Norwich and North-east v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  Somerset: South and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)