Things to see in the house at Dunham Massey

Oil painting on canvas, Dunham Massey: Bird's-eye View from the South, by Adriaen Van Diest — Oil painting of Dunham Massey: Bird's-eye View from the South, by Adriaen Van Diest | © National Trust Images

The Dunham Massey House is now closed for the season in order for the Collections and House Team to carry out important conservation work. The house will reopen in March 2025.

Dunham Massey's 17th Century Georgian House is open from March to October. A centrepiece to the 300-acre walled estate and home to one of the National Trust’s largest collections, the house holds treasures and objects that span the entirety of its history.

The Servant’s Quarter

Your visit begins in the Servant’s Quarter Courtyard. These spaces and the people who worked in them, served the families who lived here – the Booths of Warrington and the Greys of Stamford. These were once places of vibrant and constant activity. See the laundry, diary and kitchen and enjoy items of the collection that bring the history of these purposeful spaces to life.

A view of the Servants Courtyard. the space is dressed with barrows and fruits inspired by delivery days. — The Servants Courtyard at Dunham Massey | © Sarah Raine

The library and book collection

The remarkable 18th century closet library offers the opportunity to connect with the opulence of the house and a space of shared knowledge. The library houses around 3,500 carefully conserved historic books, around half of approximately 7,000 which are part of the Dunham Massey collection.

Prominently displayed over a fireplace is a large wood carving of the Crucifixion by the artist Grinling Gibbons (1648 – 1721), one of the UK’s most recognised and celebrated woodcarvers.

You can also see Mary Booth’s handwritten recipe book where she details the directions for syrups and conserves.

A view across the library at Dunham Massey, including shelves of historic books and a large wood carving on the wall. — The library at Dunham Massey | © Andreas von Einsiedel

From Here to There: a trail for children

This year, children are invited to take a journey through the historic house, accompanied by Speechly the Pineapple. Grab a Pineapple Passport from the entrance of the house, spot the suitcase stacks, and collect a stamp for your passport.

Take a moment of calm and comfort during your journey and get lost in a story at the Book Nook in the Great Gallery on the first floor.