A day off - Dunham Massey

After several days of tiring long cruises we were pleased to have a day off staying at Little Bollington.  We walked into the small village with its largge mill building and attractive houses and pub to visit Dunham Massey, a National Trust house, formerly the seat of the Earls of  Stamford and Warrington who owned large parts of Cheshire and what is now Mancheser.

Roedeer outside Dunham Massey

A bouncy fawn

Part of the main ward

A couple of patients

It is a large attractive 18th century mansion and surrounding grounds of much interest including a herd of roedeer that could be seen munching the lawn without any concern about nearby visitors.  The house was used as a Military Hospitel during the first world war and as part of the 100 years commemoration of that war the hospital has been recreated from photographs of the period. Actors are present playing scenes of hospital life, and there is a fascinating recording of one of the last family members to live in the house describing a brain operation at which she assisted.

We had a very enjoyable 3 hour visit and would have stayed longer but we had to return to the boat to run the engine to recharge the batteries.  We plan to revisit the village for a pub meal this evening.