Uncovering the Estate: The Archaeology of Dunham Massey

The Dunham Massey Estate forms a significant National Trust property, straddling the borders of Cheshire East and Greater Manchester. From the medieval period onwards, the estate passed through a succession of influential families, including the de Mascys, the Booths, and latterly the Greys, who shaped the history of Dunham and the wider region. At the centre of the estate lies the large stately home of Dunham Hall. This was built in the early eighteenth century by Sir George Booth, the second Earl of Warrington, and was modified and restored in the early twentieth century by William Grey, the ninth Earl of Stamford. The hall is surrounded by an extensive medieval deer park, which was replanted and redesigned in the eighteenth century to form a spectacular formal landscape. This booklet presents the findings of several archaeological excavations and surveys completed within the deer park and across the wider area, which provide an insight into the rich and complex history of the Dunham Massey Estate.