National Trust Cheshire’s 2017 season

Above: Lights are on: checking the chandelier in the Saloon at Dunham Massey (c) National Trust

It’s all go for National Trust staff and volunteers across Cheshire with  final preparations being made to open the doors of Dunham Massey, Quarry Bank and Lyme on Saturday, 11 February.

“It’s the first time we’ve opened on the same day and a week before half-term” says Trust spokesperson Debbie Peers..

”We’re extending the season so  there’s more time to soak up the spring atmosphere indoors and outdoors before the busy  half-term holiday”.

With hundreds of square metres of carpets cleaned, dozens of pairs of curtains opened, and countless dust sheets removed, not to mention acres of gardens tidied,  the final few days before opening are a frenzy of activity.

At Dunham Massey, Visitor Experience Officer Emily Butler says: “In the last couple of days our staff and volunteers have dusted chandeliers, vacuumed 25 floors, washed a further 7 and waxed 8 , polished around 50 door knobs and cleaned

the brushes we use for dusting books  in the library a total of 30 times.”

“ It’s amazing to see everyone in action, slowly bringing Dunham Massey back to life. We’re really looking forward to the new season and hope our visitors will be inspired by what they can see and do here”

New season highlights at Trust places in Cheshire  include:

‘Secret Dunham’: from 11 Feb – 24 March, entry inside Dunham Massey mansion will be by  guided tour only, with a chance for visitors to see Dunham’s  ‘secret places’ and objects from its huge collection not normally on display, in ‘ Torchlight, Truths and Treasures’.

Meanwhile, a ‘Below Stairs’ tours go behind the scenes to show the conservation work which goes on to prepare Dunham Massey for opening.

Dunham also has the largest winter garden in the UK and February is the best time to see hundreds of thousands of snowdrops, early daffodils and winter crocii. (nationaltrust.org.uk/dunham-massey)

Regency Lyme: In the 200^th anniversary  year of the death of Jane Austen, Lyme goes back to the Regency era to meet its own heroic adventurer and traveller, Thomas Legh – the ‘Indiana Jones’ of his time.  Throughout the season visitors can try Regency dancing, put on Regency costumes and see military re-enactments, as well as  finding out about Thomas – who rebuilt Lyme into the building we see today, and was a great advocate of early steam railways. (nationaltrust.org.uk/lyme)

A breath of spring – Quarry Bank’s gardens are opening early this year on 11 February (c) National Trust

Quarry Bank: from 11 Feb,  Quarry Bank will be fully open, including its historic gardens.

Also on show is  ‘A Woman’s Work is Never Done’  – an exhibition which powerfully illustrates the stories of the many women who laboured at the mill, and whose stories have remained hidden until now. (nationaltrust.org.uk/quarrybankmill)

“We welcomed over 600,000  people to Lyme, Quarry Bank and Dunham Massey during 2016” says Trust spokesperson Debbie Peers, “and we expect this figure to increase in 2017 due to strong events programming, and extended opening.”

You can find more details of  National Trust spring opening in Cheshire at  www.nationaltrust.org.uk/northwest

Little Moreton Hall near Congleton will open for the new season on Sat 18 February.