Arley Hall opening

Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd January

Arley Hall & Gardens, Arley, Northwich CW9 6NA

Arley Hall is one of the most interesting and attractive stately homes in the North West. The elaborate ceilings and oak panelling, impressive fireplaces, intricate stained glass and beautiful contents make Arley Hall a very special family home. Visitors are enthralled by entering a piece of living history. As a result it gives an insight into the life and history of a family that has cherished Arley as their home for over 500 years.

The Hall
The present Hall stands on the same site as the first Hall built by the family in 1469. The Hall now standing was built between 1832 and 1845 by Rowland Egerton-Warburton. George Latham was the architect who was from Nantwich. The Hall is situated at the very heart of the Estate and consequently overlooks the famous Gardens and beautifully landscaped Park. The stonework of the house is Hollington stone.

The Dining Room
The doorways and panelling were designed by Latham as were the fine ceilings. These were executed by J Hughes of Manchester in 1842. The dining room table was originally made for the great dining hall which was demolished in 1968. With its extra leaves it seats 24 people in great comfort.

The Library
The bookcases and chimney piece were all made in London by H Wood & Company of Covent Garden. They were made in 1843 at a cost of £520.

The Gallery
The Gallery was the principal sitting room of a house in the nineteenth century. In this room is one of a number of longcase clocks.

The Drawing Room
The Drawing Room is devoted to the memory of Rowland, whose portrait hangs over the fireplace and to that of his wife, Mary Brooke.

The Small Dining Room
The Small Dining Room has a barrel-shaped ceiling. It combines successfully the warm panelling and the cleverly contrived door to the garden. The virginal by Stephen Keene, 1675 is one of the oldest surviving English keyboard instruments.

Please note Arley Hall does not have a lift to the upstairs rooms. There is a book of images showing how each room is decorated located at the bottom of the Grand Staircase.

The Grand Staircase
The Grand Staircase is probably Latham’s masterpiece. The fine oak staircase and doorways with the elaborate strapwork and panelled pasterwork are a marvellous evocation of the grandest Elizabethan staircases.

The South Bay Bedroom
The South Bay Bedroom was originally the principal bedroom, a collection of watercolours by Elizabeth Ashbrook is on display.

The Emperor’s Room
The Emporer’s Room is so called because it was the bedroom of Napoleon III in the winter of 1847-48.

Lord Ashbrook, the great great grandson of Rowland Egerton-Warburton, who built the present Arley Hall, grew up in the Hall as a child. He spent some time as a young man living there.

The Arley Hall Archives
The Arley Hall Archives illuminates life and work in a country house in Cheshire in the period 1750–1790.  As a result it makes available some of the extraordinarily detailed accounts and documents that survive at Arley.

Click here to visit the archive website