Dorfold Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dorfold Hall |
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Dorfold Hall: main (front) façade
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| Location | Acton, Cheshire, England |
| Built | 1616–21 |
| Architectural style(s) | Jacobean |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name: Dorfold Hall | |
| Designated | 10 June 1952 |
| Reference no. | 1312869 |
| Official name: Dorfold Hall | |
| Designated | 10 June 1985 |
| Reference no. | 1000641 |
| Grade | II |
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Dorfold Hall is a beautiful old house in Acton, Cheshire, England. It was built a long time ago, between 1616 and 1621. This amazing building is known for its special Jacobean style, which was popular during the time of King James I. Experts say it's one of the best Jacobean houses in Cheshire! Today, the Roundell family owns this historic place.
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A Look Back in Time: Dorfold Hall's History
Dorfold means "cattle enclosure" or "deer park." The name tells us it was likely a place where animals were kept long ago. The land at Dorfold was first mentioned in the 1200s. Many important families owned it over the years.
Who Built Dorfold Hall?
In 1602, a famous lawyer named Sir Roger Wilbraham bought the land. He worked for Queen Elizabeth I and King James I. His younger brother, Ralph Wilbraham, built Dorfold Hall between 1616 and 1621. It was built on the same spot where an older house once stood.
Later, in 1754, a lawyer from Nantwich named James Tomkinson bought the estate. He hired an architect to change some of the rooms inside the house.
Royal Visits and Wartime Use
In 1861, the Dorfold Estate went back to a family member connected to the Wilbrahams. The gardens were redesigned around this time. In 1896, a real princess, Princess Louise, visited the hall!
During the Second World War, Dorfold Hall helped people in need. First, it housed refugees, mainly from Liverpool. Then, it became a camp for Canadian soldiers.
What Does Dorfold Hall Look Like?
Dorfold Hall is a two-story building made of red brick with stone decorations. The front of the house has a special design with a middle part that goes back a bit, and two small wings sticking out. It also has very large windows.
Exploring the Grounds
The grounds around Dorfold Hall are also very special. About 8 hectares (which is like 20 acres) of the land are listed as a historic park. The park has a lovely lake.
There's an old gateway near the hall that used to belong to a building in Nantwich. This gate is made of fancy wrought-iron and has a sun design. It stands in a stone opening with statues of King James I and Anne of Denmark.
Other old buildings are also found in the park. One of the oldest is an icehouse. This was a special underground room lined with brick, used to store ice before refrigerators existed! It was probably built in the late 1700s.
When the grounds were redesigned in the 1860s, several new structures were built. These include the gate lodge on Chester Road, which is made of red brick. There's also a clock tower over the carriage house with a weather vane on top.
You might also spot a large iron statue of a mastiff dog with puppies in the front yard. This statue is thought to be by a French artist named Pierre Louis Rouillard. It came from an exhibition in Paris in 1855.
The Wider Estate
The Dorfold Estate is quite large. It includes much of the area around Acton. It has farmhouses, fields for farming, woodlands, and historic parkland.
Some of the farm buildings are very old and important. Dorfold Dairy House, for example, was once the main farm for the estate. It's a three-story building made of red brick from the late 1600s. Madam's Farm is another old farm that is still working today.
The Nantwich and South Cheshire Show
Every year, Dorfold Hall Park hosts a big event called the Nantwich and South Cheshire Show. This is a one-day agricultural show where you can see farm animals, trade stalls, and exciting displays. In 2006, about 32,000 people visited the show!
The show also includes the famous Nantwich International Cheese Awards. This competition started in 1897 and is said to be the biggest cheese exhibition in Europe. In 2007, over 2,250 different cheeses from about 24 countries were entered!
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Cheshire East
- Listed buildings in Acton, Cheshire
- List of works by Thomas Harrison
Images for kids
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The rear of Dorfold Hall
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The old Jacobean Staircase inside
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The Victorian Dell in the grounds
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The gate lodge at Dorfold Hall
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The main gates to Dorfold Hall
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