Location

Dorfold Hall Estate is situated in the rural county of Cheshire, offering an ideal blend of rural charm and accessibility to transportation links. Nantwich is a celebrated market town located just 1 mile east of Dorfold Hall and provides a host of daily amenities, including a Post Office, public houses, multiple supermarkets, and a vibrant high street featuring independent shops. Furthermore, the larger town of Congleton is approximately 22 miles away, and the city of Chester lies about 20 miles to the northwest.

Manchester is roughly 44 miles to the north, and Manchester International Airport is situated approximately 35 miles to the northeast, facilitating both national and international flights. Junction 16 of the M6 lies only 10 miles to the east whilst Crewe railway station, around 6 miles to the northeast, offers a direct service to London Euston with a travel time of 90 minutes and to Manchester within 35 minutes.

The local area also boasts a diverse range of leisure and social opportunities, including sports stadiums, horse racing at Bangor-on-Dee and Chester Racecourse, and polo at Cheshire Polo Club. Additionally, there are several renowned golf courses in close proximity.

Description

Nestled in a secluded yet easily accessible corner of South Cheshire, the Dorfold Hall Estate boasts an exquisite Grade I Listed Jacobean manor house surrounded by breath-taking Victorian gardens and extensive farmland.

Immaculately restored by the current owners, the estate offers accommodation for modern living within a historic setting. It serves as both a cherished family home and a stunning venue for weddings and corporate events.

Dorfold Hall

The Grade I Listed Hall is steeped in local historical and architectural significance, designed in the characteristic Jacobean style, its origins trace back to the 17th century, with construction in 1616. The Hall's construction is rumoured to have been expedited to host King James I during a royal visit.

Dorfold Hall is a fine example of Jacobean architecture
of symmetrical design, red brick and blue brick diapering and stone detailing, under a slate roof with large mullioned windows, ornate chimneys and gables. The Hall extends to five bays, with an 18th Century bay at the east end.

Dorfold has been renovated and restored over the years, incorporating original features with contemporary design and functionality. The interior designer, Edward Bulmer, contributed to the interior design and beautiful colour schemes throughout the Hall.

Accommodation, extending to 15,026 sq ft, is arranged over three floors. The ground floor includes: Morning Room (sitting
room), Dining Room, Library, access to one bedroom, bespoke kitchen, pantry, playroom, two additional rooms. The lower ground includes: Snug, billiards room, laundry rooms and store room, boot room and access to the housekeepers flat.

The House is used for dual purposes, with a public and a private, family side. There are ten bedrooms in all, five on each side of the Hall. The bedrooms to the West are used in conjunction with the wedding venue and provide on site accommodation for guests. One of the most historically important bedrooms is the King James Bedroom. Designed for King James I to stay in during a visit to the Hall. Additions to the room include an en-suite and the room is used most often as a Bridal Suite for the weddings hosted.

The bedrooms to East include three restored bedrooms and two currently used for Storage.

Gardens and Grounds

The primary garden, known as The South Lawn was recently relaid and includes an irrigation system for both the lawns, borders and the Arcadian Walk. The colourful borders include hydrangeas, hundreds of David Austin roses and perennials. It is enclosed by a low sandstone wall, listed as Grade II and dating back to 1827 . Beyond the lower lawn and its ha-ha
are extensive parkland and views over the farmland beyond.

To the west of the Hall, there are two enclosed walled gardens. One of these includes a hard tennis court and a charming wildflower meadow. Adjacent to the north wall is a potting shed. The second walled garden, extending to 2 acres, was historically planted with Christmas Trees and could be used as an extensive traditional kitchen garden or have development potential (STPP). Along the North wall are storage sheds.

Scattered throughout the gardens are statues and features that tell the story of the estate's rich history. Notably, there is a Pierre-Louis Rouillard statue of a mastiff and her pups in the forecourt, with a bronze equivalent found in the Louvre in Paris. Additionally, there's a bust of King James I and his Queen nestled in the formal gardens. Encompassing a total of 16 acres, the grounds also showcase the Grade II listed icehouse, an original Dell dating back to the Victorian era of the estate, and a 1,000-year-old Spanish Chestnut tree of exceptional size.

Stretching westward from the end of the main driveway is a substantial lake. This lake was restored by the current owners, who dredged and restocked the fish during the installation of ground source heat pump pipes.

L'Écurie, The Tack Room and The Coach House

Tastefully designed and conceptual creation of the current owners. L'Écurie (meaning stable yard in French) was completed in 2021 and received awards from RIBA (The Royal Institute of British Architects) in 2023, for Regional and Building of the Year. Continuing the seamless blend between historical characteristics and modern architecture, L'Écurie features four distinct areas created for weddings and events. The dining area, is of a mixed construction with part original brick work and timbers, the external walls have been clad with zinc whilst the internal space features bright and airy space, timber lined with full height windows and doors leading to the central courtyard. Attached to the dining area and accessed along an internal corridor is the catering kitchens, suitable and equipped to cater for 180 guests, the kitchen featuring commercial catering facilities, providing on site catering.

Adjoining the kitchens, but not connected are The Coach House and The Tack Room. Both buildings have incorporated the original structures and have been blended with modern features and architecture to create unique entertaining areas.

The Coach House, standing at over 200 years old, sits in the shade of the 1,000 year old Spanish Chestnut tree and features white washed internal walls, original York stone flooring and dramatic full height ceiling. The Tack Room is situated across the central courtyard from L'Écurie and provides a versatile and intimate additional entertaining space. With continued zinc clad external walls the Tack Room completes the entertaining and wedding haven that is L'Écurie.

Although currently used for hospitality the properties offer space for versatile uses such as car storage and a leisure complex (subject to the relevant planning permissions).

Farmland

The farmland included in Lot 1 extends to approximately 26.6 acres. Predominantly arable, the farmland is registered as Grade 3 according to the Agricultural Land Classification, and described as being freely draining slightly acid loamy soils.

The land is currently down to grass leys. The land is farmed in hand by way of a contract farming agreement and is entered into a Countryside Stewardship Scheme.

There is about 16 acres of mature woodland which add amenity and privacy to the estate. Some of which boast a carpet of bluebells in Spring.

Sustainability

The current owners have improved the sustainability of the estate dramatically throughout their various projects and renovations.

Ground source and air source heating has been installed to service the properties across the estate and was one of the first historic homes to move towards renewable heating. Renewable electricity is used for the systems and the pipework is buried under the lake and field beyond the Hall.

EV chargers have been installed at the Hall and the car park for the estate hospitality.

A wildflower meadow has been sown in the walled garden.

Lot 2, The Showground

Set in beautiful parkland on the Dorfold Estate, The Showground is a large-scale event space for world class shows and festivals. For 70 years it was the home of The Nantwich Show which attracted crowds of 35,000, and in recent years amongst other popular events the estate has annually hosted the Spooktacular, which draws an impressive 8,000 people, as well as several charitable events.

In recent years, the infrastructure has been upgraded so that The Showground can be better utilised throughout the year. Hardcore roads run throughout the site and some water points have been installed, as well as an 8.5-foot security fence runs alongside the main road.