Sanctuary from the Trenches

During the First World War, Dunham Massey Hall opened its doors as the Stamford Hospital, treating wounded soldiers and offering a sanctuary from the trenches. In 2014, to mark the conflict's centenary, Dunham became a hospital once again in telling the stories of the soldiers, nurses and the family who lived here. Visitors could spend time in the ward, recreation room and operating theatre, rifle through letters and medical notes and watch recreated scenes played by soldiers and nurses. Working in partnership with the Imperial War Museum North and having established connections with the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, the project employed an artistic director, script writers and a team of actors to recreate scenes based on the archives from the hospital. The project was funded by the National Trust, with 60 volunteers completing research towards the initiative. Visitor numbers to Dunham were roughly 300,000 in 2014 and 2015 (including school bookings).