CAPESTHORNE HALL

Loved and lived in by the same family since Domesday - almost 1,000 years of unbroken heritage.

Capesthorne Hall

Capesthorne Hall stands as one of Cheshire's finest country estates - home to the Bromley-Davenport family and their ancestors for nearly a thousand years. This remarkable continuity, with connections reaching back to Domesday times, creates an atmosphere where centuries of family life remain palpable in every room.

Set within 100 acres of tranquil Cheshire parkland, the Georgian mansion you see today was built between 1719 and 1732, replacing an earlier manor house that once occupied the site now marked by the column in the front park. The architecture reflects the elegance and confidence of the early 18th century, whilst subsequent generations have adapted and enriched the estate to meet the evolving needs of family life.

Capesthorne has witnessed and participated in pivotal moments of national history. During World War II, the family offered the Hall to the nation, and it served with distinction as a Red Cross hospital for wounded soldiers and health workers, whilst also providing shelter during air raids. The house bore the scars of these demanding years, requiring extensive restoration that has preserved its character for future generations.

Among the estate's most intriguing chapters is the story of its magnificent Victorian conservatory, designed in the 1840s by Joseph Paxton - before his celebrated work on the Crystal Palace. This vast glasshouse served as both a horticultural haven and a community space for local Sunday School gatherings, until fire tragically claimed it in 1861. The service tunnel that once carried coal to heat the structure remains visible today, a poignant reminder of what once was.

The Bromley-Davenport family's creative traditions find expression in the private theatre above the Stable Wing, transformed by Sir William Bromley-Davenport. With seating for 200 and an original act-drop painted by his sister Alice, this intimate performance space has hosted six generations of family theatrical productions, many penned by family members themselves.

Sir William, born at Capesthorne in 1935, served as Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire for twenty years and was awarded a Knighthood in the 2010 New Year Honours. Together with his wife Lady Elizabeth - an accomplished artist whose work has been exhibited internationally - they continue the family's centuries-long stewardship of this historic estate, now shared with their children and five grandchildren.

Today, Capesthorne Hall remains what it has always been: a cherished family home, maintained across generations with care and dedication. Visitors experience the living heritage of a family whose roots in this landscape stretch back almost a millennium - a place where history continues to unfold.