Deep in the heart of Cheshire, in the grounds of Dunham Massey park, once home to the Earls of Warrington, stands a stunning and mysterious archaic building hidden away amongst tall, mighty oak trees that have stood for over five hundred years in what was once a Medieval deer park.
The deer provided the Earls of Warrington with the best venison available throughout the 18th and 19th centuries and adorned their dining tables during lavish banquets to entertain the landed gentry of the period. Local folklore referred to this building as ‘The Slaughterhouse’ but was this really the case? I decided that it was time that I paid a visit to seek out the truth for myself so I grabbed my coat and cameras and set off on my quest to uncover the truth about this mysterious building that lain hidden deep in the woods.
I arrived at the deer park and set off on foot to locate this mysterious building somewhere deep in the undergrowth. The ground was boggy underfoot and this was certainly not going to be as easy as I had hoped for. Undaunted I soldiered on until suddenly before my eyes the shadowy outline of the building began to emerge in front of me in between the mighty oak trees and boy was it worth all the effort to find it.
The building certainly had the wow factor but at the same time it sent shivers down my spine and looking like something out of a horror movie, I could already see why it had been labelled as ‘The Slaughterhouse’.
As with all my investigations I take with me my trusty video cameras and record for posterity what I find once there and often I present my findings to camera before being made into a short documentary soon after.
But as mysterious and oppressive as this building may seem the truth is a little less daunting than folklore may have us believe. Erected circa 1740 the building was constructed to hang deer carcasses culled by the gamekeepers of the Dunham estate in preparation for dressing and jointing before being taken to the hall kitchens for roasting. No doubt many grand banquets would have been held at the hall during the entertaining of guests and visitors alike and the table would have been graced with venison and other game coming directly from the Dunham estate. By the late 19th Century the slaughterhouse was deemed no longer necessary and it was converted into a summerhouse complete with fireplaces. During the summer months of the late 19th century it would often be used by adults and children as a retreat and somewhere to relax. To this day the building still remains standing in the woods hidden away amongst huge oak trees.
This stunning building is still accessible to anyone who cares to visit for themselves and it can be found in the grounds of Dunham Massey Hall and deer park.
My film ‘The Myth of the Slaughterhouse’ shot at Dunham Massey can be viewed for free by visiting my channel Youtube.com/@Tvpresenter4history
