Between April 1917 and January 1919, the Stamford Military Hospital provided a Sanctuary from the Trenches for soldiers injured during the First World War. As a reflection upon the 282 soldiers that passed through the hospital during this period, the structure comprises 282 individually cast concrete cubes.

Save for one nameless soldier, each cube features a soldier admission number. These records were sourced from a log book kept by the sister in charge of the hospital, Sister Catherine Bennett. The unknown soldier’s cube has been included nonetheless, but remains blank.

The weather has been glorious the past few days, so yesterday we took advantage of a sunny Sunday and went out for the day. We chose to visit Dunham Massey, a place we have not been before. As part of the WWI centenary commemorations some of the rooms are currently transformed back to how they would have looked when Dunham Massey served as a military hospital between 1917 and 1919.

Sanctuary from the Trenches – Stamford Hospital at Dunham Massey Hall

We’re marking the centenary of the First World War by telling the story of the Stamford Hospital, the convalescent hospital in the hall in which 282 soldiers were treated between April 1917 and January 1919.

So how will your visit be different this year?

Well, the elegant Edwardian interiors have gone. In 1917 the Saloon was turned into a ward with 25 beds for ill and injured ‘other ranks’ soldiers – the Stamford Hospital was for Tommies, not officers. In the ward discover the story of some of the soldiers, their injuries and illnesses and how their conditions were treated almost 100 years ago.

The large space in the Great Hall became the soldiers’ recreation room, where they spent time out of bed, had their meals, played games and listened to music. Photographs also show the soldiers out of doors in the inner courtyard and garden, benefiting from the ‘fresh air cure’ whatever the temperature! You’ll find out about how the soldiers spent their time during convalescence, and perhaps enjoy a game of cards yourself.

The billiard room was the nurses’ station, and here you’ll find out about the group of women who cared for the soldiers. The social changes brought about by the First World War impacted on the Grey family of Dunham Massey – Lady Jane became a Voluntary Aid Detachment nurse aged 17 and helped in the hospital. You’ll discover an aspect of her story at the bottom of the grand staircase, the area that was used as the operating theatre.

Family life went on at Dunham but would never be the same again. Head upstairs to find out about Lady Stamford’s role as the commandant of the hospital. A prolific letter writer, much of what we know of the hospital comes from her correspondence with her family, soldiers and soldiers’ families.

What’s happened to the objects that have moved?

During the First World War, the Great Gallery was used as a storeroom and that’s what we’re using it for too. Some objects have gone into store and some for conservation. One of the biggest things to plan was the picture-hang, where we rearranged lots of the paintings to fit in the ones that had moved from the Great Hall and Saloon. Some objects were selected for the ‘Treasures from the Collection’ exhibition allowing individual pieces to shine whilst also showing the eclectic nature of a country house collection.

After we had visited the reconstructed Stamford hospital we took a walk round the garden.  The newly planted rose garden was a delight and we were treated to a rare display of cardiocrinum gigantium.

To see this giant lily is a rare sight as it flowers for barely a week and only once in a lifetime.

The cardiocrinum grows very slowly for the first six years of its life. In its seventh year it quickly escalates to a height of up to 3.5 metres before producing a spectacular display of flowers for a short period in June.  It then dies, leaving behind brown seed pods.

The plant is found in parts of China, Burma and the Himalayas. This is one of the largest plantings in the United Kingdom.*

We arrived home late so we decided to go out for a meal rather than cook.  We chose with care so that we could still enjoy a Sunday roast, after which we returned home to enjoy the last of the sunshine sitting on the patio with a glass of wine.

As the light dimmed I noticed a movement out of the corner of my eye. Thinking it was a bird I turned to look and realised it was a hedghog making its way along the side of our neighbours house. Then he disappeared into our flower bed noisily snuffled and crunching leaves as he made his way around the three sides of our garden borders. He then casually sauntered across the grass in front of the patio where we were sitting before disappeared back down the side of our house. Nature is a wonderful thing

It was the first time I have seen a hedgehog for a very long. After doing a bit of research I realise why.  They are now an endangered species.

*From a sign board next to the plants