Angela Kelly samples the history and modern marketing of one of the region’s most impressive homes
Photographs: Chris Tofalos

HISTORIC houses around the country could learn a thing or two about longevity from Bramall Hall in leafy Bramhall. Not the longevity which comes from original buildings surviving the centuries, but about commercial ventures which can master the recession in any century.

The magnificent black and white timber-framed manor house has tackled the ‘assault’ - not of marauding Picts or Scots but of world financial problems - by ‘going public’ with its attractions. And a clever programme of events guaranteed to appeal to a wide cross-section of people  means that it is in excellent shape to combat the rigours assailing all businesses today, while at the same time ensuring that it belongs very much to the community around it.

It would be easy to categorise Bramall Hall and the lush parkland around it as a classic ancient monument. In fact, the Grade I listed building is the only one of its type owned by Stockport Council. Its history actually goes back a thousand years to before the Norman Conquest of 1066 when Bramall was held as two separate manors owned by two Saxon freemen, Brun and Hacun. Around 1070, William the Conqueror, after subduing the North of England, gave both parts of the Bramall land to one of his followers, Hamon de Masci – the first Baron of Dunham Massey. This was probably wasteland following such a harsh campaign, but during the next 800 years it was destined to become home to just three families: the Masseys, the de Bromales and the Davenports.

The manor house was built in traditional local style, with a framework of oak timbers and wattle and daub – interlaced twigs crudely coated with clay – placed between them. The first to inherit the land was a kinsman of Hamon, who became Matthew de Bromale. The de Bromales remained as Lords of the Manor until the late 14th century when the  estate passed to Alice, married to John de Davenport, and the descendants of John and Alice Davenport lived at Bramall for 500 years. The oldest parts of the present building, which contain the Great Hall, date back to this time, with the south wing built some time during the 15th century. By the early 16th century, Bramall Hall was a quadrangular building enclosing a courtyard with three wings still surviving today.

Substantial alterations were carried out by William Davenport V and his wife Dorothy during the late 16th and early 17th centuries, to enlarge and improve the house with typically Elizabethan features offering height and outlook. The house continued to pass through the Davenport generations until the late 19th century when it was sold to a Manchester property development company. They sold off outer areas of land but by 1883, another family, the Nevills, were resident. Charles Nevill had a keen interest in history and spent many years restoring and rebuilding the hall, which has ensured its condition to the present day. He made many alterations which also now give it a strong Victorian character alongside the original Tudor parts, adding bay extensions and building the Tudor-style chimneys.

Charles died in 1916 and, as he and his wife Mary had no children, they adopted Charles’ nephew, Thomas, who in 1923 had to auction the family collection. Two years later, the estate was sold to John Henry Davies, a prominent Manchester businessman who made the hall his home until his death in 1927. Interestingly, John Davies was also the president of Manchester United Football Club and was responsible for the construction of the Old Trafford ground. His wife, Amy, eventually sold the house to Hazel Grove and Bramhall Urban District Council in 1935 and, after local government re-organisation in 1974, it became the responsibility of Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council.

The council has proved to be good ‘caretakers’ of this important part of the region’s history, undertaking major restoration schemes and encouraging  its greater public use. Caroline Egan is in charge of visitor services at the hall. She was appointed nearly 15 years ago and came to Bramall with just the kind of catering and events’ experience demanded for this fresh approach after owning her own hotel in Knaresborough, Yorkshire. ‘The council deliberately wanted to target the wedding market and other events to get more public use from the hall,’ she explained. ‘In fact, Bramall was one of the first licensed venues in the region after the de-regulation of wedding licensing.’ This open door policy has stood it in good stead, helping Bramall as a visitor attraction to survive different tourism trends and the increase in Sunday shopping.

Eileen Garratt has been in a position to monitor visitors more than most. Her associations with Bramall go back to when she was first brought as a little girl from her Stretford home. She was senior guide at the hall for 13 years and is now treasurer of the Friends of Bramall Hall and Bramall Park, which offers vital assistance at the various events and help with fundraising. ‘You could see how there was a dip in visitor numbers, and then how events have attracted people here again,’ she said.

Bramall itself, with its airy, handsome rooms, ornate carvings and wealth of history, is wonderful in itself. But what price beauty if no-one sees it? These days, people come to Bramhall for weddings and for the programme of events, like regular meetings of its own wine club. There are Tudor living history days, brass rubbing, food fayres, plant hunters’ fairs, flower design schools and festivals, plus a whole host of activities for children which include everything from den building to magic workshops. ‘Yes, it’s important to have a broad appeal,’ said Caroline. ‘The main thing is that local people in particular realise that Bramall Hall is actually theirs. It belongs to them, so why not use it?’