Peover Hall (pronounced 'peever') is a brick-built Elizabethan manor house set in attractive gardens and surrounded by a landscaped park.
The Mainwaring family had already been living here for some centuries before Sir Randle Mainwaring began work on the house in 1585. In 1654 Ellen Mainwaring built the fine stables as a present for her son, Thomas.
Sir Henry Mainwaring made extensive alterations to the property in the 1760s. He added a wing at right-angles to the house forming a T-shape and built a large new stable block and coach-house.
In 1919 the Mainwaring family sold the house to the cotton magnate, John Graham Peel. Peover Hall was sold again in 1940 to Harry Brooks and his son, Randle Brooks, is the present owner of the estate.
During World War II the house was requisitioned for the use of General George Patton of the United States army and it was not until 1950 that the house was released to its owner.
By this time the 1760s wing was found to be in poor condition and in 1964 it was pulled down. The Elizabethan building was renovated and where the Georgian wing had joined it a new entrance front was made in simplified 16th century style.
The present owner has introduced panelling and other fittings from a number of other houses in Cheshire and furnished the house with some superb items.
The reduced house is roughly rectangular in shape and the Entrance Hall forms a corridor running across its depth. To the left is the small Sitting Room which has good 16th century woodwork and furniture.
The panelled Dining Room at the centre of the ground floor has wooden pilasters from Horsley Hall in Clwyd and 18th century furniture and paintings.
At the end of the house is the Morning Room which has rich panelling and the first of a set of ornate bookcases introduced from Oteley, the Mainwaring family's Victorian seat in Shropshire.
Climbing the staircase the visitor reaches the first floor where several bedrooms and the Drawing Room are situated.
The Drawing Room, which occupies the centre of the house, has early-18th century panelling and splendid 17th and early-18th century furniture. More bookcases from Oteley are found here and the paintings include a version of Van Dyck's double portrait of Strafford and his Secretary Sir Philip Mainwaring. The landing above the Entrance Hall has portraits of English monarchs.
Many of the bedrooms on the first floor have four-poster beds and good pieces of English furniture.
The original oak dog-leg staircase leads up to the Long Gallery on the top floor where roof-structure can be seen. The room contains more of the present owner's collection of antique furniture and toys.
Having returned to the ground floor, the visitor descends steps to the original Kitchen. This has a very unusual ceiling with huge diagonal oak beams. There are two vast fireplaces and Mr Brooks has furnished the room with arms and armour and excellent 16th and 17th furniture.
Peover Hall's superb Carolean stables are architecturally more important than the house. The stables, built by Ellen Mainwaring in 1654, have a simple exterior but inside the stalls are richly carved, with Tuscan columns and strapwork.
Beside the stables is the attractive coached house added by Sir Henry Mainwaring in 1764. The splendid Rococo-style iron gates at the beginning of the drive were introduced from Alderley Park by Mr Brooks.
Peover Hall is set in a 18th century landscaped park. The large gardens are mainly the work of the present owner. The walled and herb gardens and topiary work provide a charming setting for the house.
Nearby is St Lawrence's church where there are several Mainwaring tomb monuments. The North Chapel was added to the church by the Mainwaring family in 1648
2008: Telephone
Tel: 01565 632358
