When it comes to planning days out, you can’t beat a leisurely stroll around a country estate or stately home. Whether it's admiring the flora and fauna of a walled garden, deer spotting in rugged open grounds, or exploring a grand old hall, there’s plenty of places to visit.
And here in Manchester, we’re blessed with a number of stunning natural and historic sites on our doorstep, where you can stretch your legs, enjoy a picnic and relax in nature. While many might head to Dunham Massey with its ancient deer park or Lyme Park with its 1,300 acre estate, there’s a south Manchester spot which is popular with locals but passers-by might miss.
Set in a valley below Romiley, located on the River Goyt in Stockport, Chadkirk Chapel and Country Estate is a picturesque country park encompassing a 60-acre farm, an ancient well and a 16th Century chapel. It’s also home to a beautifully kept walled garden, a vast array of woodland and its own Coronation Meadow - one of the first 60 in the country when the scheme was launched.
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There’s a number of points from which to explore this expansive country estate, but if you’re travelling by car or catching a train to Romiley Station, the chapel - the estate’s very own historic gem - is a good place to start. The structure of the Grade II-listed building - notably the half-timbered walls and roof trusses - dates back to the 16th century, however, as the name incorporates the word ‘kirk’, deriving from the Scandinavian word for a church or chapel, it’s understood there was much earlier worship here.
It is thought that St Chad, the 7th-century Bishop of Lichfield, was brought to this remote corner of his diocese by his missionary work, to stay in a small, monastic cell. Later, the chapel fluctuated between neglect and reconstruction and passed between several owners including the Davenport family, but in the mid-18th century, the south walls were rebuilt using stone.
In more recent times the chapel's beauty has been enhanced by Stockport Council, who, in 1995, installed a specially commissioned life-sized statue of St Chad, along with colourful wooden panels depicting scenes from the life of the saint, and a metal 'Tree of Life' altarpiece.
In 2013, a stained glass window based on the design of an Anglo-Saxon preaching cross, designed to complement the historic setting and blend in with the beautiful surrounds, was fitted to the East Window and unveiled by Mary Baumanis, a member of Friends of Chadkirk, who was born at Chadkirk Farm in 1928 and was one of the last babies to be baptised at the chapel.
Since 2017 wedding ceremonies have taken place in the chapel, and just last year it was named the best wedding venue in the North West at the Wedding Industry Awards. The chapel is open on certain days for members of the public to visit as well, with refreshments such as hot and cold drinks, cakes and biscuits sold on a cash-only basis from the kiosk.
Glance out from the chapel and you’ll notice the walled gardens, a tranquil spot which has been restored by the Friends of Chadkirk community group, featuring an array of flora and fauna. Restored in 2002, the walls - which were demolished and remade made with recovered bricks - frame a garden filled with over 30 fruit trees, herb beds and colourful plants.
Not far from the walled gardens, and before venturing on the Chadkirk Trail, visitors can also catch a glimpse of St Chad’s Well. The ancient well is thought to have its origins in Celtic times, but is, as you may have guessed, is associated with the aforementioned St Chad.
The well, which is fed by a stream and is contained within a restored sandstone well house, is “dressed” in a traditional ceremony blessing the well every summer - one of the few regular well dressings outside of Derbyshire. This year’s event takes place on July 29, and the event will also see The Stockport Silver Band performing outside the chapel.
The country estate is also a nature reserve and is bordered by the River Goyt and Peak Forest Canal, making a great spot from which to explore - whether that means heading into the ancient woodland of the Goyt Valley, or admiring the beautiful meadow, which has been coined “a jewel in Stockport’s crown” by the Stockport Green Space Team.
For the 60th anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 2013, the Prince of Wales called for the creation of new wildflower meadows - and one of those was seeded at Chadkirk. The beautiful wildflower meadow is the only Coronation Meadow in Greater Manchester and is recognised as an area of biological importance.
Meadows in the UK are home to a rich tapestry of animal, insect and plant life, and there is a wealth of species to keep an eye out for in Chadkirk, including great-crested newts, six-spot burnet and blue butterfly. The pond, hard to see from the path, supports all five species of amphibian found in the county too.
Other species to spot in Chadkirk can be found in the ancient woodland, which is described as such because it was established before AD 1600. Comprising Kirk Wood and Little Wood, the area can be found along the Chadkirk trail, a circular trail, which includes picnic areas, a camping area and the Chadkirk Bridge - which links the estate to more trails.
With the ancient woodland, you may get a strong scent of wild garlic, which grows amongst a number of other plant species and spring flowers, including bluebells, lesser celandine and creeping buttercup.
The Etherow Goyt Valley Way also runs through the park, and if you’re a bit peckish or fancy a drink after exploring the chapel and estate, there's a number of watering holes along the adjacent B6104. The closest is the Spread Eagle, a period pub known for its daily roasts and cask-conditioned ales, which are regarded as some of the best in the area.
How to get there:
Chadkirk Chapel and Country Estate is accessed via Vale Road, which is just off the A627 (Otterspool Road) outside Romiley.
Chadkirk Chapel and Country Estate is only half a mile from Romiley train station, which offers step free access. If arriving by car, there is a small car park at the junction of Vale Road and Otterspool Road. A number of bus routes also run through Romiley Village, which is ten minutes from the park.
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