Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Butter a 9 by 11-inch baking dish; set aside.

In a large skillet, melt 6 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add the celery and onions, cook until almost translucent. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Add the sausage, stirring frequently and browning on all sides about 6 minutes. Stir in the sage, thyme, chestnuts and cubed bread. Combine the stock and the heavy cream and season lightly with the salt and pepper. Add the liquid, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring gently to combine. You may need to add a bit more stock, depending on the bread that you use, to achieve the desired consistency. Arrange the stuffing in the baking dish, cut the remaining butter into small pieces, put on top of the dressing. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes. If the top gets too brown, cover with aluminum foil.