Sculpture at Marks Hall

By Laurence -
Marks Hall was a Jacobean country house some 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Coggeshall in Essex, but by 1949, the mansion was neglected and said to be in a dangerous state, so was demolished in 1950. Forward to 2019 and Marks Hall Estate is now the site of 300 acres of Gardens and Arboretum - a great place at all times of year to wander and explore.

In 1163 the manor house and estate of Markshall were granted to the Markshall family after being confiscated from Hugh de Essex. They descended in the Markshall family until the estate was sold to John Cole, who renovated parts of the house. It was then sold to Edward Deraugh in 1581. In 1605 Robert Honywood purchased Marks Hall from Deraugh's grandson, William, pulled down part of the old timber-framed house and built a new brick building in 1609. It then descended through several more families until Thomas Phillips Price (1844-1932), a Welsh landowner, mine owner, and Liberal politician, purchased Marks Hall, then a mansion and deer park, at auction in 1898. 
He made provision in his Will to leave the Marks Hall estate to the nation in the interest of agriculture, arboriculture and forestry. During the Second World War, Earls Colne Airfield was built on the edge of the deer park and much of the property requisitioned for used as the headquarters for a number of local airfields. The 97th Bombardment Wing headquarters was initially located at the manor. 
Currently the gardens are host to an impressive biennial exhibition of carefully selected sculpture which include 253 quality pieces from over 50 national and international sculptors in a wide variety of materials.
Camera to the ready, we set off to explore some of the 253 exhibits. Just a few of the resulting images are shown below.


Metomorphoman - White Marble Resin by John Williams


Genesis - White Marble Resin by John Williams


Diabolo - Coloured Stainless Steel Sheet by Diane Maclean


Boreas - Statuary Carrara Marble by Mel Fraser


The Key - White Marble Resin by John Williams


The Book - Stainless Steel by Richard Cresswell


Luminous - Greenheart Timber and Glass by Louise Durham


Aurora - Bronze Resin by Angela Farquarson



Ella gathering sticks (Winter) and Persephone gathering apples (Autumn) - Bronze Resin by Antoinette Jackson



Ripple - Carrara Marble and Caithness Stone by Tom Allan


Red Planet - Fused Glass & Steel by Ian Reynolds


Narcissus - Bronze on Steel by Teresa Wells


Secret and Poppy (the dog) - Iron Resin by Martin Duffy


Guy Gorilla - Bronze by John Cox

The 200 acres of Gardens and Arboretum at Marks Hall, are an unmissable attraction in the Essex countryside, with an enviable collection of mature trees, woodland and leafy paths. On top of that, there is a great eating place and a wonderful 18c Coach House as a magical wedding venue.


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Location: Marks Hall Gardens and Arboretum, Colchester CO6 1TG

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