SO historically significant that it is recorded in the Doomsday book, the grounds of the Marks Hall estate date back to the twelfth century.

It was passed around through Saxon and Norman landowners, until in 1605 it was bought by Richard Honywood.

Significantly however in 1898 it was bought at auction by Thomas Phillips Price, who was a wealthy Welsh mine own and Liberal politician.

Jonathan Jukes, Curator of the Marks Hall gardens, said: “In 1898 it was bought by Mr Price who needed a second home that was still close to London.

“Even in those days Kelvedon Station was still only an hour away from London.

“He had a great love of trees which is what attracted him to the estate and he wanted to protect it."

Mr Price became so enamoured with the beauty of the place, he wanted to preserve it for future generations to enjoy, and so he pledged to give it to the public when he and his wife passed away – it was written into his will that Marks Hall should be maintained for the nation.

Mr Jukes said: “He wanted the estate to be left in the national interest.

“He died in 1933, but his wife didn’t die until 1966.”

Thomas Price left the whole of his estate to the British people in the interest of agriculture, arboriculture and forestry, however his third wife Mary Elizabeth Swann, maintained a life interest in the estate and grounds.

During the Second World War, Marks Hall was commandeered for the war effort and it quickly became a massive airbase and headquarters for the nearby Earls Colne Airfield.

Construction work began in 1941, with runway, a hospital, mess halls, a bomb shelter, a control tower and ancillary buildings being built inside the shadow of the mansion.

Unfortunately years of conflict preparations on the site took its toll and after the war the estate was in a sorry state, and the mansion soon had to be demolished in 1950.

However in 1971 the Thomas Phillips Price Trust, a registered Charity, was formed.

Since that time the Trust, now renamed Marks Hall Estate, has worked to restore the property and create an Arboretum of national significance - the Estate was opened to the public in 1993.

Marks Hall does not receive any government funding however, and the huge task of funding and maintaining the grounds is left entirely up to the Trust.

Among their more lucrative funding ideas is the upcoming Marks Hall Garden an Country Show, which will raise money for the Marks Hall Trust, The Colchester Rotary Club and Essex Air Ambulance – who are perfectly situated next door to the former airbase.

Rebecca Lee, General Manager of the Marks Hall estate, said: “Marks Hall is for the nation, but we receive no funding.

“We are really on our own. It is very much what we are here to do with the show is to encourage people to come to the estate and raise awareness of the charity.”

Sarah Edwards, Marketing Consultant for Marks Hall, said: “People will be impressed with the grounds so people can see more about what the hall is about.

“People love going into the gardens, it peaks their imagination.

“Obviously the estate has a history with the air force as well - everything just clicked.”

Mr Jukes, said: “It is now a garden that is open to the public.

“It is not just the gardens that are amazing but the fact that we have got nearly 500 acres of land.

“These ancient woodlands have not changed since medieval times.

“It is a pleasant, beautiful place because it sits so well in the local landscape.”

  • The Marks Hall Garden and Country Show takes place at the Marks Hall Estate in Coggeshall on July 16 and 17.

The show raises money for the Marks Hall Trust, Essex Air Ambulance and the Colchester Rotary Club.

For more information about what the show has on offer you can visit: www.markshallgardenshow.co.uk.

Tickets are currently available from the website at £7 per adult for one day’s admission. Under-15s attend free. Family tickets will also be available closer to the time.