Photo: Quex House by Acabashi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Quex House is a Grade II listed historic house in Kent, and a member of Historic Houses. Read about its history, architecture and gardens, plus how to visit and what's nearby.
About Quex House
Quex House stands in Quex Park near Birchington, Kent.
A manor house has occupied the site since 1449.
The current building was constructed between 1808 and 1813 to a design by Thomas Hardwick for John Powell, with the addition of a recased exterior and two wings in 1883.
The Powell-Cotton family, who inherited the house, carried out further renovations.
Adjacent to the house is the Powell-Cotton Museum, founded by Percy Powell-Cotton to display his collections of taxidermy, African and Asian material culture in period dioramas.
The estate also includes Quex Gardens, with sweeping lawns, a Victorian walled garden and a woodland trail.
Read more on WikipediaHistory of Quex House
A manor at Quex is recorded from 1449, when it belonged to John Quekes, though the present house stands on a different part of the estate. John Powell commissioned Thomas Hardwick to design a new house, built between 1808 and 1813. The building was recased and extended with two wings in 1883. The Powell-Cotton family, who inherited the house, carried out further renovations to establish it as a comfortable family home. Percy Powell-Cotton went on to found the adjoining museum, which still bears the family name.
Architecture of Quex House
The house was built between 1808 and 1813 to designs by the architect Thomas Hardwick for John Powell, replacing an earlier manor house on a different part of the estate. It was recased and extended with two wings in 1883.
Worth knowing
Percy Powell-Cotton founded the adjacent museum to house his collections of taxidermy and African and Asian material culture, and the family connection continued through his daughters. One daughter, known as Tony, worked as a coastal archaeologist and helped uncover evidence of Bronze Age occupation at nearby Minnis Bay.
Gardens & grounds at Quex House
Quex Gardens include sweeping lawns, a Victorian walled garden and a woodland trail, with the planting changing noticeably through the seasons.
Facilities
Plan your visit to Quex House
Nearest station: Birchington-on-Sea Rail Station (1 miles)
Places to visit near Quex House
St Augustine's Cross
View St Augustine's Cross on heritage mapAll Saints Church, West Stourmouth
View All Saints Church, West Stourmouth on heritage mapRichborough Roman Fort
View Richborough Roman Fort on heritage mapSt Mary's Church, Sandwich
View St Mary's Church, Sandwich on heritage mapSt Peter's Church, Sandwich
View St Peter's Church, Sandwich on heritage mapHistoric places nearby
Within 5 miles of Quex House there are 2 historic properties, including 1 historic building and 1 church, across Churches Conservation Trust and English Heritage sites.
Within 10 miles of Quex House there are 8 historic properties, including 5 churchs, across Churches Conservation Trust, English Heritage and Historic Houses sites.
Within 20 miles of Quex House there are 27 historic properties, including 10 churchs, 8 historic buildings and 5 historic houses, across English Heritage, Churches Conservation Trust and Historic Houses sites.
Facts
A country house with an adjoining museum built around one family's lifetime of collecting and exploration.
- Type
- historic house
- Location
- Kent, England
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