About

Rescuing a Ruin - the saving of Copped Hall

Saturday, 21st October 2023
Gates Open 10.00am for 11.00 Start.
Event closes at 4.30pm.

Cost

£40.00 per attendee, including refreshments and lunch.
This event is unsuitable for small children.

Location

This study day is planned to be held on the First floor of the Mansion. The First floor can only be reached by a staircase. Please contact the box office if you have any access concerns.

Description

This is a landmark study day at Copped Hall.

After a nine-year campaign against repeated large scale development proposals, the heavily vandalised and overgrown site of Copped Hall was saved by the specially formed Copped Hall Trust when it purchased the freehold of the mansion, stables, ancillary buildings and gardens in 1995. Apart from permanently protecting the site, the purpose of the Trust is, firstly, to carefully restore the buildings and gardens after detailed research and, secondly, to establish relevant educational, cultural and community uses. T

his study day, Alan Cox, Chairman of the Copped Hall Trust, will explore not just the complexity and success of the Copped Hall campaign and project to date, but we will welcome speakers who have been involved with likeminded campaigns to save forgotten or lost heritage.

We are delighted to be joined by Will Palin, CEO at Bart’s Heritage and former director of SAVE Britain’s heritage who will join us to discuss the Sheerness Dockyard Preservation Trust. Additionally, we will also be joined by Dan Cruickshank, architectural historian, broadcaster, writer who will share the work of the Spitalfields Trust.

Event Queries?

Please contact the Box Office on 07749 397932

Buy Tickets

Tickets can be purchased on line:
https://www.coppedhallevents.ticketsource.co.uk
View the event, pay and print your tickets. 
Both debit and credit cards may be used.

If you are having problems with buying tickets via Ticketsource, please contact our Box Office on 07749 397932 or email the Box Office on:
tickets@coppedhalltrust.org.uk

 

 

About Copped Hall

The saving of Copped Hall has been described a number times as a miracle. In reality, it was achieved by a great deal of hard work against overwhelming odds.

Historic country houses in their parkland are one of the great cultural achievements of previous centuries. Very sadly by the 1950s, historic mansions like Copped Hall were being demolished at a rate of one every two and a half days. With their loss the centrepiece and purpose of the gardens, ancillary buildings and parkland was removed. Often all of these parts were destroyed. In the 1980s the planning authorities acted to preserve the excellent established qualities of Copped Hall and its surroundings by making them into a conservation area in 1984. English Heritage followed by listing the older parkland as Grade II*. After much campaigning the Conservators of Epping Forest (The City of London) purchased the freehold of the parkland in order to preserve and restore it. The specially formed Copped Hall Trust eventually purchased the mansion, stables and gardens in 1995.

The Conservators are committed to the restoration of the parkland, the reintroduction of animals and to the preservation of this important wildlife habitat.

In 1999 the Trust acquired the completely derelict Walled Kitchen Garden, one of the largest in Essex. After 13 years, all the undergrowth has been cleared from the garden and the glasshouses. This work has been largely carried out by volunteers. The garden is now mainly planted with produce sold locally and to visitors. One glasshouse has been restored with two others under way.

The Copped Hall Trust has made substantial progress in the last 17 years. The Racquets Court and the stables have been largely restored, together with other service buildings. Much work has been carried out clearing the gardens of non-original vegetation. Replacement trees have been planted and lawns re-seeded. Internally, the mansion is to be restored to its 1750s’ form, and since 2001 some of the roof and floor structures have been reinstated and essential structural repairs carried out. Since 1998 the Trust has been supported in its work by a Friends organisation which now has more than 1,000 members. From these members a very committed band of volunteers assists with all aspects of the project.