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Powell-Cotton Museum, Quex House & Gardens

Powell-Cotton Museum, Quex House & Gardens

The Powell-Cotton Museum at Quex Park was established in 1896 by Major Percy Horace Gordon Powell-Cotton (1866 -1940) to house natural history specimens and cultural objects collected on expeditions to Asia and Africa. Major Powell-Cotton was a pioneer in the use of the diorama to display mounted mammals in representations of their natural habitats. The Powell-Cotton Museum natural history dioramas are outstanding examples, unique to the UK, stunning for their size, quality and imagery. Today they still excite the imagination of young and old alike. The world-class natural history and ethnographical collections at the Museum support the study, understanding and simple enjoyment of the zoological, cultural and ecological diversity of Africa and the Indian sub-continent. The 15th-century Quex Estate was purchased by the financier John Powell in 1777 and the Regency-period Quex House was completed by his nephew in 1813. The house was remodelled and extended in the late 19th century. The beautiful gardens to be seen today were developed in Victorian times. The Hannah Dining Suite caters as a fine dining, a la carte restaurant, serving home made dishes, using fresh local produce grown on Quex and surrounding areas. Visitors can enjoy lunch from a range of menus and can also take afternoon tea, The Hannah Dining Suite also specialises in catering for all corporate events, from team building and seminars to party’s and weddings. Also on site at Quex Park: the Quex Falconry, Quex Craft Village, Jungle Jims Indoor and Outdoor family entertainment centre, The Secret Garden Centre, Quex Maize Maze (summer only) and Quex Barn Farmshop and Restaurant.