Markeaton

Markeaton Hall

The name Markeaton possibly means Boundary - Island Village, which had stood at this site since Medieval times.

In the early 14th century the Mundy Family purchased land, Sir John Mundy was Lord Mayor of London in 1522. The village land was enclosed by the Mundys during the 18th century, forcing many of the villagers to move their homes (literally "Up Sticks") outside the enclosed land.

A grand house, Markeaton Hall was built in traditional half timbered style, this was replaced by a new hall during the late 18th century.

In 1929, the Markeaton Hall and twenty acres (81,000 m²) of its gardens were given to the Corporation by the Reverend Clarke Maxwell who had inherited the estate from the late Mrs Mundy, on condition that the whole area would be used as a public park and that the mansion would be maintained for cultural purposes, for example a museum or and art gallery. Unfortunately the hall was used by the Army during WWII and allowed to fall into disrepair after the war.

The Orangery at Markeaton Park

The Council had continually neglected the building, which eventually was declared to be unsafe. The council decided to demolish it, leaving only the Orangery and stable yards.

The remaining 180 acres (730,000 m²) of the park were bought by the Corporation in 1930.

The Park has a Light Railway system consisting of two diesel engines and a steam engine.

Markeaton shares its church with the nearby village of Mackworth. This 13th century church was fortified, one of the rare examples of such a church, to protect the villagers and their farm stock from raids by the Meynells, who lived at Langley Meynell.

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