ICON inside ICON:
100 YEARS OF DISCOVERY AT
QUEX HOUSE & GARDENS
BY SOPHIE SHORTER
Quex House & Gardens is marking 100 years of the Powell-Cotton Museum Trust in 2026 with its PCT100: Past & Present anniversary programme- a year of seasonal events, collaborations with local schools and artists, and new artefact installations across the estate.
Located in Birchington-on-Sea, Quex House & Gardens is a proudly storied manor with origins tracing back to the 15th century, later becoming home to an ever-expanding collection of natural history specimens and cultural objects within the museum, which was established by explorer and collector Percy Powell-Cotton who was born and raised in nearby Margate.
The house has been inhabited since 1449, originally by John Quekes and later by the Powell-Cotton family, who remodelled and expanded the property into the estate seen today. Among its most notable rooms are the Library, housing over 3,000 books collected across six generations; the Armoury, now displaying family portraits and treasured items including a Benjamin Franklin clock and Napoleonic memorabilia; and the Boudoir, which was created as a private retreat for Percy’ s wife, Hannah. Established alongside the manor, the gardens were later redesigned by Thomas Hardwick to reflect Regency, Victorian and Edwardian influences, incorporating
a walled garden, a series of glasshouses once used for market production and Hippomenes and Atalanta statues.
Planning for the museum began in 1896 following Percy’ s return from his travels and the doors first opened to welcome visitors in 1910. Spanning continents- with a particular focus on Africa and Asia where Percy spent most of his time documenting wildlife and cultures, famed items from the fascinating collections include habitat dioramas( the oldest intact large-scale examples in the UK), an African elephant leg standing over 10 feet tall, Minnis Bay excavations and more. In 1926, the Powell- Cotton Trust was created to govern the museum independently from the wider Quex estate, ensuring the long-term care of the collections and their continued public access.
Now, 100 years after the trust’ s establishment, the estate is preparing for its centenary year celebrations, with activities including Queer Nature Tours, Bricktacular LEGO ® Workshops, the Spring Eggsplorers Easter Trail and the return of its popular nocturnal-themed activities during October’ s half term.
As part of the programme, schools and artists will collaborate in a year-long project to produce 100 pieces of artwork inspired by the museum, alongside a new exhibition
from local artist Sam Parsons. A summer installation exploring the art and artefacts of the Zulu people of southern Africa will also offer new perspectives on objects within the historic collections.
Across eight acres of gardens, visitors will find seasonal blooms, restored Tudor and Victorian glasshouses, a new kitchen garden and an ornate fountain pond. A fabulous new partnership with Angela’ s of Margate will also see chefs preparing seasonal suppers using the produce grown on site.
Alongside exhibitions and events, Quex continues to maintain its Sunshine Project, offering meaningful and engaging volunteering opportunities for adults living with learning disabilities, mental health challenges or those who are socially isolated.
Quex House & Gardens and the Powell- Cotton Museum remain one of the county’ s most distinctive historic sites. Valued by schools, families and visitors seeking a deeper connection to the region’ s past and its global links, its intriguing legacy is shaped not only by one family’ s vision, but by the generations who continue to reinterpret it today.
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