St. Mark's College

In the early middle ages, there was a large Benedictine Abbey on the site now occupied by Audley End House. On St. Mark's Day (25th April) in 1258, the Bishop of Ely, Hugh de Balsham, dedicated an 'informaria' (hospital) attached to the Abbey.

We next hear of the building a century later, when, on the death of Hugh to Bohun, Earl of Essex, in 1373, he was described as the patron of the hospital of the Abbey at Walden.

When Walden Abbey was dissolved, the hospital appears to have become derelict and the connection lingered on only in the name. Centuries later, when part of the building was used as a farm, it was known as Abbey Farm.

Early in the 17th Century, when the Earl of Suffolk was building the great mansion of Audley End, he decided to convert the old hospital into almshouses (homes for old or poor people). His almshouses were planned on the medieval pattern of two courtyards divided by a central block containing a kitchen, hall and chapel. Although almost entirely rebuilt, the new almshouses seem to have followed the plan of the old hospital and some of the older building may have been included in the centre block.

In 1836, in "The History of Audley End", it is recorded that one of the courts was "appropriated to ten old women permitted to reside there by Lord Braybrooke to whom the premises belonged. The other court was occupied as a farmhouse together with the old Chapel long since converted into a barn". Even then the buildings were in a very bad state of repair. The end part of the chapel was demolished at some stage.

In 1950, in response to hardship suffered by many elderly clergy, the then Lord Braybrooke gave the buildings to the Diocese of Chelmsford to accommodate retired clergy and their wives. The building was restored, and the demolished part of the chapel re-built. The dedication took place on Friday 28th September 1951 by the Bishop of Chelmsford. The building was then named "St Mark's College" to recall the founding of the hospital on St Mark's Day in 1258.

By 1990, the building was no longer suitable for retired clergy, as it was too isolated and needed a great deal of work to improve the facilities. It was then that the Diocesan Youth Service had the opportunity to take over the buildings and convert and restore them as a residential centre for youth work and youth leader training, with accommodation for up to 40 people. The work was completed by the end of 1992, and the College officially re-dedicated by the Bishop of Chelmsford on 23rd April 1994 (the nearest Saturday to St. Mark's Day).

Registered Charity No. 1031174

E-Mail info@stmarkscollege.co.uk for more info

Artwork courtesy of Ah! Design