A HISTORIC piece of art has returned home after it was reacquired by arboretum bosses.

The 112-year-old old portrait of Thomas Phillips Price has returned to Markshall Estate, at Coggeshall, in what is a momentous occasion in the charity’s 50th anniversary year.

The portrait was painted by British artist Henry Harris Brown in 1910, with the grounds of the Markshall Estate providing the backdrop.

It was done 12 years after Thomas Phillips Price’s purchase of the estate at auction in 1898.

Braintree and Witham Times:

The portrait had been in the possession of the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport since 1966.

The relationship between the two charitable trusts began when Sir Thomas Phillips, the former mayor of Newport, left the greater part of all his assets, including his Welsh estate, to nephew Thomas Phillips Price who then went on to be the last private owner of Markshall.

In his 1927 will, Thomas Phillips Price left his Welsh estate to the Royal Gwent Hospital and his Essex estate to the nation.

After his death in 1932, his widow May Phillips Price had an interest in both her husband’s bequests until her death in 1966.

Braintree and Witham Times: A photograph taken by Country Life of the Marks Hall Mansion’s Dining Room interior. The Henry Harris Brown portrait can be seen in the centre of the photograph.A photograph taken by Country Life of the Marks Hall Mansion’s Dining Room interior. The Henry Harris Brown portrait can be seen in the centre of the photograph.

Markshall general manager Dave Finkle said: “The whole team is delighted that the Henry Harris Brown painting of Thomas Phillips Price is coming to us in the charity’s 50th anniversary year.

“It feels as though a part of the estate’s history is coming home and we’re all excited to see its safe arrival and installation.”

The staff and trustees’ mission is to run the estate “for the nation forever” as stated in Mr Price’s will.

Former managing agent for the trustees at Markshall and now one of their patrons Richard Tattersall formally took possession of the painting on Markshall’s behalf from Ann Lloyd, chair of the Aneurin Bevin University Health Board.

The estate has given a special thank you to Richard, saying the painting would not have come home without his efforts.

The Markshall Estate Trust is currently researching the cost of restoring the painting to its original condition.

Once the cost of the restoration has been confirmed, the trust will set to work raising the funds needed to complete the restoration and a crowd-funder will be part of the campaign.