A BLUE plaque dedicated to a 16th century historical figure has been unveiled at a popular Essex attraction.

Coggeshall’s Markshall Estate unveiled the plaque on Saturday at the site of the Essex home of Mary Honywood, a former inhabitant of the estate.

Gazette: Simon Brice and Julian Prideaux unveiling the plaque (Picture: Bryan Shaw)Simon Brice and Julian Prideaux unveiling the plaque (Picture: Bryan Shaw) (Image: Bryan Shaw)

The arboretum was approached by the office of the Lord Lieutenant of Essex and The Coggeshall Society to arrange a blue plaque to honour Mary’s life.

Launched in 2020, the Lord Lieutenant’s Essex Women’s Commemoration Project pays tribute to individual Essex women whose historic achievements deserve to be more widely recognised.

The first to be acknowledged by this project was Colchester-born Margaret Cavendish, 1623-1673, whose commemorative plaque was unveiled adjacent to St John’s Abbey Gate in Colchester in September last year.

Now, a tribute has also been paid to once resident of Marks Hall Mary Honywood, 1527-1620, for her support of Protestant martyrs.

Gazette: Attendees take a moment to view the blue plaque (Picture: Bryan Shaw)Attendees take a moment to view the blue plaque (Picture: Bryan Shaw) (Image: Bryan Shaw)

Along with her father and sister, Mary corresponded regularly with prisoners who, during the reign of Mary Tudor, had been incarcerated for their religious beliefs.

Born in Kent, Mary moved to Marks Hall in 1605 to live with her son Robert and his family.

A pious woman, during her life she suffered from a form of depression called religious melancholia, which was not surprising since many of those with the same beliefs were imprisoned, and she had witnessed executions like that of John Bradford.

Fortunately, Mary’s depression lifted, as recounted by Thomas Moreton, the Bishop of Durham, when one day “God suddenly shot comfort like lightning into her soul, so that she led the remainder of her life in spiritual gladness”.

Gazette: Juliet Townsend, Julian Prideaux, Nicholas Alston, Andrew Hensman, Simon Brice and Dave Finkle (Picture: Bryan Shaw)Juliet Townsend, Julian Prideaux, Nicholas Alston, Andrew Hensman, Simon Brice and Dave Finkle (Picture: Bryan Shaw) (Image: Bryan Shaw)

Mary’s age of death was also remarkable for her era, dying in 1620 at the grand age of 93.

She had lived to see the birth of 16 children, 114 grandchildren, 228 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren, a total of 367 descendants born during her lifetime.

Now, her legacy will stand forever, celebrated by a blue plaque at Markshall Estate.

Gazette: High Sheriff of Essex Nicholas Alston with Philippa Alston (Picture: Bryan Shaw)High Sheriff of Essex Nicholas Alston with Philippa Alston (Picture: Bryan Shaw) (Image: Bryan Shaw)

There is also an information board informing guests about Mary’s life.