Escape into a weird and wonderful world of fantastical creatures at Hall Place and Gardens. The Tudor mansion is opening its doors to a carnival of monstrosities created by top artists including Damien Hirst. in the new exhibition Beastly Hall.

The historic Queen’s Beasts on Hall Place’s magnificent topiary lawn are the inspiration for its new exhibition.

Planted to mark the coronation in 1953, the yew creations, including a griffin, unicorn and falcon, still stand proud today, and their 60th anniversary is being celebrated with Beastly Hall.

Contemporary artists were invited to contribute works themed around real and imagined creatures, for display in the house and grounds.

Curator Laura Culpan said: “From Bosch to Dürer to Dali, the beast has been an undeniable part of art history. Now, the exhibition Beastly Hall brings together contemporary artists’ beasts to explore the minds and imaginations of both artist and viewer. From site-specific installation, to drawing, painting, video and sculpture, these real and imagined creatures will seek to surprise, delight and intrigue the visitors to Hall Place.”

They include Damien Hirst’s 2008 work Schizophrenogenesis, described as glass, painted stainless steel, silicone, acrylic, cows’ heads and formaldehyde solution, and Fox with Issues, a new piece by Danish artist Nina Saunders consisting of a taxidermy fox on an upholstered chair.

Caroline Worthington of Bexley Heritage Trust said: “We know that Beastly Hall will certainly appeal to the curious, the art lovers – and anyone with a sense of adventure. We feel privileged to be showcasing works never seen before in the UK, alongside works from recognised names.”

History of Hall Place

Now a Grade I listed country house, it was built in 1537 for Sir John Champneys, a wealthy merchant and former Lord Mayor of London. In 1649, Richard Champneys, Sir John’s grandson, sold Hall Place to Robert Austen, a merchant from Tenterden.

In the 18th century Hall Place came into the ownership of the Dashwood family, and from 1800 to 1870 it was let as a private boarding school for boys, before it was restored and let to a series of tenants.

The last tenant was the Countess of Limerick, who lived there from 1917. During her time at the property it was bought by her son-in-law, the American financier, James Cox Brady, and in 1935 his trustees sold the house and the 62 acre estate to Bexley council, subject to the life tenancy of Lady Limerick. But the council could not make use of the house when she died in 1943, as it was requisitioned.

In January 1944 the U.S Army’s Signal Corps 6,811th Signal Service Detachment arrived to operate an intercept station which encoded Morse signals, mostly from the Luftwaffe.

After peace was restored, Hall Place stood empty until 1957 when it was again used as a school, then between 1969 to 1994 it was home to Bexley’s Libraries and Museums Service. The remainder of the library offices moved out in 1999, and it now houses Bexley Museum and Galleries.

Hall Place is open daily from 10am to 5pm, from Thursday, March 28, to Sunday, September 1. Admission is £7 for adults, £5 for concessions and £20 for a family. Call 01322 526574 or visit www.bexleyheritagetrust.org.uk/hallplace. Hall Place is just off the Black Prince Interchange at Bourne Road, Bexley, DA5 1PQ.