About us

The Victor Batte Lay Foundation owns The Minories building and gardens, and holds a varied and extensive art collection, which all together gives a powerful insight into East Anglian culture. The collection includes well-known and prominent artists, such as John Constable, Camille Pissaro, Paul Nash and John Nash, and Maggi Hambling. A catalogue of the work can be found on the Victor Batte Lay website.

The purpose of the Foundation as stated in its constitution is: “the Provision and maintenance of land and buildings from time to time owned by the charity as a museum and art gallery, for the exhibition of a collection or collections of objects of antiquarian interest, art or science for the benefit of the inhabitants of Colchester and of the general public.”