The house next door, No 73, was purchased and added in 1975 with backing from local professionals and Eastern Arts. The Minories, run by the Trust, continued to show a rich variety of work by regional, national and international artists, sculptors and crafts people such as Edward Bawden, Leon Underwood, Eric Ravilious, Harry Becker, John Bratby, John and Paul Nash, Lucien Pissaro, Cedric Morris, Christopher Wood, Bill Brandt, Maggi Hambling, Jacob Epstein and Valerie Thornton. Mark Wallinger held one of his very first exhibitions in August 1983 at the Minories.

In June 2008 the Minories was taken over by Colchester Institute under the direction of Alan Smith, Head of Centre for Art, Design and Media. This Department will provide exciting new postgraduate courses validated by the University of Essex. From September 2008 the first floor will be used as studio, seminar and lecture spaces, complemented by a public art gallery, shop and cafe on the ground floor. At the end of May the cafe opened. It now serves breakfast, lunch and tea from 8 in the morning.

Do join The Friends in their worthwhile support for a historic building of architectural interest and cultural value in the 21st century... We need you!