Michael O’Connell and his wife Ella built themselves a house in Perry Green, near Much Hadham in Hertfordshire, in 1937 after they returned to Britain from Australia. They called it The Chase.
In 1970 a fire destroyed the workshop, and Michael rebuilt it with the help of students and friends.
The house and workshop before the fire, looking across the lawn from the wood.
-
- Ella in the tent they lived in when building The Chase
-
- Building The Chase, with Michael
-
- Building The Chase, with Ella
-
- Building The Chase
-
- Michael in the original workshop
-
- Michael with Betty and Iris (the Sheridan sisters) in the workshop
-
- Betty and Iris in the workshop
-
- Iris in the workshop
-
- The kitchen at The Chase before the fire – Anna de Polnay (Bowden)
-
- The alcove, off the big room at the other end from the workshop – Anna de Polnay (Bowden)
-
- Looking across the lawn – Anna de Polnay (Bowden)
-
- The big room at the other end from the workshop
-
- Across the lawn, with Ella and Terence (Seamus)
-
- The workshop from across the lawn – before the fire
-
- The kitchen window before the fire
-
- Across the lawn, after the fire, with Michael
-
- The pots on the other side of the lawn, with Michael
Michael O'Connell - textile artist 
I worked at the Henry Moore Foundation as s Summer Guide from 2007-12 and used to walk through the woods past The Chase. It was fascinating to see the textiles displayed in the Gibberd Gallery today, your website in progress and to realise from your website, the history of The Chase. I also think that Anna/Elsa Gifford may be the same person who taught Art in Harlow in the 1960’s?
Thank you and best wishes .
Sandra Norris
Sandra Norris, I grew up in Hoddesdon knowing Michael O’Connell very well and have often wondered what became of Terence. I would love to know, please?