Arkville Maze

Lore & Background

The maze was reportedly commissioned shortly after Erpf read Michael Ayrton's novel The Maze Maker, a fictional autobiography from the view of Daedalus, who in Greek mythology built the labyrinth under Crete. The maze is semi-subterranean, with its brick walls dug into the surrounding hillside. It features winding paths and statues including a cast bronze Minotaur of Crete, as well as Daedalus and Icarus positioned at its two ending goals. The Minotaur statue is one of multiple Minotaur sculptures created by Ayrton; the one owned by the Corporation of London is a distinct work, not part of a set of three identical statues.

Reader's Guide

The Arkville Maze stands as a notable modern recreation of an ancient mythological structure, built at a scale thought to be the largest brick maze in the world. Its design, inspired by the labyrinth of Crete, incorporates classical figures from the myth. The maze's semi-subterranean construction and brick walls up to ten feet high create an immersive experience. Navigating it uninitiated takes approximately thirty minutes, while Erpf could reportedly reach its center in about five minutes. After Erpf's death in 1975, ownership transferred with the estate. In 2008, a 26-year-old woman died while trespassing in the maze, falling off an abutment while attempting to leave the property. The maze remains a private, historically significant landscape feature.

Did You Know?

• The maze was once thought to be the largest brick maze in the world, but that record now belongs to Longleat's hedge maze, which was built later.
• It was commissioned after Erpf read Ayrton's novel The Maze Maker.
• The cast bronze Minotaur statue is one of several Minotaur sculptures created by Ayrton, not part of a set of three identical works.
• Navigating the maze uninitiated takes approximately thirty minutes.