Event category: History

In his 1953 memoir, Community Farm, the writer and social idealist John Middleton Murry, wrote that ‘work on the land is necessary to the life of man in a way no other work can be.’ He was associated with a number of ‘back to the land’ projects on the Essex/Suffolk border in the 1930s and 1940s. In this illustrated talk, writer and social historian Ken Worpole will focus on post-war initiatives such the Land Settlement Association small-holdings around Ardleigh, Old Hall in East Bergholt, Frating Hall Farm and other experiments in creating more sustainable forms of farming and human settlement as we face a challenging environmental future.

Following the talk by Ken, Old Hall Community will offer short guided tours (20 min) of the vegetable gardens on a rolling basis. Light refreshments (tea, coffee and scone) will be available for a suggested donation of £3 (bring cash) whilst waiting for your tour to start should you wish. Refreshments are not included in the ticket price. Please note there is no car parking on site other than for registered disabled. Car parking for all others is behind the Red Lion in the village car park.