Harmony
Hall 1839 - 45
FOUNDER/ LEADER : Robert Owen
The official Owenite community sponsored by the Universal Community
Society of Rational Religionists. Concieved on a grand scale it consisted
of a series of farms around an impressive 3 storey communal house. The
scheme was beset with problems almost from the start, the only sucesses
being on the farming side. Much of the failure of the community must
be blamed on Owen's mismanagement, despite attempts by others to save
the project. The failure of Harmony Hall marked the end of Owenite socialism
as a movement.
GRID REF: SU298304 East Tythersley
REF: Alt Com 19th Cent.Eng/Robert Owen & the Owenites in Britain
& America. JFC Harrison.
Little Bentley
1845-6
FOUNDER/ LEADER : William Galpin / Isaac Ironside
Ex-General Secertary of the Owenite Rational Society William Galpin
on the collapse of Harmony Hall set up a small community of 'sacred
socialists' on an adjoining farm - where the mainly ex-Harmony Hall
colonists lived a spartan vegetarian life.
GRID REF: SU298304
REF: Robert Owen & the Owenites in Britian & America. JFC Harrison.
New Forest Shakers1872
- 86
FOUNDER/LEADER: MaryAnnGirling
160 'Shakers' lived at New Forest Lodge. They were followers of Mrs
Girling a female messiah. They were evicted from the Lodge in 1875 and
moved to a farm at Tiptoe. New Forest Lodge is now a nursing home.
GRID REF: SZ274952 Vaggs Lane, Hordle
REF: Alt Com 19th Cent.Eng
Old House
1907
House given to the theosophists by Nan Ino Herbert to
turn into the British version of the Theosophists community at Point
Loma California. The site however was deemed unsuitable.Herbert Auberon
sheltered & supported the New Forest Shakers.
GRID REF: New Forest
REF: Heavens Below p285
Sandy Balls
1919-34
FOUNDER/LEADER :Ernest Westlake
Estate on the northern edge of the New Forest bought as a base for the
Code of Woodcraft Chivalry. Westlake & his family drew up a plan
for a forest park stocked with the surviving fauna of the Old Stone
Age. Annual folkmoots were held here until 1934 and Westlake is buried
there in a replica Bronze Age burial mound.
GRID REF: SU169151
REF: The Triumph of the Moon.
Hugh's
Settlement 1928 - 37?
120 acre experimental model settlement as prototype for
other rural & overseas settlements. " Hugh's settlement
builds its own houses; aims at community food production and industries....."
GRID REF: Quarley. Nr Andover.
REF : Community In Britian
Little Park
1935 - 82?
Land Settlement Association smallholding scheme.
(See Chawston Beds.)
GRID REF: SU365457 Abbotts Ann
REF : Colin Ward D&D 94/95
Peace Service
Community C1940
Wartime pacifist land settlement.
GRID REF: SU646349 Ropley
REF : Utopian England
Tristan
Close 1961-2
Home of the Tristan Da Cunha Islanders during attempt
to resettle them in this country following the volcanic eruption on
the island.
GRID REF: SU 480012 Calshot
REF: Crisis in Utopia. P.Munch.