Canon Frome Court Community was founded in 1979. We are a community of
about 45
(adults and children), ranging in age from 0 to mid 60s.
We do not have a common philosophy or political stance, though there is a
prevailing sympathy with green issues. People choose to live at Canon Frome for
varying reasons. The farm is the main focus of community life, but for individuals
there is a wide variety of benefits in belonging to a group beyond the immediate family.
People hoping to join are invited to visit several times before deciding whether
this is the place for them, and for us to decide whether they will fit in. Each new
member changes the community to some extent, and we do, occasionally, turn down
applicants.
Canon Frome Court is a Georgian manor house and stable block set in 40 acres of
rural Herefordshire skirted by the River Frome. It is owned and managed by the
Windflower Housing Association, a co-ownership housing association. The house and
stable block are divided into 18 self-contained homes of varying sizes, which are sold to
members on 999-year leases. The main house also includes communal dining, sitting
and meeting rooms, a couple of kitchens and a suite of guest rooms, as well as a gym
(a remnant of its previous role as local secondary school). Tucked away beyond the
stables is a swimming pool, for which we remain grateful to the final PTA!
Looking after livestock, growing food, maintaining buildings and equipment and
administrative tasks take considerable time, energy and commitment from all of us -
although this will vary depending on whether
people have full- or part-time jobs and/or young children to look after. We finance
activities by monthly contributions, according to size of home and family.
Our children
attend the village primary school or the comprehensive school in Ledbury, travelling by
bus from the end of our drive.
Members meet weekly (usually on Thursday) to discuss and plan the many aspects of life here.
We attempt to reach decisions by consensus. The meetings are organised as follows:
The Windflower Housing Association: dealing with the estate,
legal matters, sale of housing, new members, insurance, maintenance, budgeting, and reports from the
other meetings.
The Co-op (the farming co-operative): managing livestock, garden,
fields, machinery, budgeting.
The Frome Society (a registered charity): organising the letting of rooms and
facilities for occasional events, workshops and meetings.
House: a focus for concerns that are not easily slotted into the above meetings
(frequently the problems that arise from living communally and the shifting focus as we
change and develop).
All except "House" meetings are formally organised with a chair, secretary and treasurer, and
minutes are taken. Administrative tasks such as these, as well as the co-ordination of all
aspects of co-operative work (e.g. fields, garden, machinery, animals, maintenance), can be
onerous. These jobs may not be apparent to visitors but, for those hoping to join us, such
roles need to be considered.
Working together and working independently
on communal tasks are essentially what "community" means to us at Canon Frome. We try to find
a balance between the private and the communal and depend on tolerance and flexibility to pursue
our shared aims and achieve harmony in the way we live. Community life also means being prepared
to compromise in decision-making and to give up some personal autonomy for the greater good.
It's not always easy but the successes are enormously satisfying and with every new member
we become a slightly different community. It's never boring!
