The Courtyards Community comprises 5 units within a converted school on the outskirts of Bradford on Avon. Each unit is self-contained. We share the use of 8 acres of land and a wonderful communal hall. Other shared facilities include a tennis court, swimming pool and orchard. This year, all types of fruit were particularly in abundance.
Most residents work off-site (at least for some of the time), but we get together for a full day's work once a month. Jobs we've taken on over the last few months have been painting, turf-laying, tree-planting, garden-building, rock-shifting, grass-cutting, sewage-composting, tree-cutting and some other building and development projects. We always end up sharing a meal together. We've recently instigated a formal method of accounting for the different availability of each resident for additional communal work.
Communal facilities are used regularly by groups which include people from outside the community. Examples have been the monthly dance: 'The Wave', a book club, meetings of the Woodcraft Folk, WWOOF days, camping, private parties and weddings.
In 2005, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of the original conversion of Frankleigh House into living units. This project subsequently became "The Courtyards Community" and "Frankleigh Co-Flats".
For rent: 83 Bath Road, The Courtyards Community, Bradford on Avon. BA15 2PB
Wed, 05/07/2008 - 07:20 — Mark Spring£750 per month
For rent from January to August 2009
A four bedroom maisonette, part of a co-housing community in the greenbelt around the town of Bradford on Avon in Wiltshire at the southern end of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Courtyards Community comprises five households around two open courtyards: one is to the north and the other to the south of number 83. The communal hall is used all year round for monthly meals, fortnightly meetings of the Courtyards directors, communal parties, private parties, a book club, monthly dance: The Wave (inspired by 'five rhythms'), ping-pong and games afternoons. The 8 acres of land are shared by residents. Many people grow their own food. There is a tree house, children's play area, bonfire area and tennis court. Also shared are the hot tub (wood-fuelled), sauna, and a non-heated, open-air swimming pool (built in 2006). With our neighbours at Frankleigh Co-Flats, we publish the regular newsletter, "Flip".
Bradford on Avon station is a 20-minute walk across the fields and connects to Bath Spa in 15 minutes, Bristol Temple Meads in 35 minutes, Weymouth in 1 hour 50 minutes. Bradford on Avon is a former mill-town nestling in the dramatic Avon valley. There is a weekly farmer's market and many good-quality restaurants and pubs. The Georgian Tea Room is well worth trying if you're visiting. The "Cottage Coop" wholefood, fair-trade café is nextdoor to Bishopston Trading (fair-trade clothes). There are a number of local artists. The Wiltshire Music Centre offers a full programme of classical, folk, world music and jazz and is a 20-minute walk across the fields. The annual music festivals at Trowbridge ("The Village Pump festival"), WOMAD, Glastonbury are within easy reach. For theatres, cinema and all the facilities of a big city, Bath is 7 miles away by car or bike.
There is a successful Steiner-based nursery, Hollyhocks. Bradford on Avon has two primary schools and one secondary school. Christchurch Primary School is 15-minutes' walk and offers an excellent and varied range of opportunities in music.
