Laurieston Hall :: Communities Directory

Formed: 1972 Established: 1972

This page last updated:3/4/2013

Laurieston Hall

Castle Douglas, Scotland,

United Kingdom

This co-operative of around 24 people of all ages is now well into its fourth decade. We live in and around a huge Edwardian main house, with its walled garden, stables and cottages, surrounded by 135 acres of beautiful woods, pastures and marshland which stretch to a loch in the north. Trees we planted are now being coppiced. Living spaces - communal kitchens, one-person flats, family homes - use wood for heating and cooking. A hydro supplies much of our electricity.

From Easter to October a programme of events (music, self-help, creative, gay, etc.) brings up to 70 extra people a week. We grow as much fruit and vegetables as we can, keep cows, pigs, hens and bees, and do most of our own maintenance. All of us pay a large portion of our rent in unwaged labour for the co-op. This means ideally spending about two and a half days a week doing what we call “workshare”.

Issues that affect everybody come to a weekly co-op meeting in which decisions are made by consensus. Co-operation is our common ideology; under that umbrella we lean this way and that, are generally better at dealing with tomorrow than next year, are supportive of each other as individuals as well as co-op members... and we try to have a good time!

If you want to know more, please email evi@phonecoop.coop for an e-copy of our newsletter, which contains details of the courses we run and how to apply.

Joining this community can be a long process. The best way to start is to come on a Maintenance Week, of which there are only three per year. (Book early to avoid disappointment!) The newsletter comes out every January, and the visitor season runs from Easter to the end of September. We are not actively seeking new members, but are not closed to them either.

Contact:

LHHC
Laurieston Hall
Laurieston
Castle Douglas, Scotland DG7-2NB United Kingdom
Phone: +44-(0)1644-450-277, +44-(0)1644-450-682

International Telephone Info

Community location is placed at the center of the zip/postal code, city/state, or city/country (not based on street addresses)

Former/Other Names: (Housing Co-op)

This page last updated:3/4/2013

Visitors Accepted

(by arrangement)

Visitor Process: Write a bit about yourself. Write to us giving your preferred dates, and preferred length of stay - usually one week to three months. Be prepared to contribute labour, and money. You are likely to be kitchen-sharing. Please give us a couple of months notice.

Network Affiliations:

Fellowship for Intentional Community

Statement of Housing Non-discrimination:

Our community does not discriminate in regards to housing based on race/color, national origin, religion, sex/gender, family status (i.e. having children, not having children, or being pregnant), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, ancestry, source of income, age, creed, personal appearance, political affiliation, HIV infection, military/veteran status, unfavorable military discharge, gender identity or expression, receiving public assistance, or being the victim of domestic abuse.

Population Members(adults and children): 25 Non-member Residents: 0	Government Decision Making: By consensus Identified Leader: No Leadership Core Group: No	Labor and Money Financial Style: Other Labor Contribution: Expected Join Fee: No Regular Fees: Yes (monthly rent)
Land and Buildings Rural Area: 150 acres (60.7 hectares) Land Owned By: The community	Food, etc. Percentage of Food Grown: over 50% Share Community Meals: 1-3 times/month Dietary Practice: Omnivorous Alcohol Use: Seldom used Tobacco Use: Seldom used	Social Factors Educational Style(s): Public schooled

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Comment from DavidStevens on 8/9/2011 (Reader Rating: 0)

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Just back from an Edward Carpenter Community (Gay mens network) there and the Laurieston Hall community was a key part of making it a very enjoyable and life changing experience.
The community as a whole were welcoming and friendly and those working to support the week were the epitome of good hosts.

It is a beautiful location and seems to be a well run community with a lovely sense of continuity and support (I had a long chat with one of the founding members - still there). If my circumstances were different I would seriously consider it.. and def hope to go on a maintenance week.

My only slight sadness is that some of the older community members have felt the need to move out when they have become frail - though I believe they stay closely connected. It is a difficult balance like any community as you would not want it to overwhelm the support available, but it felt like a layer of the community was missing.

But that aside.. a very positive experience and I'll be back...

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