See inside the Old Hall community living in East Bergholt

As you approach Old Hall, a charming, delightfully ramshackle manor house in East Bergholt, it is hard to believe that it is home to around 43 adults and 14 children.  

The building itself is a beautiful, 17th century manor house set amongst 65-acres of sprawling grounds.

In its time, Old Hall has been home to a wealthy banking family, a convent of nuns, the army during the Second World War, and a friary of Franciscan monks.

In 1974, it was purchased by the founding members of its now-thriving community.

The founders were idealists who wanted to live apart from the consumerism of modern-day society.

Old Hall is a vast manor house set amongst 65-acres of sprawling grounds. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)Old Hall is home to around 43 adults and 14 children. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)

Old Hall is vast, and divided into units lived in by members. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)We were shown around Old Hall by Fiona Mullins, pictured sitting in the library. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)The ornate ceiling of the library in Old Hall. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)Singing and yoga classes often take place in the Queen Anne room at Old Hall. Currently, the room is home to these overwintering banana plants. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)

Perhaps then, a few eyebrows might have been raised. Now, however, the community at Old Hall is still going strong, proof of the fact that plenty of people in our county shared their vision. Several current members grew up there and have returned to raise their own families.

It was a warm, bright spring day when we visited Old Hall. We were met by Fiona Mullins, who has called the place home for five and a half years, and who was only too happy to show us around.

We have until 12.30pm, she tells us, which is when the lunch bell will call everybody inside. Those who can are expected to sign up for at least three jobs on a rota system each week and spend 15 hours working on the land or the building. That day, it was Naomi Leak who was cooking lunch for all.

Farming is a key part of life at Old Hall. They keep chickens, cows and sheep, and have kept pigs in the past. There are huge swathes of orchards and vegetable gardens, and even a collection of bee hives.

John is one of the founding members of Old Hall. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)

A bell is rung to call members inside for mealtimes. Ringing the bell is a favourite task given to children. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)People at Old Hall will sign up for around three jobs each week on a rota system. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)Farming is a huge part of life at Old Hall. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)The members keep Lincolnshire Longwool sheep, using their wool as mulch in the fields. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)The aim is for Old Hall to be as self-sufficient as possible, and they grow their own fruit and vegetables. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)Fiona Mullins with the chickens, which produce all of Old Hall's eggs. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)

Christopher Wattling moved to Old Hall with his wife and two daughters five years ago. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)

For Christopher Wattling, as with many members, this was a key part of his decision to move to Old Hall with his wife and two daughters five years ago.

“We’d been looking around for alternative living arrangements for a while, as we were sick of the rat race,” he explained.

While 15 hours a week sounds like a lot, he said this is nothing compared to the amount of time most people devote to chores in any one week.

“If you’re cooking three meals a day, seven days a week, that’s easily 15 hours a week just on meal prep,” he said. “It’s a no-brainer.”

All laundry and other daily tasks, too, are shared, meaning that members have far more time to spend with their families, or focusing on their passions.

Christopher Wattling is one of several Christophers living at Old Hall, and so is known by the nickname of Toff. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)Hilman Wajaya has lived at Old Hall for the past 24 years. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)Helen Jolly has lived at Old Hall for six years. She explained how important it is for aspiring members to visit the community throughout the year, as members feel the extremes of the seasons, spending so much time working outside. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)Member Helen Jolly, centre, was working in the vegetable garden with volunteers Rachel and Oly. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)The Old Hall community make their own cheese, using milk from their herd of cows. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)Naomi Leak, making lunch in the kitchen of Old Hall. Naomi moved to Old Hall with her partner and their daughter during the 'sweet spot between lockdowns' in September of 2020. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)

Mr Wattling works as an occupational therapist in mental health services, and since moving to Old Hall, he has been able to work part-time, as many other members do.

Once members have bought into Old Hall, the costs of living are relatively low, as the community is almost entirely self-sufficient.

However, it is certainly a different way of life, and takes some adjusting to. While members are certainly released from having to cook every day, for example, they also don’t get to decide what they eat with the menu selected by that day's chef.

Communication is key at Old Hall, and it takes work for so many different personalities to live harmoniously together.  All decisions are made by consensus, rather than majority, and are discussed at length in weekly meetings.

Old Hall even has its own sauna, which was built several years ago. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)Fiona Mullins sitting in one of the 'living willow' chairs in the grounds of Old Hall. These chairs are made with living willow, and were made recently by a visiting weaver who showed the community how to make their own baskets. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)David Hodgson has lived at Old Hall for 35 years. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)

David Hodgson, 75, a retired interior design lecturer at the University of Suffolk, has lived at Old Hall for 35 years. He has lived in community settings for most of his life, having first experienced life in a community during his own student days.  

When we catch up with him, he is outside in the workshop, and explains that he is building four garden tables as a gift to Old Hall, to celebrate its 50th birthday.

“For me, the pluses far outweigh the negatives,” Mr Hodgson said. “You never get lonely. I can talk to young people here, who are travelling around the world. I used to enjoy that as a lecturer, nurturing the students’ education and growth.”

He also feels that his robust health is a consequence of the “superb” food that they eat at Old Hall, and the healthy lifestyle.

This is hard to argue with, particularly as we enjoy lunch with the members, a delicious fare of lentil soup, curries made with chickpeas and potatoes, salad and fresh bread.

To learn more about Old Hall, visit: www.oldhall.org.uk