Does anyone out there have experience or knowledge of communes or community living, preferably in South Yorkshire but I'd also be interested in any throughout Yorkshire. Want to get off the treadmill and find some like minded people.

I know of something of an anarchist commune in pitsmoor - could find out some exact details if you wish

This is the only one I know of in Sheffield. Look at Brambles in the following link......
http://www.radicalroutes.org.uk/housing.html

Speaking on communes, did anybody see that programme on Tuesday night (I think) about monastic life? Was fascinating!

Communes look pretty hellish to me and the dwellers probably revert from happy hippies into cabin-fever crazies pretty quickly.
Its bad enough living with your family without throwing your lot in with a load of people you don't know. Give me a big front door to shut the world out with anyday.

Sheffette the anti-social

I think they are just an excuse for big orgies of ugly people!

I'm not sure if it's still there but the old railway cottages in Townhead near Dunford Bridge had a large self sufficient hippy commune. Swampy - Remember him? - was resident there.

Communal living can be good, but if I were to take the plunge (which is never I tells ya) I'd want a hand in setting it up and I'd like to know the people beforehand.
Perhaps it would be best to do it with some like minded friends. Then you could pool your cash to buy / rent a good place and work out together how best to fund it. You'll still have to pay out cash on a mortgage or rent but a bunch of you will lower the cost which could mean you have more disposable cash or can take a lower paid or part time job.
Why not try a holiday somewhere like a retreat where people live communally - some religious / new age organisations offer these kind of breaks where everyone chips in with the cooking, gardening etc. Then you'll know if you'd like it.

http://www.metta.org.uk/retreats.asp

http://www.retreats.org.uk/

http://www.heartspring.co.uk/whatson.htm

Hope you find these links useful.

Originally posted by jules
Does anyone out there have experience or knowledge of communes or community living, preferably in South Yorkshire but I'd also be interested in any throughout Yorkshire. Want to get off the treadmill and find some like minded people.

Take a look at Botton village near whitby. I visited it a couple of weeks ago. It is a Camphill community. It may be hard to get into but very worthwhile if you do.

http://www.camphill.org.uk/botton.htm

Hia Jules -

I've lived in a couple of communities - one in Derbyshire and one in Northern Ireland. Two of the most challenging times of my life but I loved it!!!

There's a Quaker community in Bamford (Peak District) - they live in a big old water board house - people/families have separate apartments . Don't know if there's any spaces. You don't have to be a signed-up quaker to live there. My friend lives there - PM me if you're interested and I'll find out more from her.

Also - don't know if you're arty at all, but a friend and I are going to set up our own mini-community in September. We're both writers and both about to do the Creative Writing MA. We're going to be advertising for a third and possibly fourth person to share a place with - someone who has an artistic project going on so who might be on a lower income as we are - so we can all support each other!

WIll be advertising on here later in the year . . . get in touch if you think you might be interested! Good luck with your search

JfG

Anyone know if the 'Townhead Collective Commune' in Dunford Bridge, near Barnsley is still around or not?

The principle interests me, but I'm too much of a private person to want to live in a true communal environment.

I'm trying to kick off a few projects with a community aspect though - JfG - be interested to see how your creative group kicks off!

Joe

my family are also interested in community living in sheffield or derbyshire we need purpose and direction and we are so fed up with the crap of life.

i have many email addresses but no communities that fit the bill if you know what i mean.

The village springs to mind back to the olden days

any ideas

The principle interests me, but I'm too much of a private person to want to live in a true communal environment.

I'm trying to kick off a few projects with a community aspect though - JfG - be interested to see how your creative group kicks off!

Joe


i know it was a while ago that you had this discussion but just wondered how things were going?? fed up with the whole work flake out work flake out thing!! and the complexities of life ..............

the village springs to mind.....


lianne

Been to a few good parties at the brambles in the past

the brambles where is that???? and i presume that it is a community living ??? thanks lianne