Historic Whiteway Colony in Camp is holding an open gardens event on Sunday, June 25th, and visitors will have a chance to look around the unique community.
It was founded in 1898 by Quaker journalist Samuel Beale Bracher on Tolstoyan principles – private property was rejected and personal items shared. They didn’t believe in land ownership, so they burnt the deeds, which still remains to this day.
The original community had eight colonists and embraced a self-sufficient lifestyle. Mohandas Gandhi was interested in the unique way of life and visited Whiteway Colony in 1909. The village now has 68 houses and more than 120 residents.
Vanessa Price moved to Whiteway 18 months ago: “We were waiting four years for a house to come to the market as houses don’t become available very often with many generations passing their homes down to family members – some descendants of the original colonist still live in the village.
“My husband and I have always lived in Stroud. My husband’s grandparents owned the post office in nearby Camp, and he remembered Whiteway when visiting there as a child.
“The houses still have no title deeds, which can be a concern, but the community is so friendly with monthly gatherings at the Colony Hall for pizza around a long table and the glorious outdoor swimming pool that was built and maintained by residents makes up for any worries we had.”
Vanessa has an Instagram page that follows her life in the colony: @vanessa_inthe_cotswolds
The Open Gardens event (GL6 7ER) is being held on Sunday, June 25th from 11am-4pm with more than 10 gardens open. There will also be a history trail with information and locations of the more historical homes. Refreshments and plant sale at the Colony Hall. Entry £5, children free.
