In a disturbing new world of international chaos and power politics we return to this place of calm and sanity set amidst nature’s healing peace. This is a creative writer’s paradise.
A Creative Paradise
This 500 year old Tudor farmhouse Bottengoms is set in its own private wood in the Stour Valley, on the Essex-Suffolk border. A fairytale setting where the imagination stirs and where dreams are born.
The artists John and Christine Nash lived here from 1943. Ronald Blythe joined them in 1976. Seeing Ronnie’s talent as a writer Christine Nash encouraged him to develop his writing. As a result Ronnie was always a champion and encourager of young writers himself. When he died in 2024 he left this beautiful place to The Essex Wildlife Trust as a teaching resource and a retreat centre for creative people, writers, artists and naturalists.
March at Bottengoms
We can imagine Ronald walking down the path to his house at the end of this lane, conscious of all who have passed this way over the years:
The beginning of Lent is when I do more than walk my track. To the top and back is more than a mile and a half of flinty travel accompanied by birdsong. Also, should I be in historical mood, by ghosts of Saxon farmers, medieval children, Georgian parsons, poor Victorian labourers and the past relatives of those who sit with me in church.…… Who planted the twelve tall oaks just after Trafalgar? Who climbed the split oak after Marston Moor?…….
…..Footpaths lead to private experience, main roads to public happenings. Which is why we are advised to stick to the narrow path. ..Let the high banks enfold you, let the rain hollows splash you, let the occasional traveller give you no more than a nod, the pair of you being at your devotions.
From Tracking
On one such early spring walk he records:
… five pheasants in the woods. The church clock telling the hours piercingly. Wild daffodils in the orchard. The stream, clear and hurrying. A walker’s day, a wanderer’s day. Thus the bereft voices on the answer phone ‘we tried to get you.’
From ‘Next to Nature’
Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday and Lent
With the start the season of Lent, Shrove Tuesday sees Ronnie tossing pancakes for the children in the village school. On Ash Wednesday he is being signed with ashes as part of the traditional preparation for the 40 days of Lent leading up to Easter.
He would have approved of The 17th century poet, Robert Herrick’s good advice on how to keep a true Lent :
…. tis a fast to dole
Thy sheaf of wheat,
And meat,
Unto the hungry soul.
It is to fast from strife,
From old debate
And hate ;
To circumcise thy life.
To show a heart grief-rent ;
To starve thy sin,
Not bin ;
And that’s to keep thy Lent.
For me the present season of Lent reminds me do my verses ring true, or do any lines mar or jar? Above all do they resonate of Jesus, whose words and whose life were all-of-a-piece, ‘full of grace and truth’, love, compassion and generosity. Something to ponder here I think!
Were our world leaders to pause and take these things to heart, our world would be a much safer and better place.
Credit –Top featured photo by Zorba the Geek creative commons
A Listening Heart 
Thank you for a beautiful post. I love the writing of Ronald Blythe and your post really brings his work to life. A biography of him was published a few months ago and is very good.
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Thank you Tony. I wrote a tribute to Ronald Blythe in February 2023 – ‘Chronicles of the Countryside’. There is also a very good ‘Slightly Foxed’ podcast (‘A Life Well Written’ — No 45) reviewing Ronald’s work and the new biography which you mention.
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Thank you for a post that is both comforting and inspiring Richard.
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Thank you Andrea. Well done with your prize.
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Thanks Richard.
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