The House, Grounds & Facilities at Gaunts
A large country house from another age, set in extensive, wondrous grounds, peopled by merry, empathetic souls of all ages and backgrounds, offering peace and harmony.
Behind, beneath and all around is found the essence of an inspirational Charter that has guided the fortunes of this unusual hub of creative living. Challenges to our humanness and The Real are explored in profound thought and conversation, mirrored in the fabric, danced in every leaf of the protective trees, in the birds and wildlife of this unusual sanctuary; a ‘second home’ to passing hundreds of thousands.
Walk with me…
From the front door, one can stroll to the thousand year-old ‘dead and alive’ Chestnut Tree in parkland beyond the lake, down through ancient Ashton Wood to ‘Starhenge’ – a millennial peace garden – to the arboretum in Lewens Park, to the Roundhouse, Labyrinth, ‘Woodland Stage’, and Fire-Pit at the far end of the lawn, to the herb and walled gardens, past the Anaerobic Digester to the newly refurbished Stable’s garden surround and grass tennis court and ‘Avalon Cottage’, and on round to sit on the grass at ‘Sunset View’, just across the gravel from the front door.
Finding Your Bearings Around the House & Grounds
- Avalon Cottage Available for visiting course leader/teachers & private retreats (by arrangement).
- Camping Around the Garden Lawn edge – a flat and beautiful area.
- Camping Block Courtyard showers & loos, kitchen sink for campers, plus a disadvantaged shower/room.
- Car-parking for around 80 cars.
- Coffee Shop located in the Courtyard.
- Courtyard Cottage Is available for visiting course leader/teachers, & private retreats, (by arrangement)
- Drawing Room has an extensive collection of books, audios and videos from around the world.
- Fire-pit corner – Found at the bottom of the Garden Lawn with sit-around logs.
- Laundry – We have our own private laundry, and clothes washing & drying facilities available for guest’s use in the Stable Block between 8.00-1.00pm, by donation.
- Lake – Victorian ornamental lake with circular walk.
- Licensed Bar – We have an ‘on-licence’ bar for guests on residential courses and functions. The low-price bar opens at course leader’s request.
- Old Squash Court – Flexible space for workshops.
- Reception – At client’s request, we can help receive and register your guests.
- Round House – A round, earth-roofed, outdoor workshop/meeting space.
- Smoking – The Old Smoking Room is now the Bar. There is an open-air smoking area under the Wellingtonia down the Garden Steps.
- Swimming Pool – An Open-air pool located near the house close to the Theatre.
- Walled Garden – Organic garden beyond the stable block.
Stepping Inside the House
The Ground Floor offers a large Drawing Room giving onto the Old Hall, the Library, the Ballroom and Conservatory, Old Smoking Room, Dining Room, Reception, and Tea Station by the Garden Door. Upstairs, the First Floor bedrooms are exceptional, almost all en-suite; the Second Floor bedrooms are mainly twins with extensive bath and shower rooms close-by; the large Top Floor bedrooms and bathrooms adapt to group needs.
The Stables offer ten en-suite bedrooms and three others with a pair of shared shower-rooms, Score’s Suite, and ten community bedrooms used for live-in community and guest overflow.
Additionally available are a Ground Floor en-suite bedroom for the disadvantaged, Avalon and Courtyard Cottages, a large shower & WC block for campers, the Coffee Shop, Therapy Suite, and the Barn Theatre, our largest indoor open space with sprung-floor wooden floor.
THE DRAWING ROOM
Formerly an ante-room, nowadays a mini-library with a selection of interfaith and philosophical books, and an open meeting room, adjoining…
THE OLD HALL
A peaceful open space, the Old Hall provides seats and sofas to gather, rest and connect. Warmed by a log burner, it’s a perfect location to relax.
THE DINING ROOM
Elegant, with a panoramic view, the dining room seats 60 to 84 people. To seat more people at the same time, we can use the Drawing Room, and Old Smoking Room, and/or erect a marquee outside the Garden Door if a bigger space is needed.
THE OLD SMOKING ROOM (BAR)
Many a fine night has been had within these walls. It’s a small, intimate venue that lends itself to end-of-day, chats and songs around the fireplace.
Our Workshop, Conference & Event Rooms
THE BARN THEATRE
The largest workshop room at Gaunts House. A quiet wooden structure located near the house, a lawn away from the swimming-pool. The Theatre is spacious, warm and quiet with an atmospheric feel, and can be decorated easily in a number of ways. The space is designed with various lighting and sound options, and has a sprung wooden floor, invaluable for yoga, dance and physical workshops. Its light spacious nature makes it suitable for large presentations.
Accommodates: Seats up to 150, with a 200 capacity for standing uses.
Size: (60’ x 30’, 19.4m x 9.7m)
THE BALLROOM
An elegant, tranquil room with antique grand piano, suited to larger groups, lectures, and concerts. This room is stunning lit by chandeliers or candlelight. Patio doors lead on to a small glass conservatory.
Accommodates: Seats up to 80, or with 100 people standing.
Size: (31’ x 22’, 10m x 7.1m)
THE LIBRARY
A peaceful reflective space with a log fire and many old books; a contemplation and meeting space over the great lawn. The library contains seats, sofas and sound equipment so that the room can be used for appropriate workshops.
Accommodates: Seats up to 45 people, and 65 standing.
Size: 30’ x 20’, (9m x 6.5m)
SQUASH COURT
Located in the stable block the squash court lends itself to classes of various types. It’s quiet and contained with a polished wooden floor and very high ceiling. With its white walls it feels like a space unclaimed, ready for whatever event wants to colour the space.
Accommodates: Around 30 people for movement and dance.
Size: 29’8 x 18’9 (5.7m x 9m10’)
THE ROUND HOUSE
Built by hand a few years ago, with a grass roof and open central fire pit, the roundhouse lends itself to song, stories and ceremony.
Size: (30’ x 20’, 9m x 6.5m)
THE SWIMMING POOL
We built the open pool near The Barn Theatre decades ago. In the summer months the pool warms and lures all ages.
Size: (39’5 x 19’5’, 5.9m x 12m)
Facilities at a Glance
Bedrooms in the House & Stable Block
We have singles, doubles, and twin bedrooms, sleeping up to 85 odd guests, (with beds for more in shared rooms, on request), including the Stable Block, plus camping, (plus 12 live-in community rooms).
Rooms (Single, Double & Twin)
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View Our Floor Plans
To make hosting your event easier, please feel free to look at our floorpans where you will be able to see the house & stable block layout. Once you have booked with us we will give you access to a room allocation website page via a page link.
