Welcome to a website dedicated to the history and life of the Caldecott Community, a pioneering children's community which began life in 1911 and is still evolving. As former children, staff, and friends, we feel there is a great deal to be learned from the life and history of the Community, and from the ongoing work and discoveries of members of the Association in the archives and in memories, which we try to share here. To begin your journey into the history and work of the Community please go to the Timeline, and explore. We would love to hear from you.

The Caldecott Association was formed in 2004 by former children and staff, and welcomes as members anyone who has been a part of the Community's life in some way, whether as children and staff, or as friends, family, supporters, or interested researchers. 

Were you a child, member of staff, or volunteer at the Community? Are you a member of the Association? There is a members' only area of the website. For a user name and password, or to join or find out more about the Association, please contact the Secretary.

 

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"Perhaps the very peak of my experience was reached one snowy January morning when I got up by candlelight and the farmer drove us up to Charlton in his high-wheeled dog-cart. I felt it was the most exciting moment of my life, as wrapped up to the eyes in a great rug, the cold with its sharp sweet smell hitting us as we bowled along the white road behind that spanking horse through the wide white landscape with the strange blue light from the snow on everything; and when we arrived at Charlton we were driven right up to the front door and Miss Potter opened it and I felt the warmth coming out and smelt the porridge and cocoa and I knew I should never forget it: indeed the memory of such an experience, so clear, so vivid, so intensely beautiful even to the eyes and sensibilities of a six year old child can become part of the very fabric of life as it did of mine."

Elizabeth Lloyd, in "The Story of a Community", visiting the Community when it was based at Charlton Court, in Kent (1917-1924)

 

See the Timeline for more