Kelston Roundhill and Roundhill Barn

Roundhill Barn hosted the Kelston Records fest – a simple celebration of life and summer – 15-17 July. Around 100 guests from locally, Germany and as far away as New Zealand enjoyed Bath Soft Cheese meals, local lamb, a specialist Kenyan feast, local beer and cider.

Music was provided by the Marick Baxter Band, Anna Kissel, The R.A.M.O.A.N.E.R.S and Anunaki Fan Club; consistently excellent in very different ways. Brocks Adventures treated guests to archery and axe-throwing. Fairfield House provided logistics support and two excellent table tennis tables.

Kids were entertained with a craft workshop and firing lemonade bottles into the sky with the “Wacky Chad” custom water rocket engine. Thanks to all involved for organising, support and clear up.

Ali and Tom used Roundhill Barn for a wedding reception, with a stretch marquee and furniture from local firm Abbas Marquees. We commissioned a second generator for backup just in time to make sure their home made cream cakes stayed safe in the heatwave.

For details about hiring Roundhill Barn see roundhillbarn.com

We’ve got some senior doctors from Bath’s Royal United Hospital using Roundhill Barn tomorrow for a medical charity strategic awayday. We’d love to more for the local NHS, and we’ve tried to set up a soothing and creative environment for them.

For details on hiring Roundhill Barn for strategic awaydays or celebrating life events visit https://roundhillbarn.com.

Jon Hamp writes:

HAH HAH!

the bridges say,
You do not walk in Wales today….

But I have walked and I have seen,
your rain, your light , your grey, your green.

A gentle ‘SO?’
these Cotswolds say….
we hold close counsel here today.

and hide our jewels in folds and pleats,
where green cloaks; beech and alder meet.

So, let your mountains hold their height,

We sleep in folds and pleats tonight.

The Kelston Laureate Jon Hamp sends us these words:

Through

The gate latch
falling lifts the head.
Antlers reach to touch the veil
resting soft against it.

The key is entered, upside down.
Lock turns, and time
breathes outward, through
to somewhere else.

And gently, dust and antlers
sift downward through the mesh.

This Sat 21 May Three Cane Whale are back at Roundhill Barn for an intimate concert. The trio play delicate, original instrumental folk tunes, and deploy rich array of original instruments many of which would be unfamiliar.

Tickets £15 available here. Cash bar with excellent food available on the night.

https://komediabath.ticketsolve.com/shows/873625175

This was nice to see after our December bluebell planting efforts.

We’re very much hoping these are Hyacinthoides non-scripta and not the other ones; we love Jamon iberica but Hyacinthoides hispanica not so much…

Here’s the key to distinguish them…

We were pleased to welcome our new neighbours the Middle Ground Growers from the other side of the hill for an equinox celebration of their new venture and successful fundraise.

Their Weston Spring project is a new market garden growing local organic fruit and veg, with local delivery by e-bike. In an age of mini-courgettes flown in from Kenya and asparagus from Peru they’re taking the World Heritage City to the old ways in an outstanding, natural and beautiful way. Let’s not forget this is how Bath’s earlier Roman and Georgian residents would have fed themselves.

Starting a new venture is always risky, and earning a living from local farmland is hard work. Their worthwhile project is something we’re happy to support.

Spring and beautiful weather has seen increased visits to Kelston Clump. The Roundhill Barn is again available for short-term hire: see dedicated web site here. Apologies if the lettings team has been hard to contact for some weeks: we had admin and staff issues (all now happily resolved).

This weekend two lucky 16-year-olds had a memorable birthday weekend of sunlight and moonlight with dozens of friends. Adult supervision was kept at a safe distance with the elegant solution of a 1967 Airstream Trail Wind from Nick at Glamstreams: all mod cons in a classic aero-engineering aesthetic.

Dick Bateman, learned retired geography teacher and keen walker who knows Kelston Roundhill as well as anyone, has responded to Ben’s pictures below with some of his own.

Maybe its time we revived our photo competition (first prize was a Bath Soft Cheese, consolation prize hard cheese, and past winner in most categories typically the one and only Matt Prosser).