Nature Writer Ronald Blythe's 15th Century Former Home to Become Writers' Retreat

Essex Wildlife Trust plans to turn the Tudor longhouse home and estate of the author of the groundbreaking 1969 Akenfield Ronald Blythe into a retreat for writers, artists, and naturalists.

Bottengoms in the landscape of Wormingford in the Stour Valley on the Essex-Suffolk border, was previously owned by painter John Nash and his artist wife Christine, who then gave it to the nature writer Blythe who lived there from 1943 to 2023 when he celebrated his 100th birthday.

The house stands in two acres of garden and countryside and was bequeathed by Blythe to the Essex Wildlife Trust on his death last year.

"Ronnie’s wish was for the estate to become a nature reserve and to include a studio to inspire writers, artists, photographers, natural historians and historians for generations to come," said Rich Yates, Chief Executive for Essex Wildlife Trust. "We have an advisory group including Ronnie’s friends, the executors of his will, and literary academics to develop a vision and steward the estate in a way that fulfils Ronnie’s wishes as closely as possible. It’s not our natural territory but it’s an amazing gift for the Trust."