Celebrating Braziers Park:

75 Years of Curiosity, Community and Conscious Change


Braziers Park in the late 19th century. Photo from the Braziers archive.










Founded in 1950 by psychiatrist and educational reformer Dr. Norman Glaister, Braziers Park was envisioned as a space where people could explore new ways of living and working together. Inspired by his earlier work with the Order of the Woodcraft Chivalry and the Grith Fyrd movement, Glaister saw Braziers not only as a beautiful house in the Oxfordshire countryside, but as a laboratory for community life – a place to study how groups function, how people communicate, and how society can grow in harmony.

Over the decades, Braziers has been home to a remarkable tapestry of people and ideas. Artists, educators, environmentalists, activists, and visionaries have gathered here, contributing to a tradition of open inquiry and creative experiment. The Grade II* listed Gothic house and the land around it have provided the backdrop for countless conversations, collaborations, and celebrations.


A Place of Learning, Belonging and Valuing The Individual

Braziers Park has always been more than just a historic building. It is a working community, where members live and share responsibilities together – from cooking and gardening to welcoming visitors and hosting events. This way of life has kept alive the founder’s vision of cooperative living, while constantly adapting to the needs of new generations.

For three quarters of a century, Braziers has also been a centre for education. From early experiments in social research to today’s courses, workshops, and gatherings, Braziers offers space to learn not only with the mind, but also with the heart and hands. Its current programme, inspired by Soil, Soul, Society – the work of peace activist and environmentalist Satish Kumar, continues this tradition by bringing people together around ecology, creativity, s
pirituality, and community.




Early forest school activities taking place at Braziers Park, likely 1960s. Photos from the Braziers archive.




A Heritage of Creativity

Braziers story is rich with creativity. It has been a setting for films and music, a retreat for writers and artists, and the birthplace of festivals and cultural projects. Its grounds, gardens, and woodland have provided inspiration and sanctuary for generations of visitors. This creative heritage continues today with art residencies, craft workshops, music festivals, and heritage projects that make Braziers history accessible to schools, families, and local communities.


Looking Ahead

As Braziers Park celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2025, we look back with gratitude to all those who have lived, worked, and visited here and those who remain members – each leaving their mark on this unfolding experiment in community while we look with hope into the future.

Braziers remains a place where the past and the future meet, a historic house alive with possibility, rooted in its heritage yet always reaching forward. We warmly invite you to join us in celebrating this milestone, whether by attending an event, exploring our heritage, or simply walking in the gardens that have held so many stories over the past seventy-five years.

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Come and join us for our 75th anniversary celebrations:



SOCIETY Wider Community Gathering & 75th Anniversary, 3pm Friday 21st - 4pm Monday 23rd November 2025




Braziers Park School of Integrative Social Research
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