FIRE AND THE PHOENIX

Excerpt from email letter sent out on 15th May 2002

?Dear friends,

As you probably know by now the Cae Mabon Roundhouse burned down on the Spring Equinox, 20th March 2002.

Fortunately no one was hurt, it wasn?t arson, nor was it a fault of the Roundhouse design. Rather a candle was unwittingly left burning unattended and seven hours later the whole thing went up. I imagine that wax dripping from the candle slowly set fire to the furnishings inside the Roundhouse, eventually gaining sufficient strength to catch the thatch.

The women here were engrossed in their work inside the barn. The first they knew of it was a bright orange light through the window. The Roundhouse was ablaze.

I was away in Chester at the time and was deeply shocked to receive the news. But by the time I returned home the next afternoon I?d gone through the strongest emotions and was resigned to what I?d see - heaps of ash, charred rafters, twisted fragments of metal, the blackened skeletal remains of the once wonderful Roundhouse.

I did, for about thirty seconds, consider not rebuilding the Roundhouse, but then dismissed it as an option. The Roundhouse was the first building I built here and it has always been the heart of the place.

It was a unique, beautiful structure, the thatch sweeping up in a lovely curve, the flickering fire and lanterns creating a magical atmosphere for so many wonderful evenings. I reckon in seven and a half years more than four thousand people came there.

I imagine most of you will have special memories. For me it?s been a place of community and soulful conviviality. There have been innumerable relaxed chats around the fire, times of deep intimacy somehow nourished by the Roundhouse?s protective embrace. Many fine storytellers have come to entrance and entertain us. The space has filled with song and echoed with beautiful music, poetry and laughter. There have been times of profound awakening and transformation in specially created ceremonies. Couples have been married there and babies named. Once it was even home to an extraordinary courtroom drama.

Somehow this reconstructed pre-historic Roundhouse was a refuge from the hectic, troubling world, a place where we could reconnect with a simpler, wiser, more ancient part of ourselves. It?s been a place enjoyed by children, teenagers and adults alike.

The ?wow!? response of all who've seen it for the first time walking down the hill has been delightful. Some have sought other places like it around the country. They have found none.

The news now is that, in the last two months, the Phoenix has risen. It has been an extraordinary time. During the four-week building period many dozens of people have come to lend a hand, some for a few hours, some for more than a week. A hardy few even made it several times, keen perhaps to enjoy the incredible atmosphere (one friend said it was the most life affirming 24 hours he?d spent in years) and experience the Roundhouse in its various stages of reconstruction. None of it would have been possible without the generosity of more than fifty people who have made financial contributions enabling us to buy the raw materials and cover various other related costs.

So, a big THANK YOU to all of you who have helped, near and far.

We?ve incorporated various improvements into the new Roundhouse. The wall, which was badly fractured in the heat, has been pointed and rendered with lime and given several coats of lime wash. It now glistens white. We?ve put down some huge slate slabs making a beautiful floor: each slab has its own name! Under the floor a clay pipe supplies air to the fire, cutting down on drafts.

The porch is a splendid creation, with an A frame made of cruck oak carved with Celtic knotwork and some lovely wavy edged yew facia boards. And the thatching looks great.

As I write there are still two or three days work to do finishing off and dressing up the thatch.We were delayed last weekend when a swarm of bees settled on top of the roof. We decided to take it as a blessing but it did mean we weren?t quite able to finish when we'd hoped.

Later there will be special doors made (by Dafydd who did the windows and doors in the Barn) and of course we also have to restore the mats, rugs, cushions and seating??