On Monday 29th June 2015 I had a day to myself in Barrow-in-Furness. As I travelled further and further afield in search of something interesting to see or do, I came across Swarthmoor Hall as somewhere to visit. I was going to give up because a coach was blocking the narrow road, but I was (unusually for me) patient, and after 15 minutes I finally got into their car park. Where I had to move the car because of construction work.
I am glad I persevered. I knew nothing about the place but it turns out it is relevant to my peace studies: the birthplace of Quakerism, and the Quakers are a recurring theme in the peace movement. [Note to self: there’s a number of posts I need to write expanding on that last statement.]
I have been dragged round country houses and gardens and they bore me to tears. However, this relatively small site kept me amused for over two hours. It is quiet, charming, interesting, friendly, comfortable and welcoming.
Synergy and synchronicity have been recurring themes in my exploration into war prevention. Stumbling across this building just as I am getting involved with Conscience seems strangely coincidental. There have been so many such instances this past three years, of being in the right place at the right time.
I enjoyed my visit, and bought a copy of Preparing for Peace while I was there. The descriptions and reviews of others will be better written than my own could be: