Biddulph Old Hall
Staffordshire, England · 1965–1966
53.12280°N, -2.17560°E
Key Facts
- ◆ Most of the original hall was destroyed by Cromwell's cannon during the Civil War; only eight or nine habitable rooms remained.
- ◆ Three retreats were led here in summer 1965; further retreats at Easter 1966 and before Sangharakshita's trip to Greece.
- ◆ Anna Phillips was ordained here as Amritapani — described as the first lay ordination Sangharakshita performed in England.
- ◆ Bodhisattva ordinations (the 'Three Musketeers') were given here during this period.
- ◆ Participants recalled 'the Biddulph atmosphere of calm and quiet happiness, greatly deepened through our prolonged meditation'.
“Not much of the original building was still standing, the greater part of it having been reduced to ruins by Cromwell’s cannon during the Civil War. There were only eight or nine habitable rooms, two of them quite big.”
— Moving Against the Stream
“This Biddulph atmosphere of calm and quiet happiness, greatly deepened through our prolonged meditation, we carried away with us when we faced the turbulent waters of the outside world once more.”
— Moving Against the Stream
Source: Moving Against the Stream
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