Fairfield House was the residence of HIM Haile Selassie I during his exile from Ethiopia in1936 to 1941. The Emperor left Fairfield House to the City of Bath as a home for the aged. It's still used for non-residential day care today.
It's a grade 2 listed 23 room house built in the 1850s. Under a new short lease and partnership agreement with Fairfield House Bath CIC it's now for the first time getting some essential care and maintenance from the owner Bath & NE Somerset. Next comes the sort of heritage restoration and development that would be justified by such an internationally important historic, cultural and sacred place.
The world heritage city's only significant piece of black history has to be secured and celebrated.
We have a plan. It's time for the communities to whom this legacy most matters - the Ethiopian and other African diaspora, Rastafari world-wide and people of Bath - to take control of HIM's legacy, to to work together in unity with each other and with the owner Bath &NE Somerset Council to secure and protect it. Above all we need to keep Elders at the heart of what we do in line with HIM's clearly expressed wish, and celebrate the diversity of African life and Rastafari culture in our city of Bath.
Fairfield House Bath CIC is a new not-for-profit social enterprise is working to protect the legacy. It has taken a short lease and is working towards a long lease on the house. It has a diverse leadership team implementing a solid and viable business plan which keep Bath Ethnic Minority Senior Citizens Association at the house, as well as Rastafari and Ethiopian celebrations. Fairfield House would develop as a place of welcome for all faiths and cultures in the world heritage city of Bath.
Supporting Fairfield House will help secure HIM's legacy, get it transferred to community control and put it on a secure and sustainable footing.
