Spielplatz
Encyclopedia
Spielplatz is believed to be the UK's second oldest naturist club, and consists of 12 acres (5 hectares) (49,000 m²) located in the village of Bricket Wood
, in the county of Hertfordshire
, United Kingdom
.
Spielplatz was founded in 1929 by Charles Macaskie and his wife Dorothy. They moved from London into a tent on an area of virgin woodland they purchased near Bricket Wood. They called their utopian camp the Green Monastery and a Play Place (Spielplatz).
They were joined by other couples and individuals on weekends. Among their visitors until 1947 was Ross Nichols
, founder of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids
. In turn he attracted both fellow Druids and Gerald Gardner
, who later established his first coven at Bricket Wood in his development of Wicca
as a modern religion.
It was at Spielplatz that Ross Nichols
first met Gerald Gardner
.
Spielplatz has featured in many films such as Nudist Memories (1959) and Confettii (2006). The most notable film is however Naked as Nature Intended. The film was the first feature produced by Michael Klinger
and Tony Tenser
. It was directed by Harrison Marks
and starred Pamela Green
, the noted model, who had been a member of Spielplatz for a number of years. The film premiered in 1961 as the debut feature of the newly refurbished Cameo-Moulin in Windmill Street London.
Bricket Wood
Bricket Wood is a village in the county of Hertfordshire, England, approximately 4½ miles from St Albans. It is part of the parish of St Stephen. Its railway station is served by a London Midland service that runs between St Albans Abbey and Watford Junction stations.Close to the village stands...
, in the county of Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Spielplatz was founded in 1929 by Charles Macaskie and his wife Dorothy. They moved from London into a tent on an area of virgin woodland they purchased near Bricket Wood. They called their utopian camp the Green Monastery and a Play Place (Spielplatz).
They were joined by other couples and individuals on weekends. Among their visitors until 1947 was Ross Nichols
Ross Nichols
Ross Nichols was a Cambridge academic and published poet, artist and historian, who founded the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids in 1964. He wrote prolifically on the subjects of Druidism and Celtic mythology.- Work :...
, founder of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids
Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids
The Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids or OBOD is a Neo-Druidic organisation based in England, but based in part on the Welsh Gorsedd of Bards...
. In turn he attracted both fellow Druids and Gerald Gardner
Gerald Gardner
Gerald Brousseau Gardner , who sometimes used the craft name Scire, was an influential English Wiccan, as well as an amateur anthropologist and archaeologist, writer, weaponry expert and occultist. He was instrumental in bringing the Neopagan religion of Wicca to public attention in Britain and...
, who later established his first coven at Bricket Wood in his development of Wicca
Wicca
Wicca , is a modern Pagan religious movement. Developing in England in the first half of the 20th century, Wicca was popularised in the 1950s and early 1960s by a Wiccan High Priest named Gerald Gardner, who at the time called it the "witch cult" and "witchcraft," and its adherents "the Wica."...
as a modern religion.
It was at Spielplatz that Ross Nichols
Ross Nichols
Ross Nichols was a Cambridge academic and published poet, artist and historian, who founded the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids in 1964. He wrote prolifically on the subjects of Druidism and Celtic mythology.- Work :...
first met Gerald Gardner
Gerald Gardner
Gerald Brousseau Gardner , who sometimes used the craft name Scire, was an influential English Wiccan, as well as an amateur anthropologist and archaeologist, writer, weaponry expert and occultist. He was instrumental in bringing the Neopagan religion of Wicca to public attention in Britain and...
.
Spielplatz has featured in many films such as Nudist Memories (1959) and Confettii (2006). The most notable film is however Naked as Nature Intended. The film was the first feature produced by Michael Klinger
Michael Klinger (producer)
Michael Klinger was a British film producer.Klinger was born in London. His father was a Polish-born tailor. Klinger was initially the owner of a strip club, but began a business association with Tony Tenser in 1960 after they had met following a publicity stunt organised by Tenser at a cinema he...
and Tony Tenser
Tony Tenser
Tony Tenser was an English-born film producer of Lithuanian-Jewish descent. He specialised in producing Exploitation film movies and founded his own production company Tigon British Film Productions in 1966, which also made more mainstream films such as Witchfinder General and other horror films...
. It was directed by Harrison Marks
Harrison Marks
George Harrison Marks was a British glamour photographer and director of nudist, and later, pornographic films who was active in the fields for several decades.-Kamera and Pamela Green:...
and starred Pamela Green
Pamela Green
Pamela Green was an English glamour model and actress, best known at the end of the 1950s and early 1960s...
, the noted model, who had been a member of Spielplatz for a number of years. The film premiered in 1961 as the debut feature of the newly refurbished Cameo-Moulin in Windmill Street London.