The concept of having an annual writers’ circle summer school was born from a suggestion by Cecil Hunt in 1948, the then chair of the London Writer’s Circle. His intention was to bring writers' circles together UK wide. At a meeting that year at the Institute of Journalists Hall in London it was agreed to form a committee to create a residential school for a week the following year. 

The Hayes Conference Centre in Swanwick, Derbyshire was chosen as the preferred location and it has been our annual venue since then, except for 2020 when The Hayes was closed during the Covid pandemic. The name changed to The Writers’ Summer School in 1952 but is affectionately known worldwide as ‘Swanwick’. 

The programme started with external guest speakers, and members themselves conducting writing courses, workshops, and discussions for over 300 writers. The programme has evolved since then and is now packed with a comprehensive learning and entertainment schedule. Several members over the years have owed their success to Swanwick from starting out to becoming well-published authors.

 
The Hayes also has an interesting history to explore. It was built in the 1860s as the home of Mr Fitzherbert Wright, who built St. Pancras Station and was also the great, great grandfather of the Duchess of York. In 1910, the estate was sold to a company that adapted it to become a Christian Conference Centre. During WW2, the house was used by the War Office for British troops then it because a prisoner of war camp for German air force officers. One even escaped through a tunnel, the story of which was later made into a book and film, both called The One That Got Away. The tunnel was discovered in August 1981 during one of our residential summer schools...