A NEW residential centre for writers opens at the end of next month, bringing the world of contemporary literature to the Clun Valley.

The Arvon Centre is based at The Hurst, an imposing 18th-century house just outside Clun and the home of playwright John Osborne, until his death in 1994, writes Julia Parker

His widow Helen continues to live in one wing of the house and it is her enthusiasm and generosity that has brought the Arvon Foundation to South Shropshire. Other Arvon Centres already exist in North Devon, Yorkshire and in Scotland.

As well as converting rooms in the main house to make bedrooms and administrative offices, a number of impressive estate farm buildings at The Hurst have been rescued from dereliction, to provide self-catering accommodation for 16 students and their tutors. Both professional and amateur writers, poets and playwrights can apply to stay at the centre for a week-long course in creative writing, with the peace and beauty of the surroundings a great stimulus to creativity.

One of the most attractive buildings is the Clock House, built in 1780 and a short walk from the main house. It has been carefully renovated to provide seven bedrooms, a large living room and a kitchen for the students. There is a lift to the first floor and a number of rooms for disabled students.

Although all the fixtures and fittings are new, the old building has retained a comfortable link with the past; the grey stone walls of Clock House are two feet thick and cosy window seats are planned for the communal living room. There are plenty of ancient beams and cross beams too, as well as the clock itself, dated 1784.

This has been totally renovated and soon the hours will chime across the distant fields. Beyond Clock House a new track leads to the car park and a trout lake, soon to be restocked with fish.

Everywhere on the thirty-acre site there are narrow, winding paths, connecting the outbuildings to the main house and these stand out as very new against the old vegetation. However in the spring landscaping of the site will begin, to plant new grass and replace a number of elderly shrubs and trees.

Higher up on the sloping site another very large estate building at The Hurst has been renovated as a teaching and workshop studio. Here the architects have achieved a striking blend of old and new, with 18th century timbers and ultra-contemporary lighting. Multi media equipment will follow, to make the studio a focus for performance writing, video and drama.

Nearby is the home of the resident caretaker Andrew Williams, who has already made the garden around his family's home a place of beauty. Andrew is a local man, whereas the two young and enthusiastic directors of The Hurst have moved from London to take up the challenge of launching the centre and running it from day to day.

Edmund Collier has worked latterly as a script developer for a film company, while Paul Warwick is a theatre director.

Both men are kept busy sorting out last-minute hitches, in what they see as a very exciting and large-scale project. The first students at the centre will be a party of Shropshire secondary school children who arrive in the early summer, but before then everything must be made ready for the grand opening in March.

A well-known film actor has promised to attend and the quiet communities of Clunton and Clun will soon be getting used to seeing some of the most celebrated literary names in the country in their midst.

Call the Arvon Centre on 01588 640658.