Written by: Marianne Rawlins, Communications Manager
Tucked away in a corner of Weston, Bath, past neat rows of Curo sheltered bungalows, is Fairfield House, where Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930-74, lived for four years. As well as being a place of historical significance, the house holds spiritual importance for people who follow the Rastafari religion.
As we celebrate Black History Month, we asked historian Ras Benji what brought one of the most important African leaders of the 20th century to the South West of England.
What led Haile Selassie to Bath?
He came here with his family and some of his ministers in 1936, when Italian dictator Benito Mussolini invaded Ethiopia, and stayed for four years, leading the country in exile. At the time, the British establishment was following a policy of appeasement with Italy. Instead of moving to London, Selassie more discreetly relocated to Bath, where he bought Fairfield House.
Why is Haile Selassie such an important historical figure?
In the 1930s, he defended Ethiopia from colonisation by Mussolini’s army. He helped to establish the Organisation of African Unity, with 33 countries signing up. In 1936, he gave an iconic speech to the League of Nations – a precursor to the United Nations – protesting the Italian invasion of Ethiopia and calling for world peace. US President Lyndon B Johnson later remarked that he wished the Allied Forces had listened to him at the time.
How did the local community react to having an emperor living among them?
The community gave him and his family a warm welcome. At the house, you can listen to recordings of residents recalling seeing him walking his dog Rosa around the streets. They remember him wearing a black cloak and looking ‘sad and abstracted’. It was a traumatic time as the people of Ethiopia were being massacred by the invading fascist forces.
The family faced financial difficulties and were supported by the local community. People brought them coal to heat their home, and the electricity board waived their payments.
Above: Empress Menen Gardens
What’s the connection with Curo?
Curo owns Empress Menen Gardens, named after Haile Selassie’s wife, which is home to several sheltered bungalows. In 1958, Haile Selassie gifted Fairfield House to the council, on the condition that it would be used as a place of respite for elderly people. It was a residential care home from the 1960s to 1993 . Today, it is used by the Black Ethnic Minority Senior Citizens Association (BEMSCA) as a place for elderly people to meet and take part in activities, such as fitness classes and dominoes. Through this and Curo’s Empress Menen Gardens bungalows, we are keeping the wishes of Haile Selassie alive today.
Why is Haile Selassie important to the Rastafari religion?
Haile Selassie was a member of the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian Church. However, for followers of Rastafari, which originated in the Caribbean, he is regarded as the Second Coming of Jesus. Bob Marley believed Selassie was Jah – meaning ‘the Almighty’. The lyrics of Marley’s song War are based on Selassie’s speech to the League of Nations.
Above: Fairfield House
What are your hopes for the future of Fairfield House?
I hope we continue to provide a space where diverse communities can meet and come together. I’d also like people to become more aware of Fairfield House and its connection with one of history’s great leaders, who is celebrated around the world. I encourage people to visit the house on Sundays to experience one of our tours and learn more.
Watch a short documentary about Fairfield House below:
Events
During Black History Month, Fairfield House is holding events to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Haile Selassie being awarded Freedom of the City of Bath.
- Saturday 19 October 2024: a free event at Bath Assembly Rooms will celebrate the connections between Bath and Ethiopia, 11am-8pm.
- Sunday 20 October 2024: Historical guided tour of Fairfield House, 12pm.
- Sunday 20 October 2024: Even Song at Bath Abbey, attended by Princess Esther Selassie Antohin, great granddaughter of Haile Selassie, 3.30-4.30pm.