History:

The impression visitors get on arrival at a new place is mainly decided by what they first see and feel. What they see is the material expression of the spirit of those living and working there. This creates a character of place, which decides what the visitor will feel.

People coming to Elsah are also welcomed by a combination of these factors. In the case of our village the tangible expressions, the structures, streets and squares with their plantings, date mostly from the 19th century, with here and there an overlay representing late 20th century life. The spirit, or character, of the place becomes evident in the human activities of the Elsahites. Character is not a given static fact, it is a living process. It makes up the everyday environment. Fortunately there still is an inter-relationship between the 19th century architectural surroundings and the present living patterns of the Villagers.

Thus visitors to Elsah still find a Village Character, as expressed in a certain grace of life and a harmony of shapes. The community appears relaxed and natural the way it fits in its landscape, and it seems to have always been there.

There are very few villages, if any, as perfectly preserved and contained, and yet lived-in as Elsah, and we who choose to live here -- who herited it, as it were are actually only custodians of it. And custodianship implies responsibilities. These responsibilities include the preservation of both our homes and public buildings, the plantings along the streets and squares, and the support of traditional community life. In the past years Villagers have given ample evidence of their acceptance of these responsibilities.