The arden is the village of Arden, its twin towns of Ardencroft and Ardentown and surrounding rural area. Founded as single-tax villages in 1900, 1922 and 1950, the communities are based on the Georgist philosophy of Henry George and the Arts and Crafts/Garden City movement of Ebenezer Howard and William Morris. This unique cultural, historical and environmental asset is a special place to live.
The community’s woods abound with wildflowers and wildlife and are a peaceful retreat. Residents take an active role in maintaining their natural beauty through regular woods cleanups, ivy “pulls” and other volunteer events. The arden is also home to the prestigious Arden Shakespeare, the gold standard in annotated, scholarly editions of the plays of William Shakespeare.
For history buffs, the arden is also where one can visit The Great Oak, the oldest documented tree in the United States and a National Historic Landmark. The Great Oak was an important part of the life and work of a man who is considered to be the greatest poet of the English Renaissance—William Shakespeare.
The arden is also home to the Arden Gild Hall, a cultural and social center open to all members of the public for concerts, plays, dances, Saturday evening dinners and other programs throughout the year. Proceeds from the Fair help fund the Hall and other community activities.