{"subTitle":"Gilwell Park was donated to the Scouts in 1919. However, the site has a fascinating 500 year history before the arrival of the first Scouts.","backgroundImage":{"url":null,"caption":null,"type":null,"size":0,"width":0,"height":0,"altText":null},"backgroundColour":null,"content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe earliest records (1407 to 1919)\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe earliest record of Gilwell is in 1407. The estate was owned by John Crow and was called \u2018Gyldiefords\u2019.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBy 1422, it was owned by Richard Rolfes, who changed the name to \u2018Gillrolfes\u2019. By the late 1400s, the name Gilwell had been adopted. This name came from the old English words \u2018gill\u2019 meaning \u2018glen\u2019 and \u2018wella\u2019 meaning \u2018springs\u2019. The estate covered the area now known as Essex Chase.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ENext to Gilwell was a 14-acre property where, in the 1420s, Richard Osborne built Osborne Hall.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/15766/dick-turpin-weather-vane-3-1024x623.jpg","width":1024,"height":623,"altText":"Image shows a weathervane depiction of Dick Turpin on horseback holding up a horse and carriage","caption":"Dick Turpin weathervane at Gilwell Park","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA highway robber\u0027s hideaway\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe next most significant event in Gilwell\u2019s history occurred around 1736, with the arrival of the infamous highwayman, Dick Turpin. Ester Palmer, Dick Turpin\u0027s wife, and their young son lived in a cottage next to Gilwell Green. This area is now the stables situated off Gilwell Lane.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDick Turpin used Epping Forest as a hideaway after robbing the rich as they travelled through the forest on their way to or from London. His crimes came to an end in 1739 when he was caught, tried and executed in York. However, his connections to the estate is remembered by the weathervane on the White House reception roof.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/blodti24/margaret-chinnery_digital-image-234x300.jpg","width":468,"height":600,"altText":"Image shows a painting of Margaret Chinnery wearing a veil and red dress, and reading a book","caption":"A portrait of Margaret Chinner, with thanks to Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESociety hotspot\u00A0\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWilliam Skrimshaw bought Gilwell and Osborne\u2019s Hall in 1754, therefore combining the estate for the first time. The estate was then bought by Leonard Tresilian in 1771.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ETresilian increased the size of the estate and made improvements to Osborne Hall. He did this by covering the timber-framed exterior with slate tiles to make the structure look like stone. After his death in 1792, Tresilian left the estate, as well as his other properties, to his eldest daughter, Margaret.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMargaret was married to William Bassett Chinnery, a Chief Clerk to the Treasury.\u00A0 At this time married women could not hold property in their own right so when she inherited her father\u2019s estate the ownership passed to her husband. William and Margaret had twins, George and Caroline in 1791 and Walter in 1793.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe Chinnerys moved from London to the Estate in the 1790s and renamed it, Gilwell Hall. William over the next two decades took every opportunity to expand the Estate by buying up land around it. Margaret was a keen gardener as well as enjoying the art and music. The Chinnerys held parties at Gilwell inviting poets, artists, musicians and even royalty including George III.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"accordion","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","showExpand":true,"items":[{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0027One of my hostesses, Agnes Berry, took me to dine at Mr Chinnery\u2019s where we had an excellent dinner, choice wines, choice spirits and a considerable portion of beauty for Lord Spencer and Viotti were there and the bluish stocking Lady Charlemont.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBesides little Miss Chinnery, who may claim a place among the geniuses as well as the beauties, Chinnery\u2019s highest pretensions are that of having been Private Secretary to George Rose, he has attained the station of one of four first clerks to the Treasury.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYet by command of money, which nobody knows how Chinnery has acquired, and ambitious of good company, good houses, excellent cooks, and excellent cellars, by frequent dinners and musical and dancing parties in which accomplishments the Chinnerys excel, they strive to purchase a society or at least the pretence of all that is most distinguished for rank, beauty, youth, talent and wealth.\u0027\u003C/p\u003E","label":" An account by Lord Glenbervie"}]},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/15763/outdoor-chapel-and-carolines-column-4.jpg","width":2769,"height":4046,"altText":"Image shows a single stone column in the grounds of Gilwell Park","caption":"Caroline\u2019s Column, erected 1811, at Gilwell Park","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EThe family also had to deal with tragedy, in 1802 their youngest son Walter Grenfell had died aged nine. Margaret set up Walter\u0027s Urn in his memory placing flowers on it every day. In 1811 their daughter Caroline caught whooping cough but recovered, and a stone column was built in celebration of her recovery.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cdiv id=\u0022gallery-1\u0022 class=\u0022gallery galleryid-8391 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-medium\u0022\u003E\u003C/div\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"accordion","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","showExpand":true,"items":[{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0027It was an earthly paradise, in which the delightful harmony resulting from the perfect accord of duty and inclination were felt and enjoyed. Those who have been witness of our manner of living at Gilwell can vouch for the truth of what I say. God best knows why the happy, peaceful home where He was adored in fidelity and truth is now to be sold by public auction. In the garden is a little monument to the memory of my youngest son. We adorned it every day with fresh flowers \u2013 is it to be pulled down or destroyed? There is also a column very dear to my heart because it was put up in remembrance of what we vainly thought was the recovery of my daughter from whooping cough. The will of God be done. Nothing now remains to me of all that I so lately possessed but one child. I bow my head in resignation; to those who are the delegates of power on earth I resign my claim to my paternal home.\u0027\u003C/p\u003E","label":"An account by Margaret Chinner"}]},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESociety scandal\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn 1809 the Chinnery family commissioned major work on the house and estate, a year later they bought Branshot Manor, now known as the Branchet Field. At the same time there were questions at the highest levels over the source of the family wealth with correspondence between the Prime Minister and the Lord of the Treasury.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe end came when a Superintendent in New South Wales wrote to the Prime Minister, complaining about missing salaries. An investigation was launched with the Audit Office which uncovered his theft as being more than \u00A380,000 and had been concealed by forging accounts of the ships carrying the money being attacked by pirates. To avoid the consequences of his actions he fled to Gothenburg in Sweden on 2 April 1812.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAs well as dealing with the loss of her husband and public disgrace Margaret then had to cope with the loss of Caroline who suffered a relapse of whooping cough and died a day after her father fled into exile. Their remaining child George Robert Chinnery was given a job at the Treasury in order that Margaret had an income as she had no other family to turn to.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe Government requisitioned the Estate in March 1812 so it could be sold to cover the money taken by William Chinnery. The auction only raised \u00A36,400 of which the House amounted to half of this figure. Margaret wrote the following account of leaving Gilwell for the last time,\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/15764/tateimages_d00892-old-london-bridge-jw-turner.jpg","width":2726,"height":2001,"altText":"Image shows a painting of Old London Bridge by JW Turner","caption":"Old London Bridge by JW Turner c. 1794. Thomas Usborne bought the balustrades from the Old London Bridge as it was being demolished and installed them in his garden","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChanging hands\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe new owner of the Estate was Gilpin Gorst. His son Philip sold it to Thomas Usborne in 1824. Usborne added the extension to the House which included the crinoline staircase and the drawing room, he also brought the London Bridge balustrades to Gilwell.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EManufacturer, inventor and poet, William Alfred Gibbs bought Gilwell 1858. His most successful invention was Gibbs\u2019 Dentifrice or toothpaste which is still made to this day. Gibbs died in 1900 and his wife five years later. His children had to sell off parcels of land to try and maintain the estate however over the next few years it became seriously neglected and was put on the market. This set the stage for Scouting and Gilwell Park to become intertwined.\u003Ca href=\u0022/about-us/our-history/gilwell-park/the-history-of-gilwell-park/gilwell-park-1919-to-2019/\u0022 title=\u0022Gilwell Park 1919 \u2013 2019\u0022 data-anchor=\u0022#\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"sections":[{"content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EGetting Established\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn November 1918, William de Bois Maclaren offered \u00A37000 to buy land which could be converted into a campsite for boys from the East End of London.\u00A0 He had visited the areas and seen Scouts struggling to carry out their activities due to a lack of outdoor space. Teams of Scouts were sent out to find a suitable location and Gilwell Park, on the edge of Epping Forest was found.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDuring the First World War over 5,000 older Scouts and leaders were killed however, youth membership of Scouts had grown by over 46,000.\u00A0 The loss of so many experienced leaders and older Scouts created a need for leadership training programme to provide new volunteers with the skills needed to support the Movement.\u00A0 The purchase of Gilwell Park provided the perfect venue for a dedicated training centre.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ERover Scouts arrived on 17 April 1919, to start making the park suitable for camping.\u00A0 Unfortunately the weather made camping impossible on the first night and they slept instead in a gardener\u2019s shed which they nicknamed \u2018The Pigsty\u2019, which you can still see to this day on the Orchard.\u00A0 The estate was very neglected and Maclaren generously donated an additional \u00A33000 to pay for necessary works.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EGilwell was officially opened on Saturday 26 July 1919, by Mrs Maclaren who cut the ribbons at the main gate, the Estate at the time consisted of 53 acres, which included the White House, Training Ground, Orchard and the Boy\u2019s Camping Field.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe first Camp Chief of Gilwell Park was Captain Francis Gidney who was appointed in May 1919. He formulated the early Wood Badge courses, developed the 1\u003Csup\u003Est\u003C/sup\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003EGilwell Park Scout Troop and Cub Pack (now 1\u003Csup\u003Est\u003C/sup\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003EGilwell Park Scout Group) and held the first ever Gilwell Reunion in 1921.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003ECreating a Scouting Landscape\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe Park quickly became home to\u00A0 statues, sculptures and structures many of which have become well known throughout the Scouting world\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null},{"type":"threeColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"type":"Image top","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003ETraining Ground \u2013 the centre of the Park where international Scout leaders would gather for their wood badge training course.\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"1919","image":"/media/15802/training-ground-and-oak-sept-1938-1024x656.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daf87479295e60","imageFocus":"","imageId":29769,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]},{"items":[{"type":"Image top","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003ECamp Square \u2013 providing a space for Scouts to socialise and meet.\u00A0 Camp Square has at different times been home to a hospital, country dancing board and museum.\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"1920","image":"/media/15775/camp-square-c1925-300x193.jpg?cc=0,0.12564766839378239,0,0\u0026width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daf874781ecc30","imageFocus":"","imageId":29742,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]},{"items":[{"type":"Image top","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EBuffalo Lawn \u2013 home to the Bronze Buffalo presented to Gilwell Park by the Boy Scouts of America\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"1926","image":"/media/15669/buffalo-2.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daf87475986f70","imageFocus":"","imageId":29634,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null},{"type":"threeColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"type":"Image top","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThe Barn \u2013 created to provide a training room for Cub leaders now houses hotel accommodation\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"1926","image":"/media/15781/gilwell241-300x193.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daf87478637650","imageFocus":"","imageId":29748,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]},{"items":[{"type":"Image top","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003ELeopard Gates \u2013 carved by Don Potter.\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"1928","image":"/media/15794/gilwell193-300x193.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daf87478e8d2f0","imageFocus":"","imageId":29761,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]},{"items":[{"type":"Image top","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGidney Cabin \u2013 built by Don Potter in memory of Francis Gidney, Camp Chief 1919 \u2013 1923.\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"1929","image":"/media/15795/gilwell228-300x193.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daf87478f3f680","imageFocus":"","imageId":29762,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null},{"type":"threeColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"type":"Image top","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EChilean Statue \u2013 Boy with puma. Presented to celebrate the 21\u003Csup\u003Est\u003C/sup\u003E\u00A0birthday of Scouting.\u00A0 Chile was the first non-British empire country to adopt Scouting.\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"1929","image":"/media/15776/chilian-statue-boy-with-puma-2-200x300.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daf87478297a90","imageFocus":"","imageId":29743,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]},{"items":[{"type":"Image top","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EJim Green Gate \u2013\u00A0 built in memory of Jim Green, a Scout and leader from Hertfordshire who went on to edit the Scouter magazine.\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"1930","image":"/media/15796/gilwell230-193x300.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daf87478fea4e0","imageFocus":"","imageId":29763,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]},{"items":[{"type":"Image top","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003ERobert Baden-Powell\u2019s footprint\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003C/span\u003EA bronze caste of B-Ps boot created at the 1933 World Scout Jamboree.\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"1933","image":"/media/15787/sct_3064-300x201.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daf87478a7ab40","imageFocus":"","imageId":29754,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null},{"type":"threeColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"type":"Image top","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Lodge \u201CCamp Chief\u2019s House\u201D \u2013 built to replace the original estate lodge.\u00A0 Home to the Camp Chief until 2015.\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"1934","image":"/media/15782/lodge-300x207.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daf874786ec0f0","imageFocus":"","imageId":29749,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]},{"items":[{"type":"Image top","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EEccles, Baden-Powell\u2019s caravan\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EPresented to the Baden-Powell\u2019s in 1929 alongside a Rolls-Royce (Jam Roll). Eccles was given to Gilwell Park on their retirement to Kenya.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"1938","image":"/media/15772/b-ps-caravan-the-gilwell-book-002-300x208.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daf87477ff5d50","imageFocus":"","imageId":29739,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]},{"items":[{"type":"Image top","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThe Bomb Hole \u2013 created during the blitz providing much needed water activity facilities on site.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"1940","image":"/media/15778/1941-bomb-hole-2-300x225.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daf8747842f600","imageFocus":"","imageId":29745,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null},{"type":"fullWidth","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERequisitioned\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDuring the Second World War, Gilwell was requisitioned by the War Office as a training centre for anti-aircraft artillery crews and the headquarters of the local defences protecting factories in Enfield and Waltham Abbey.\u00A0 Anti-aircraft guns were installed at the top of the Quick.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPost-War Expansion\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe Post War years saw the Estate extended by acquiring the land now known as The Quick, New Field, Hilly Field and Gilwellbury. This brought Gilwell to its current configuration and size of 108 acres.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null},{"type":"threeColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"type":"Image top","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EMaori Arch\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003C/span\u003EGifted by New Zealand Scouts in 1947 and erected 1951\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"1947","image":"/media/15780/1951-maori-arch-340x240.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daf874785852c0","imageFocus":"","imageId":29747,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]},{"items":[{"type":"Image top","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003ERoman Catholic Chapel\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"1947","image":"/media/15779/1947-rc-chapel-300x200.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daf874784da460","imageFocus":"","imageId":29746,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]},{"items":[{"type":"Image top","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThe Swan Centre (rebuilt in 1966)\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"1947","image":"/media/15769/1953-swan-hut-300x218.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daf87477ddcb90","imageFocus":"","imageId":29736,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null},{"type":"threeColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"type":"Image top","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThe \u201CBarnacle\u201D hospital \u2013 originally a first aid centre it developed into a well-equipped hospital including an x-ray ward.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"1950","image":"/media/15784/scan66-300x194.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daf87478868eb0","imageFocus":"","imageId":29751,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]},{"items":[{"type":"Image top","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003ESynagogue, built by Jewish Scouts from London to celebrate 50 years of Scouting.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"1957","image":"/media/15785/sct_3021-300x201.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daf8747891d950","imageFocus":"","imageId":29752,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]},{"items":[{"type":"Image top","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003ESmall Campfire Circle \u2013 created from surplus soil following the expansion of the Bomb Hole.\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"1961","image":"/media/15789/small-campfire-circle-2-300x200.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daf87478bd7d30","imageFocus":"","imageId":29756,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null},{"type":"threeColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"type":"Image top","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EAnnexe to the White House built.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"1963","image":"/media/15783/pict3458-300x225.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daf874787be050","imageFocus":"","imageId":29750,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]},{"items":[{"type":"Image top","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThe Boy Scout by Tait Mckenzie \u2013 presented by the Boy Scouts of America.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"1966","image":"/media/15790/the-boy-scout-1-200x300.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daf87478c82b90","imageFocus":"","imageId":29757,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]},{"items":[{"type":"Image top","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EBuddhist Sala \u2013 the Sala was funded by the Scouts of Thailand.\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"1967","image":"/media/15774/buddhist-sala-3-300x200.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daf87478141dd0","imageFocus":"","imageId":29741,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null},{"type":"threeColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"type":"Image top","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EMexican bust of Robert Baden-Powell \u2013 presented after the Mexico City Olympic Games.\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"1968","image":"/media/15773/b-p-statue-1-225x300.png?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daf874780a0bb0","imageFocus":"","imageId":29740,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]},{"items":[{"type":"Image top","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EDorothy Hughes Pack Holiday Lodge \u2013 the first dedicated accommodation for Cubs.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"1970","image":"/media/15777/dorothy-hughes-002-234x300.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daf8747836c100","imageFocus":"","imageId":29744,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]},{"items":[{"type":"Image top","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EColquhoun International Centre \u201CCIC\u201D \u2013 created to provide indoor training facilities.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"1971","image":"/media/15786/sct_3047-300x201.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daf874789c87b0","imageFocus":"","imageId":29753,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null},{"type":"fullWidth","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003ERestoring The White House\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe 1980s saw the start of a major new development plan for Gilwell Park. The first part included the restoration of the White House with the ground floor being converted into meeting rooms and conference facilities.\u00A0 The upper floors once again became bedrooms along with the Barn and annexes are operated as a hotel for guests. The White House was officially opened in 1995 by Her Majesty The Queen.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EGilwell Park continues to evolve and change to keep pace with the needs of its many users. The biggest development of recent years was the creation of Gilwell House providing office space for Headquarters.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null},{"type":"threeColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"type":"Image top","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EGilwell House \u201CHeadquarters Offices\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"2001","image":"/media/15788/sct_3070-300x201.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daf87478b2ced0","imageFocus":"","imageId":29755,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]},{"items":[{"type":"Image top","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EJack Petchey Lodge opens\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"2008","image":"/media/15770/2008-petchey-300x300.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daf87477e8ef20","imageFocus":"","imageId":29737,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]},{"items":[{"type":"Image top","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EPeter Harrison Lodge opens\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"2010","image":"/media/15771/2010-harrison-300x300.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daf87477f39d80","imageFocus":"","imageId":29738,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null},{"type":"threeColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"type":"Image top","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EInternational volunteer lodge opens\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"2015","image":"/media/15792/volunteer-lodge.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daf87478d2d9f0","imageFocus":"","imageId":29759,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]},{"items":[{"type":"Image top","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGilwell Park Mosque \u2013 funded and run by the Muslim Scout Fellowship.\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"2015","image":"/media/15793/db-20160904-4633-0337-300x200.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daf87478de2490","imageFocus":"","imageId":29760,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]},{"items":[{"type":"Image top","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGilwell Park celebrates 100 years since it\u0027s purchase for Scouts by William De Bois McLaren.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"2019","image":"/media/hvqf4fvn/picture1.png?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1dca2748f445b40","imageFocus":"","imageId":88952,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null},{"type":"threeColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"type":"Image top","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Syd Kesseler Centre was opened by Dwayne Fields on 18th November 2025 to provide visitors with a warm welcome to Gilwell Park.\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"2025","image":"/media/cb2lbzaf/251118_dsc6566-hdr_mmp.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1dca2753de47d10","imageFocus":"","imageId":88953,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]},{"items":[{"type":"Image top","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Hirsch Family Adventure Gallery opens hosting a large range of objects exploring the story of Scouting.\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"2025","image":"/media/afzbylen/img_5778.jpeg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1dca275b9ea0fb0","imageFocus":"","imageId":88954,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]},{"items":[]}],"config":null}]},"prev":null,"next":{"link":"/about-us/our-history/gilwell-park/the-history-of-gilwell-park/the-gilwell-oak-exploring-our-roots/","title":"The Gilwell Oak: Exploring our roots"},"allParts":[{"link":"/about-us/our-history/gilwell-park/the-history-of-gilwell-park/gilwell-park-1919-to-2025/","title":"Gilwell Park: 1919 to 2025"},{"link":"/about-us/our-history/gilwell-park/the-history-of-gilwell-park/the-gilwell-oak-exploring-our-roots/","title":"The Gilwell Oak: Exploring our roots"},{"link":"/about-us/our-history/gilwell-park/the-history-of-gilwell-park/history-of-the-wood-badge/","title":"History of the Wood badge"}],"link":"/about-us/our-history/gilwell-park/the-history-of-gilwell-park/gilwell-park-1919-to-2025/","id":48175,"nodeName":"Gilwell Park: 1919 to 2025","title":"Gilwell Park: 1919 to 2025","type":"codexPart","image":{"url":"/media/21060/gilwell-park-white-house.jpg?cc=0,0,0,0\u0026width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daf49d3ce27d90","caption":"Gilwell Park White House red tulips","type":"jpg","size":735432,"width":1920,"height":1080,"altText":"The exterior of the White House at Gilwell Park with red tulips in front."},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Gilwell Park: 1919 to 2025","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"searchDescription":"","subHeader":"","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC80ODE3NSJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/about-us/our-history/gilwell-park/the-history-of-gilwell-park/gilwell-park-1919-to-2025/"},{"content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Gilwell Oak has become renowned throughout the world. Scouting\u2019s founder, Robert Baden-Powell used the oak tree as an analogy for the growth and development of Scouting. He referred to the Brownsea Island experimental camp, run for 20 boys 1907, as the acorn from which the oak tree of Scouting grew.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/15800/the-moral-001-768x1355.jpg","width":768,"height":1355,"altText":"Image shows illustration of a tree and text in The Moral of the Acorn and the Oak by Robert Baden-Powell","caption":"The Moral of the Acorn and the Oak by Robert Baden-Powell","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EIt is Gilwell\u2019s Scouting activity which led to the tree\u2019s iconic status. In 1919 Scouting was going from strength to strength with over 205,000 youth members. Not all of these young people were able to get the most out of Scouting due both to a lack of facilities and leaders.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EA Scottish Scouting volunteer, William de Bois Maclaren, witnessed East London Scouts struggling with their activities due to a lack of outdoor space. He donated \u00A37,000 to buy land for a Scout campsite; Gilwell Park was found and purchased.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/16183/wf-de-bois-maclaren-circa-1926-unknown.jpg","width":392,"height":484,"altText":"Image shows a portrait of William de Bois Maclaren","caption":"Maclaren purchased Gilwell Park on behalf of Scouting in 1919","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EThe first Scouts arrived on Maundy Thursday 1919 to start preparing the derelict site for use. By July a campsite was established alongside a training centre for a much-needed new generation of leaders who would take on the mantle of those lost to the First World War. The first training course ran the following September, overlooked by the oak. This event continues to be commemorated every year by \u201CReunion\u201D held to celebrate the contribution of the 150,000 Scouting volunteers active in the UK today.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/10601/training-ground-with-gilwell-oak.jpg","width":1280,"height":720,"altText":"Image shows the Gilwell Oak in the Training Ground","caption":"The Gilwell Park Training Ground and Circle with the Gilwell Oak in the background.","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EThe current Gilwell Oak is in fact the second to bear this name. The previous one was located in Branchet Field. Maps from the 1950s show this change, the current Gilwell Oak sits on the edge of the Training Ground, the area in which Scout volunteers would stay to complete the residential aspect of their training.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/15797/gilwell-park-map-c1946-768x1046.jpg","width":768,"height":1046,"altText":"Image shows an illustrated map of Gilwell Park showing the location of the original Gilwell Oak","caption":"A 1946 map of Gilwell Park showing the location of the original Gilwell Oak","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EThe training offered at Gilwell Park was the first of its kind, Scouts from around the world attended training at Gilwell. On their return home many set up their own training centres to pass on their learning. In this way the legend of Gilwell spread around the world and the idyllic scene of Scouts taking shelter from the summer sun (or rain) under the branches of the Training Ground\u2019s most iconic tree became well known.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn 2017 the Gilwell Oak\u2019s amazing story led to it winning the title of \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-42259349\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022Epping\u0027s Gilwell Oak wins Tree of the Year 2017\u0022\u003EThe Woodland Trust\u2019s UK Tree of the Year\u003C/a\u003E.\u00A0 Winning the award enabled an in-depth survey of the tree to be carried out.\u00A0 It helped us understand more about its health and age.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe result was that the tree is remarkably healthy for its age which is estimated to be about 350 years old. This information also finally puts to rest the myth that Essex highwayman Dick Turpin once hid in the tree.\u00A0 As the Oak would have only been around 40 years old when Turpin lived in the area it would not have been big enough to provide much shelter.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null},{"type":"threeColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/15801/training-ground-1954021-1024x710.jpg","width":1024,"height":710,"altText":"Image shows a Scout group doing activities in the Gilwell Park Training Ground in the 1950s.","caption":"Gilwell Park Training Ground with a group in session in the 1950s","link":null}]},{"items":[{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/13235/young-leaders-module-a-badge-png.png","width":400,"height":400,"altText":"Image shows the Young Leaders scheme badge featuring an acorn and oak leaves","caption":"The oak tree continues to be an important symbol in Scouting. Oak leaves and acorns form part of the UK Scouting Young Leaders scheme badge.","link":null}]},{"items":[{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/15933/bar-to-the-silver-acorn-current.jpg","width":460,"height":460,"altText":"Image shows the Silver Acorn award, which is a silver acorn surrounded by a silver circle","caption":"The Silver Acorn, an award presented to adult volunteers in UK Scouting for distinguished service to Scouting","link":null}]}],"config":null}]},"prev":{"link":"/about-us/our-history/gilwell-park/the-history-of-gilwell-park/gilwell-park-1919-to-2025/","title":"Gilwell Park: 1919 to 2025"},"next":{"link":"/about-us/our-history/gilwell-park/the-history-of-gilwell-park/history-of-the-wood-badge/","title":"History of the Wood badge"},"allParts":[{"link":"/about-us/our-history/gilwell-park/the-history-of-gilwell-park/gilwell-park-1919-to-2025/","title":"Gilwell Park: 1919 to 2025"},{"link":"/about-us/our-history/gilwell-park/the-history-of-gilwell-park/the-gilwell-oak-exploring-our-roots/","title":"The Gilwell Oak: Exploring our roots"},{"link":"/about-us/our-history/gilwell-park/the-history-of-gilwell-park/history-of-the-wood-badge/","title":"History of the Wood badge"}],"link":"/about-us/our-history/gilwell-park/the-history-of-gilwell-park/the-gilwell-oak-exploring-our-roots/","id":48176,"nodeName":"The Gilwell Oak: Exploring our roots","title":"The Gilwell Oak: Exploring our roots","type":"codexPart","image":null,"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"The Gilwell Oak: Exploring our roots","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"searchDescription":"","subHeader":"","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC80ODE3NiJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/about-us/our-history/gilwell-park/the-history-of-gilwell-park/the-gilwell-oak-exploring-our-roots/"},{"content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003ESince September 1919 adult volunteers in the Scouts have been awarded the Wood Badge on the completion of their leader training. The basic badge is made up of two wooden beads worn at the end of a leather lace. This iconic symbol of Scouting has become shrouded in myths and its origins and development confused. Having completed extensive research using the Scouts (UK) heritage collection we have pieced together the story.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/15807/dinizulu-001-768x1209.jpg","width":768,"height":1209,"altText":"Image shows Chief Dinizulu wearing a necklace of wooden beads","caption":"Chief Dinizulu, photographed around the time Baden-Powell found the necklace","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EThe Components of the Wood Badge\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThe Wood Badge\u2019s design took inspiration from a necklace brought back from Africa by Scouting\u2019s Founder, Robert Baden-Powell. In 1888 Baden-Powell was serving with the British Army in Africa. During this period Baden-Powell visited an abandoned camp where Chief Dinizulu, a local chief had been based. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EIn 1925 Baden-Powell \u003Ca href=\u0022https://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/digital/collection/p15999coll21/id/24134\u0022\u003Erecalled what he found\u003C/a\u003E: \u003C/span\u003E\u2019In the hut, which had been put up for Dinizulu to live in, I found among other things his necklace of wooden beads. I had in my possession a photograph of him taken a few months beforehand in which he was shown wearing this necklace round his neck and one shoulder.\u0027\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAssuming the necklace was the same one as in the photo Baden-Powell took the necklace as a souvenir of the campaign and always referred to it as Dinizulu\u2019s necklace. Baden-Powell admired Dinizulu describing him as\u00A0\u003Cem\u003E\u201Cfull of resources, energy and pluck,\u201D\u003C/em\u003E\u00A0characteristics which he would later call upon Scouts to develop.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe necklace was not the only souvenir of his military career which would come to be important to Scouting. In 1900 Baden-Powell was the British Army Commander during the Siege of Mafeking (2\u003Csup\u003End\u003C/sup\u003E Boer War, South Africa). During the siege he had a conversation with an elderly African gentleman. He presented Baden-Powell with a leather lace which he wore around his neck saying his mother had given it to him for luck and now he would pass that gift on to Baden-Powell.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/15810/rover-scouts-gilwell-april-1919-1024x721.jpg","width":1024,"height":721,"altText":"Image shows Gilwell House in Gilwell Park","caption":"When purchased Gilwell Park was very neglected. Rover Scouts undertook work to make the site fit for purpose","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Need for Scout Leader Training\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFollowing the First World War there was a great need to establish a leader training programme for UK Scouting. At least 5,000 older Scouts and adult volunteers had been killed during the conflict but youth section membership had grown by over 46,000. This created a need to train and develop new leaders, ensuring the future of the Movement.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe ideal opportunity arose when in November 1918 benefactor, William de Bois Maclaren, generously offered to buy a camping area for inner city London Scouts who lacked access to suitable grounds. Gilwell Park, on the edge of Epping Forest, was found and purchased. The site was big enough to offer camping facilities for Scouts as well as hosting a training centre for leaders.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Wood Badge course wasn\u2019t the first ever training course for leaders. Events had been held prior to the First World War and local areas had set up their own arrangements. In early 1919 East London Commissioner Percy Bantock Nevill arranged a correspondence course for leaders covering theoretical and administrative topics. He was in the process of organising a camp to cover more practical skills when he found out about the purchase of Gilwell Park. He rearranged the camp to take advantage of this new facility and held the practical training course on the 18-19 May 1919. This was the very first training offer at Gilwell Park.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe idea from Scout Headquarters was to create a training syllabus for leaders to ensure a standard, quality and consistency for training. A date was set for a pilot course to be held at Gilwell Park from the 8 \u2013 19 September 1919.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn August 1919 Baden-Powell contacted Percy Everett, who was developing the course alongside Camp Chief Francis Gidney, seeking his opinion on how to acknowledge the achievement of leaders who had completed their training.\u00A0\u0027Scoutmasters who pass through Gilwell Park should have some form of badge to wear. He suggests a Tassel with ornamented ends to be worn in the hat.\u0027\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThis issue had not been concluded by the time the course was running. On 15 September 1919 Eileen Nugent (Baden-Powell\u2019s secretary) wrote to Percy Everett saying: \u0027The Chief Scout has suggested to Capt. Gidney the following decoration for Scoutmasters passing the training course, in place of the cords around the hat a bead at the end of the lacing of the hat in three grades:\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EWood\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EBronze\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EWhite metal\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHe has asked Capt. Gidney to go ahead in getting some beads made (like those of the Chief\u2019s which you have) ready for award at the end of the course.\u0027\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe can only assume the beads referred to in this note are the ones from the necklace Baden-Powell had collected in South Africa over 40 years previously.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe training course was organised to give the participants a sense of what it was like to be a member of a Scout Troop. They took on the role of Scouts, they were formed into patrols and rotated the role of Patrol Leader and Seconder. Francis Gidney took on the role of Scoutmaster.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/15812/1st-wood-badge-course-1919-1024x670.jpg","width":1024,"height":670,"altText":"Image shows participants at the pilot Wood Badge course","caption":"The pilot Wood Badge course participants with Francis Gidney and Robert Baden-Powell","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EThe course syllabus included a range of practical skills such as pioneering, campcraft, games, fieldwork and pathfinding.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThey also attended specialist lectures on topics as varied as Industrial Welfare, the Education Act and Rover Scouting. The course ended with a visit to Headquarters on Buckingham Palace Road in London and a lunch meeting with Baden-Powell.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe Rev. Charles Hines attended the pilot course. He later recalled how he received his wood badge created by Baden-Powell using one of the beads from \u0027Dinizulu\u2019s necklace\u0027.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHines wrote: \u0027This historic necklace consisted of small hornbeam beads, shaped like miniature double edged axe heads, tightly threaded, criss-cross, on a leather thong which was as stiff as a backbone.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0027Taking one of these beads and a replica made from Epping Hornbeam B-P threaded them on a short leather lace, tied to a brass curtain hook, pinned it on my lapel and announced that he had decided to make it the official award for efficiency in Woodcraft and camp management \u2013 and to be known as the Dinizulu Woodcraft badge.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0027He then presented to each of my brother officers one of the original beads together with a small piece of Epping Hornbeam from which to shape a duplicate and assemble their badge.\u0027\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/15809/rev-charles-hines-1st-wood-badge-864x1024.jpg","width":864,"height":1024,"altText":"Image shows the first Wood Badge","caption":"The first Wood Badge presented to Rev Charles Hines following the pilot training course","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EDeveloping the training offer\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe pilot Wood Badge course had been a success but it was clear that not all leaders would be able to give 10 days to attend such a course. On 17 October 1919 Baden-Powell wrote to Francis Gidney to discuss what they had learnt from the pilot course. He referenced Percy Nevill\u2019s concept of delivering theoretical and administrative training through a correspondence course suggesting this could be completed over the winter months and the practical training residential carried out over the summer.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHe also discussed the developing design for a Wood Badge. \u0027After passing the theoretical and practical course satisfactorily the candidate would be entitled to wear one wooden bead on the buttonhole.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAfter passing all three satisfactorily, on bead on the hat string and a Diploma.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIf he shows special capability and ability for training others as a local Camp or Circle Chief, he could wear the double bead on a hat string.\u0027\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C/em\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBaden-Powell even produced a sketch on a Headquarters postcard of how various badges could look.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/15806/b-p-illustrations-e1544524684892-1024x653.jpg","width":1024,"height":653,"altText":"Image shows sketches by Baden-Powell of Wood Badge designs on a postcard","caption":"Sketches by Baden-Powell of Wood Badge designs","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EBy November 1919 this new structure had been agreed and was announced in the Headquarters Gazette.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe design of the Wood Badge continued to evolve. In 1921 the first description of the wood badge in POR (Policy, Organisation and Rules) doesn\u2019t mention the different badges or it being worn around the hat. It describes the badge as being \u0027worn strung on a leather bootlace round the neck\u0027.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDeputy Camp Chiefs were to be allowed to wear a set of four beads.\u00A0 Around this time the only two set of six wood beads were created and were worn by Baden-Powell and Percy Everett.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/15811/sir-percy-everett-004-1024x747.jpg","width":1024,"height":747,"altText":"Image shows Baden-Powell and Percy Everett in uniform","caption":"Robert Baden-Powell and Percy Everett worked very closely together and remained lifelong friends. This photograph marked the 20th anniversary of the Brownsea Island experimental camp","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EAll six beads on both necklaces come from \u0027Dinizulu\u2019s necklace\u0027. In 1949 Everett made it known that he would present his set to John Thurman, Camp Chief at Gilwell Park and that they should be passed down to his successors in that role. This continued until 2015 when it was decided to retire this set of beads due to their historical importance. Both sets of six beads are held in the Scouts (UK) heritage collection. At Gilwell Park the role of Camp Chief is now an honorary title held by the Chief Operating Officer.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe beads from the original Zulu necklace quickly ran out and Scout leaders who left the Movement were asked to return their Wood Badges so they could be recycled.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAt some point in the early 1920s Haydn Dimmock, editor of The Scout magazine, sourced an alternative necklace: \u0027Mention of Portobello Road reminds me that it was there, on a stall literally crowded with junk and so-called antiques, that I discovered a genuine Zulu necklace similar to that which the Chief Scout had secured from Donizuli (sic) the Zulu Chief, the wooden beads from which historic necklace were used for the original wood badges given to Scouts passing the Wood Badge course of training.\u0027\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThese beads were used for a while to supplement the dwindling supply of \u0027original\u0027 beads.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003ECub leader training\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn 1921, the first training course for Cub Leaders was held. Rather than receiving the Wood Badge leaders were presented with a replica wolf fang on a leather lace known as the Akela badge. An Akela leader, who delivered training courses could wear two fangs.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn 1926, it was decided to use the Wood Badge design for both Scout and Cub leaders, although the names would continue to be Akela badge for Cubs and Wood Badge for Scouts. To differentiate between the leaders a coloured bead was added above the wood beads to show which section they belonged to. Yellow beads were used for Cub leaders, green for Scout and in 1927 a red bead was introduced for Rover Scout leaders. This idea proved to be very unpopular and ceased to be used from 1928, at this point the badge became universally known as the Wood Badge.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003EThe Wood Badge Today\u00A0\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe Wood Badge continues to be awarded to adults in Scouting who complete their training. It\u0027s awarded to Scouts around the world and all those who achieve their badge automatically become a member of the 1\u003Csup\u003Est\u003C/sup\u003E Gilwell Park Scout Group, the largest in the world.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"accordion","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","showExpand":false,"items":[{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ctable border=\u00221\u0022 cellpadding=\u00225\u0022 width=\u0022820\u0022\u003E\n\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\n\u003Ctd\u003E\u0026nbsp;1888\u003C/td\u003E\n\u003Ctd\u003E\u0026nbsp;Baden-Powell acquires a Zulu necklace, believed to have belonged to Chief Dinizulu, which is later used to create the early Wood Badge\u003C/td\u003E\n\u003C/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\n\u003Ctd\u003E\u0026nbsp;1900\u003C/td\u003E\n\u003Ctd\u003E\u0026nbsp;Baden-Powell is presented with a leather lace during the Siege of Mafeking, he later uses this idea to form the Wood Badge.\u003C/td\u003E\n\u003C/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\n\u003Ctd\u003E1919\u003C/td\u003E\n\u003Ctd\u003EGilwell Park is purchased\u003Cbr\u003EThe pilot Wood Badge course is held\u003Cbr\u003EFirst Wood Badges are presented\u003Cbr\u003EThree stage training course is set\u003C/td\u003E\n\u003C/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\n\u003Ctd\u003E1921\u003C/td\u003E\n\u003Ctd\u003EFirst Cub leader training course is held\u003Cbr\u003EFirst Gilwell Reunion is held\u003Cbr\u003EDeputy Camp Chief (UK) badge is created with four beads\u003C/td\u003E\n\u003C/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\n\u003Ctd\u003E1924\u003C/td\u003E\n\u003Ctd\u003EDeputy Camp Chief for a country badge is created with five beads\u003C/td\u003E\n\u003C/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\n\u003Ctd\u003E1947\u003C/td\u003E\n\u003Ctd\u003EIntroduction of badge for Assistant Deputy Camp Chiefs and Assistant Akela Leaders, three beads.\u003C/td\u003E\n\u003C/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\n\u003Ctd\u003E1950-51\u003C/td\u003E\n\u003Ctd\u003EPercy Everett presents his set of six wood beads to the Camp Chief of Gilwell\u003C/td\u003E\n\u003C/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\n\u003Ctd\u003E1959\u003C/td\u003E\n\u003Ctd\u003EChange in training structure in the UK\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u201CScouters who have passed the Wood Badge Preliminary training course are entitled to wear in uniform the Gilwell woggle consisting of a leather two strand Turkshead. Scouts who have gained the Wood Badge are entitled to wear in uniform the Gilwell scarf and woggle, and the Wood Badge on a leather thong round the neck.\u201D\u003C/em\u003E\u003C/td\u003E\n\u003C/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\n\u003Ctd\u003E1987\u003C/td\u003E\n\u003Ctd\u003EChief Minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi of Kwazulu (the grandson of Chief Dinizulu) attended a Scout rally and was presented with a Wood Badge with four beads by the then Chief Scout of South Africa in a symbolic act of returning the beads to their rightful heir.\u003C/td\u003E\n\u003C/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\n\u003Ctd\u003E1989\u003C/td\u003E\n\u003Ctd\u003EChange in training structure in UK, only award is Wood Badge completion of training.\u003C/td\u003E\n\u003C/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\n\u003Ctd\u003E2003\u003C/td\u003E\n\u003Ctd\u003EChanges to acknowledgement of training progress. Still current 2018.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cem\u003Ea. On completion of the Getting Started modules, uniformed adults may wear the Gilwell Turks Head woggle.\u003C/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cem\u003Eb. For occasions when uniform is not worn, uniformed adults may wear a metal pin badge depicting the Gilwell log and axe.\u003C/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cem\u003Ec. On completion of the Getting Started modules non-uniformed adults may wear a metal pin badge depicting the Gilwell log and axe.\u003C/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cem\u003Ed. The Award for completion of training for Warranted adults is the Wood Badge\u003C/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cem\u003Ee. Leaders holding the Wood Badge may wear the Gilwell Scarf and woggle\u003C/em\u003E\u003C/td\u003E\n\u003C/tr\u003E\n\u003C/tbody\u003E\n\u003C/table\u003E","label":"Significant dates"}]}]}],"config":null}]},"prev":{"link":"/about-us/our-history/gilwell-park/the-history-of-gilwell-park/the-gilwell-oak-exploring-our-roots/","title":"The Gilwell Oak: Exploring our roots"},"next":null,"allParts":[{"link":"/about-us/our-history/gilwell-park/the-history-of-gilwell-park/gilwell-park-1919-to-2025/","title":"Gilwell Park: 1919 to 2025"},{"link":"/about-us/our-history/gilwell-park/the-history-of-gilwell-park/the-gilwell-oak-exploring-our-roots/","title":"The Gilwell Oak: Exploring our roots"},{"link":"/about-us/our-history/gilwell-park/the-history-of-gilwell-park/history-of-the-wood-badge/","title":"History of the Wood badge"}],"link":"/about-us/our-history/gilwell-park/the-history-of-gilwell-park/history-of-the-wood-badge/","id":48177,"nodeName":"History of the Wood badge","title":"History of the Wood badge","type":"codexPart","image":null,"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"History of the Wood badge","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"searchDescription":"","subHeader":"","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC80ODE3NyJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/about-us/our-history/gilwell-park/the-history-of-gilwell-park/history-of-the-wood-badge/"}],"id":48174,"nodeName":"The history of Gilwell Park","title":"The history of Gilwell Park","type":"codex","image":null,"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"The history of Gilwell Park","headerSubTitle":"Gilwell Park was donated to the Scouts in 1919. 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