WELCOME TO 1ST.WEST KIRBY SCOUT GROUP.
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HISTORY
OF THE GROUP
I would like to express my gratitude to Mrs. Pam Howarth for researching the following information .
The Group was founded in 1909, only a year after Baden-Powell's first speech in Birkenhead, outlining his ideas for the movement and two years after his experimental camp on Brownsea Island. The Group was originally controlled by the Parish Church of St. Bridget's, and met in church-related properties until 1928. From 1928 until 1932 it met in different lofts in the Old-Village.
In 1932 the Group acquired a lease on a plot of land in Bridge Road owned by the trustees of the Lear Home. Two wooden buildings previously used as the parish rooms in Hoylake in on a trek carts by Ron Godson, the Group Scout Master & Mr. Davies, a parent [ the husband of Em Davies ] and were erected on the site by volunteers. At first the two were completely separate but were later joined by a passageway which incorporated a new front entrance.
In 1956 the land was purchased from the trustees of the Lear Home for the sum of £250. In the late 1960's an extension was built, incorporating a kitchen, camp store, and toilets. Up to this time a "Elsan" had been used which had to be emptied in a hole in the grounds ! The extension was in memory of Ron Godson who had been involved with the Group from his boyhood and as leader from 1921 until his sudden death in 1964 at the Groups" May Fair".
In 1974 Wirral Borough Council's plans for a Leisure Centre caused more complications for the Group. A new road was to be built between the Lear Home and the Scout Headquarters and some of the Groups land was needed. Land on the north-east corner was, accordingly, exchanged for land on the south-east corner. Prior to this the property had been approached over land belonging to British Rail, for which a way-leave had to be paid. The new arrangements meant that the Group saved the princely sum of 5/- [25p] per annum !
In 1995 the building, which had been gradually deteriorating , finally gave up the ghost and after a fire in which the building was completely destroyed the land was sold to provide the funds to build a more solid and suitable headquarters at Lang Lane, on land leased from the Council.
The land on Bridge Road was sold on our behalf by the estate agency "Black Horse - Sykes Waterhouse" ,[ who are now part of the Bradford & Bingley Group.] Banks Road, and was bought by "Brock Homes" who then built a block of retirement flats and named it "Baden Court" thus still retaining the scouting connection.
CHRONOLOGICAL DIARY.
1909-1919 Christian Institute : 1920-1926 Parish Church Schools : 1927-1928 Parish Church Old School Room ; 1928-1929 Loft in Old Village ; 1929-1932 Loft in Albert Road ; 1932-1995 Bridge Road ; 1995-1996 West Kirby Residential School ; 1996-1997 Saint Andrew's Church Hall & Hilbre Scout Headquarters, Hoylake : 1996/1997-date New Headquarters, Lang Lane.
MERSEYSIDE COUNTY WEST WIRRAL DISTRICT
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LINKS !
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site updated 04/09/08
