Visiting Gilwell Park, February 22, 2008

Getting to Gilwell is pretty easy... if you have a good half day to do it! I left Heathrow Airport approximately 0930, and arrived at Gilwell about two hours later (Underground to Liverpool Street, train to Chingford, and then a 2 km walk)

Leaving the train station, turn to your right and go about 200 meters to Bury Road (left) and the entrance to Epping Forest. Gilwell Park is 1.7 kilometers up the road from here, and I couldn't help but sing "off to Gilwell" as I hiked up the road...

Entrance from Bury Road. Too winded at this point to keep singing... Gilwell now also houses a conference center and the Scouts UK national HDQ

The Gate, also known as the Leopard Gate.

Scouts are to enter thru the gate at Gilwell Park to show respect, however the day I was there, the gate was chained and locked...

Bronze bust of Lord Baden-Powell, created for the 1968 World Jamboree in Mexico City

Lord Baden-Powell's caravan (English for 'tow camper'), given to him by the Scouts so that he could attend the 1929 Jamboree. It also included a Rolls Royce automobile to pull it...

A bronze casting of Lord Baden-Powell's right boot print.

"The Boy Scout" presented by the Philadelphia Council in 1966 as a symbol of international brotherhood. The clock tower in the background shows London time and Jamboree time on alternating faces. The museum is at the far left side behind the clock tower.

There is a very small museum at Gilwell, containing memorabilia from adult training done over the years. Looking down on all of this is a portrait of William De Bois McClaren, District Commissioner who purchased and donated Gilwell to the Scouts.

B-P's Kudu horn, Wood Badges, and Akela Badges (upper left)

Bronze buffalo presented by the BSA to the anonymous Scout whose daily good turn to William D. Boyce resulted in Scouting being brought to the United States.

Flag from the 2007 Centenary World Jamboree, along with some serious lashings...

Gate leading to/from the Training Grounds.

Serious lashings at work...

Lashing poles by the dozen... Ends were painted with colors to designate length and diameter.

Open fields

Open fields overlooking reservoir

Obstacle course in Challenge Valley

Obstacle course in Challenge Valley

Obstacle course in Challenge Valley

Tube slides for Cubs in Challenge Valley

Knots...

Buddah presented by Scouts of Thailand

Outdoor Chapel

Scout Synagogue

Catholic Chapel

Open fields

Campfire Circle Arch, presented in 1947 by the New Zealand Scout Contingent to the World Jamboree. The totems on the front were done by a Maori woodcarver

Campfire ring. Not very ornate, but a campfire is a campfire...

Campfire Arch as you exit

More open spaces