Foxlease facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Foxlease |
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Princess Mary House, Foxlease
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| Owner | Girlguiding | ||
| Location | Lyndhurst, Hampshire | ||
| Country | United Kingdom | ||
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Foxlease is a special place for Girlguiding members. It's a training and activity centre located near Lyndhurst, Hampshire in the United Kingdom. Girlguiding has owned and looked after the Foxlease estate since 1922.
The estate is quite large, covering about 65 acres (260,000 m2) of land. The main building is called The Princess Mary House. It was named after Princess Mary when she got married. Foxlease has been an important meeting place. It hosted the Third and Sixth World Conferences for Guides. It was also the location for the very first World Camp.
Contents
Exploring Foxlease: What's There?
The Princess Mary House: A Special Building
The Princess Mary House is a beautiful old building. It was built in the Georgian style. Inside, you can still see original fireplaces and a unique lounge.
Many rooms in the house have been "adopted" by Guides from all over the world. These groups have decorated and furnished the rooms. Today, the house has modern facilities. These include rooms for meetings and training. There are also comfortable places to stay overnight.
Princess Margaret Lodge: A Place to Stay
The Princess Margaret Lodge is another building at Foxlease. It was built to replace an older lodge. This lodge is perfect for groups who want to cook for themselves. It also has easy access for people with disabilities on both floors. The Countess of Wessex, who was the President of Girlguiding at the time, opened it in 2005.
The Coach House: Historic Accommodation
The Coach House is a very old building. It was built in the 1700s and is a protected historic site. Like the Princess Margaret Lodge, it offers self-catering accommodation. This means groups can prepare their own meals there.
The Barn: Another Self-Catering Spot
The Barn also provides self-catering accommodation. Old pictures show it once had a thatched roof. This type of roof has now been replaced.
Campsites: Outdoor Adventures
Foxlease has many different campsites for outdoor fun. Some of the popular ones are Cedars, Katherine Wilson, Birches, Appletree, and Bridges. Most of these sites have a small shelter. They also have toilet and shower blocks for campers.
Most campsites close for the winter at the end of September. However, Katherine Wilson and Appletree campsites stay open all year round.
Activity Facilities: Fun and Challenges
There are lots of exciting activities to do at Foxlease! You can try a 9-meter climbing wall. There's also a low ropes course and a high ropes course for different challenges.
If you like water, there's a covered and heated swimming pool. You can also go kayaking and rafting. For those who love nature, there are special nature trails to explore.
Foxlease's History: How it Became a Guide Centre
Henry Weyland Powell was an important person in Foxlease's early history. He owned the estate in the early 1800s. Interestingly, he was related to Robert Baden-Powell, who founded Scouting.
How Girlguiding Got Foxlease
In 1921, Foxlease was put up for sale. Girl Guides in Hampshire were allowed to camp there. They also held several training weeks at the estate.
In January 1922, the owner, Anne Saunderson, offered to give Foxlease to the Girl Guides Association. She wanted it to be a training centre for Guiders (Guide leaders). The property was perfect, but the Guides worried they didn't have enough money to look after it.
At the same time, Princess Mary was getting married. She was also the president of the Girl Guides Association. People had collected money for a wedding gift for the princess. She decided she only wanted a small part of the money for herself.
Lady Mary Trefusis, who was helping with the gift fund, suggested using the rest of the money to buy a training centre for the Guides. This was an idea Princess Mary really liked. Rose Kerr and Olave Baden-Powell, the World Chief Guide, got involved.
After some discussions, Anne Saunderson's gift was accepted. The house was renamed The Princess Mary House. Princess Mary herself gave £6,000 from the fund to furnish the house. Later, she gave another £4,000 to help with the upkeep of the property.
Foxlease officially opened on June 2, 1922. Guides from an international conference visited for a short training course.
The First World Camp
The very first World Camp for Guides happened at Foxlease from July 16 to 24, 1924. Olave Baden-Powell helped create the idea for this camp.
The original plan was for six Guides and one leader from each country to attend. But many more wanted to come! In the end, 1100 girls and women attended. About 600 of them came from other countries. Forty different countries were represented at this exciting event.
The Sixth World Conference
Foxlease also hosted the Sixth World Conference from July 5 to 12, 1930. At this meeting, the rules for the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts were finalized. Olave Baden-Powell was also chosen as the World Chief Guide by 28 countries. The conference also approved the idea of having a World Flag for Guides.
Gifts from Around the Globe
New Zealand's Special Gift
In 1926, every member of the New Zealand Guide Association gave one penny. This money was used to buy a beautiful wooden writing desk. It was made from New Zealand timber and given as a gift to Foxlease.
Plans for the Future
There are plans to create a "Museum of Guiding" at Foxlease. This museum would hold many important historical items and documents about Guiding.
