Foxlease
Encyclopedia
Foxlease is a training and activity centre of Girlguiding UK
near Lyndhurst, Hampshire
, UK. The Foxlease estate has been owned and managed by Girlguiding UK since 1922. The estate is 65 acres (263,045.9 m²) and main house is known as The Princess Mary
House, in honour of her marriage. Foxlease has hosted the Guides' Third International Conference, Sixth World Conference and also the first World Camp
.
house, still has Adam
fireplaces and a Strawberry Hill Gothic lounge. Individual rooms have been adopted by Guides from around the world and personalised by them. Modernisation has created conference and residential facilities. These including training and meeting rooms, and accommodation for overnight stays.
Lodge was built to replace Beaverbrook Lodge. It accommodates self catering groups and there is disabled access on both floors. It was opened in 2005, by The Countess of Wessex, then President of Girlguiding UK
, a low rope course
, a high rope course and a covered, heated swimming pool
. Kayaking
and rafting
facilities are also available. There are also nature trails.
In January 1922, Mrs Archbold, the American
owner of Foxlease wrote to the Girl Guide Executive Committee offering to give them the house and 60 acres (242,811.6 m²) to be a training centre for Guiders. Despite the suitability of the property and the need for such a venue, the considered opinion was that the Guides did not have sufficient resources for the upkeep and it would not be wise to accept the gift.
The offer coincided with the preparations for the marriage of Princess Mary, president of the Girl Guides. Less than a week before the Royal wedding, Rose Kerr
was contacted by Lady Mary Trefusis, as Olave Baden-Powell
was not in London. Lady Trefusis was on the committee of a fund that all the Marys of the British Empire
had contributed to for a wedding present for the Princess. The Princess had insisted she could only accept a proportion of the fund as a personal gift. Trefusis proposed to Kerr that the remainder could be spent buying a training centre for the Girl Guides, whom the Princess was enthusiastic about. Kerr suggested that the fund could furnish and equip Foxlease, but this was not immediately accepted as the Fund wanted a place that would be associated with Princess Mary's name. As the matter had to be settled by the next day, Kerr gave Trefusis the phone number of Pax Hill
, the Baden-Powell's home.
Olave Baden-Powell was in bed with 'flu
when she received the phone call, but she went to Buckingham Palace
the next day. Mrs Archbold was consulted and the outcome was that her gift was accepted. The house was renamed The Princess Mary House and Princess Mary gave £6000 from the fund to furnish and equip the house. Later she gave £4000, half the proceeds of the exhibition of her wedding gifts, towards the upkeep of the property.
Alice Behrens
was appointed the first Guider-in-Charge. Each room was adopted by Guides from a country, county of Britain or school and embellished and furnished by them. Helen Storrow
gave the money to equip the small lodge and Juliette Low stayed in it for several weeks to get it in order. Senator and Mrs William A. Clark
furnished the Garden Room in memory of their daughter, after whom Camp Andree Clark (now part of the Edith Macy Conference Center
) in the USA is named.
Foxlease was opened on 1922-06-02. The Second International Conference was in session in Cambridge
at that time, so 24 Guiders from the conference visited for a short training course.
formulated the idea in September 1923, during the latters stay at Pax Hill. The original invitation was for six Guides and one Guider from each country where there were Guides. However, this was modified to accommodate those who were willing and able to send more. In total 1100 girls and women attended, 600 of which were from overseas. Forty countries were represented.
chaired this conference at which the constitution of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
, drawn up at the previous international conference, was settled. Olave Baden-Powell was also unaminiously voted World Chief Guide by the twenty-eight countries recognised by the World Bureau. This conference also approved the idea of a World Flag, an idea originally proposed by South Africa some years earlier.
The first International Trainers' Conference was held simultaneously with the World Conference.
Girlguiding UK
Girlguiding UK is the national Guiding organisation of the United Kingdom. Guiding began in the UK in 1910 after Robert Baden-Powell asked his sister Agnes to start a group especially for girls that would be run along similar lines to Scouting for Boys. The Guide Association was a founder member of...
near Lyndhurst, Hampshire
Lyndhurst, Hampshire
Lyndhurst is a village and civil parish in the New Forest, Hampshire, England. It is a popular tourist location with many independent shops, art galleries, cafés, restaurants, pubs and hotels. The nearest city is Southampton located around nine miles to the north-east...
, UK. The Foxlease estate has been owned and managed by Girlguiding UK since 1922. The estate is 65 acres (263,045.9 m²) and main house is known as The Princess Mary
Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood
The Princess Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood was a member of the British Royal Family; she was the third child and only daughter of King George V and Queen Mary. She was the sixth holder of the title of Princess Royal...
House, in honour of her marriage. Foxlease has hosted the Guides' Third International Conference, Sixth World Conference and also the first World Camp
World Camp (Guiding)
There have been several World Camps held by the Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, first held in 1924. Organized by the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, unlike World Scout Jamborees, World Camps are not named with an ordinal number, nor is there an attempt to hold them at regular...
.
The Princess Mary House
The Princess Mary House was renamed in honour of Princess Mary's marriage. A GeorgianGeorgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
house, still has Adam
Adam style
The Adam style is an 18th century neoclassical style of interior design and architecture, as practiced by the three Adam brothers from Scotland; of whom Robert Adam and James Adam were the most widely known.The Adam brothers were the first to advocate an integrated style for architecture and...
fireplaces and a Strawberry Hill Gothic lounge. Individual rooms have been adopted by Guides from around the world and personalised by them. Modernisation has created conference and residential facilities. These including training and meeting rooms, and accommodation for overnight stays.
Princess Margaret Lodge
Princess MargaretPrincess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon was the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II and the younger daughter of King George VI....
Lodge was built to replace Beaverbrook Lodge. It accommodates self catering groups and there is disabled access on both floors. It was opened in 2005, by The Countess of Wessex, then President of Girlguiding UK
The Coach House
The Coach house is a listed building, constructed in the 18th century. It provides self-catering accommodation.The Barn
The Barn is self-catering accommodation. Early photos show a thatched roof, but this has been replaced.Campsites
There are several campsites at Foxlease, including Cedars, Katherine Wilson, Birches, Appletree and Bridges. Most of the sites have a shelter with a toilet and shower block. Most of the campsites close at the end of September for the winter, but Katherine Wilson and Appletree are kept open.Activity facilities
There is a 9m climbing wallClimbing wall
A climbing wall is an artificially constructed wall with grips for hands and feet, usually used for indoor climbing, but sometimes located outdoors as well. Some are brick or wooden constructions, but on most modern walls, the material most often used is a thick multiplex board with holes drilled...
, a low rope course
Ropes course
A ropes course is a challenging outdoor personal development and team building activity which usually consists of high and/or low elements. Low elements take place on the ground or only a few feet above the ground...
, a high rope course and a covered, heated swimming pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
. Kayaking
Kayaking
Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking and canoeing are also known as paddling. Kayaking is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle...
and rafting
Rafting
Rafting or white water rafting is a challenging recreational outdoor activity using an inflatable raft to navigate a river or other bodies of water. This is usually done on white water or different degrees of rough water, in order to thrill and excite the raft passengers. The development of this...
facilities are also available. There are also nature trails.
Acquisition by Girlguiding UK
In 1921, Foxlease was up for sale. Hampshire Girl Guides asked for and received permission to camp there and several training weeks were held there during 1921.In January 1922, Mrs Archbold, the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
owner of Foxlease wrote to the Girl Guide Executive Committee offering to give them the house and 60 acres (242,811.6 m²) to be a training centre for Guiders. Despite the suitability of the property and the need for such a venue, the considered opinion was that the Guides did not have sufficient resources for the upkeep and it would not be wise to accept the gift.
The offer coincided with the preparations for the marriage of Princess Mary, president of the Girl Guides. Less than a week before the Royal wedding, Rose Kerr
Rose Kerr
Rose Kerr was a pioneer of the Guiding movement from Great Britain.She was one of the founders of the Rangers section of Girl Guides and was...
was contacted by Lady Mary Trefusis, as Olave Baden-Powell
Olave Baden-Powell
Olave St Clair Baden-Powell, Baroness Baden-Powell, GBE was born Olave St Clair Soames in Chesterfield, England...
was not in London. Lady Trefusis was on the committee of a fund that all the Marys of the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
had contributed to for a wedding present for the Princess. The Princess had insisted she could only accept a proportion of the fund as a personal gift. Trefusis proposed to Kerr that the remainder could be spent buying a training centre for the Girl Guides, whom the Princess was enthusiastic about. Kerr suggested that the fund could furnish and equip Foxlease, but this was not immediately accepted as the Fund wanted a place that would be associated with Princess Mary's name. As the matter had to be settled by the next day, Kerr gave Trefusis the phone number of Pax Hill
Pax Hill
Pax Hill, near Bentley, Hampshire, England, was the family home of Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Scout movement, and his wife, Olave, for over twenty years during the 20th century. It is located at the end of a half-mile drive, off the main A31 road....
, the Baden-Powell's home.
Olave Baden-Powell was in bed with 'flu
Influenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
when she received the phone call, but she went to Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
the next day. Mrs Archbold was consulted and the outcome was that her gift was accepted. The house was renamed The Princess Mary House and Princess Mary gave £6000 from the fund to furnish and equip the house. Later she gave £4000, half the proceeds of the exhibition of her wedding gifts, towards the upkeep of the property.
Alice Behrens
Alice Behrens
Alice Muriel Behrens was active in Girl Guiding and is remembered chiefly for her contribution to the training of adults in the movement.Behrens was the daughter of Sir Charles and Lady Behrens....
was appointed the first Guider-in-Charge. Each room was adopted by Guides from a country, county of Britain or school and embellished and furnished by them. Helen Storrow
Helen Storrow
Helen Osborne Storrow was a prominent American philanthropist, early Girl Scout leader, and chair of the World Committee of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts for eight years...
gave the money to equip the small lodge and Juliette Low stayed in it for several weeks to get it in order. Senator and Mrs William A. Clark
William Andrews Clark
William Andrews Clark, Sr. was an American politician and entrepreneur, involved with mining, banking, and railroads.-Biography:...
furnished the Garden Room in memory of their daughter, after whom Camp Andree Clark (now part of the Edith Macy Conference Center
Edith Macy Conference Center
Edith Macy Conference Center is a conference and training facility owned by the Girl Scouts of the USA and is located in Briarcliff Manor, New York. The site has had four names: Camp Edith Macy - University In The Woods, Edith Macy Training School, Edith Macy Girl Scout National Center and since...
) in the USA is named.
Foxlease was opened on 1922-06-02. The Second International Conference was in session in Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
at that time, so 24 Guiders from the conference visited for a short training course.
Third International Conference
The Third International Conference was held at the same time as the first World Camp.World Camp
The first World Camp took place from 16–24 July 1924. Olave Baden-Powell and Olivia BurgesOlivia Burges
Millicent Olivia Rawlins was involved in Scouting and Guiding in the United Kingdom. She was secretary to the Girl Guides and Girl Scouts first World Camp.-Family life:...
formulated the idea in September 1923, during the latters stay at Pax Hill. The original invitation was for six Guides and one Guider from each country where there were Guides. However, this was modified to accommodate those who were willing and able to send more. In total 1100 girls and women attended, 600 of which were from overseas. Forty countries were represented.
Sixth World Conference
The Sixth World Conference was held at Foxlease from 5–12 July 1930. Helen Gwynne-VaughanHelen Gwynne-Vaughan
Dame Helen Charlotte Isabella Gwynne-Vaughan, GBE , née Fraser, was a prominent British botanist and mycologist....
chaired this conference at which the constitution of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts is a global association supporting the female-oriented and female-only Scouting organizations in 145 countries. It was established in 1928 and has its headquarters in London, England. It is the counterpart of the World Organization of the Scout...
, drawn up at the previous international conference, was settled. Olave Baden-Powell was also unaminiously voted World Chief Guide by the twenty-eight countries recognised by the World Bureau. This conference also approved the idea of a World Flag, an idea originally proposed by South Africa some years earlier.
The first International Trainers' Conference was held simultaneously with the World Conference.