Baden-Powell House
Queen's Gate House | |
---|---|
Former names | Baden-Powell House |
General information | |
Architectural style | Modern architecture |
Address | 65 Queen's Gate |
Town or city | Kensington London, SW7 |
Country | United Kingdom |
Completed | 12 July 1961 |
Cost | £400,000 |
Client | The Scout Association |
Design and construction | |
Architect(s) | Ralph Tubbs |
Structural engineer | Harry Neal Ltd. |
Website | |
www |
Queen's Gate House, still commonly known by its previous name of Baden-Powell House, is a conference centre in South Kensington, London. It was built as a tribute to Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, and has served as the headquarters for The Scout Association, as a hostel providing modern and affordable lodging for Scouts, Guides, their families and the general public staying in London and as a conference and event venue.
The building committee, chaired by
Following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and a decline in numbers of Scouts using the facility, the Scout Association sold the building to Mander Portman Woodward who run it as an events and conference venue and are converting the hostel rooms into boarding accommodation for students.[1][2][3]
History
Construction
From an address by Elizabeth II[4] |
Baden-Powell himself has gone, but his Movement remains and grows—a memorial more enduring than stone or steel. It is fitting, however, that here in England, where he started it, there should be a house bearing his name and serving the needs of the Movement, expressing our gratitude in a practical way. |
Acting on a 1942 initiative by
The Scout Movement raised the major part of the funding of £400,000 for building and furnishing the building between 1957 and 1959. Scouts throughout the country collected 'ship' halfpennies, and this raised the bulk of the money for the building.[5] Money was also raised through public appeals supported by publication in Scout Movement magazines, a collection of donations in 15,000 brick-shaped boxes, and 5,000 appeal letters signed personally by then Chief Scout Lord Rowallan.[4] Scouts representing every county were present at the opening.
In a celebration on 17 October 1959 the foundation stone was laid by the World Chief Guide (
Use by the Scout Association
With 142
From 1974 to 2001, Baden-Powell House was the
Thirty-five years after its opening, Baden-Powell House was refurbished in a six-month £2 million programme, providing all modern amenities such as private facilities for all rooms, double glazing, and air conditioning, as well as enhancing conference facilities for large and small events. Upon completion of the programme, the house was opened by the president of The Scout Association, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent on 5 June 1997.[14][15] A museum to the life of B.P., "The Baden-Powell Story",[16] was housed at the site.[17]
Since its inception, Baden-Powell House provided a hostel for people visiting London,[18] and since 2001 this became the main focus of the building. In the period 2004–2006 the hostel participated in the Youth Hostel Association, after which the Scout Association entered into an agreement with German company Meininger Hotels with Scout members from the UK and abroad being able to stay at a reduced rate. It remained owned by the Scout Association, and advertised alongside the Gilwell Park Conference Centre and the Scout Activity Centres. At its peak, it saw on average 30,000 people spending the night and 100,000 meals served in the restaurant.[10]
Use by Mander Portman Woodward
In November 2020 it was announced that the Scout Association would sell the building as a result of the impact of the 2020 Covid crisis on the Scout Association's revenues.[19][1] In March 2021, the property was valued at £46,000,000.[20] The sale was completed in August 2021 to an independent school Mander Portman Woodward whose London campus is located in converted town houses a short distance away in Queen's Gate. They plan to retain the events and conference facilities as well as adding other bespoke teaching areas, including an art studio, and converting the hostel rooms into boarding accommodation for international students and students over the age of 14 years from September 2022.[3]
Architecture
Architectural inspiration
The house was designed by the architect Ralph Tubbs in 1956, whose works included the Dome of Discovery, the highlight of the 1951 Festival of Britain. Tubbs' floor plans and a model of his design were displayed during a fundraising campaign and exhibition on 21 February 1957 in the Egyptian Hall of the Mansion House.[4][21]
The six storied building is designed in the
Additionally, Le Corbusier's
Baden-Powell House was built to Tubbs' design by Harry Neal Ltd, for which they received the 1961 Gold Medal of the Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers.[4] At the opening, the house received the building design award for 'The building of most merit in London.'[10]
Layout
The hostel and conference centre is entered from
Baden-Powell collection
For a number of years a notable collection of Baden-Powell memorabilia was displayed for visitors in 'The story of B-P' exhibition. This included many drawings and letters by Baden-Powell himself, such as the original of his
A nearly three-metre high
See also
- Baden-Powell International House, 25-story hotel of The Scout Association of Hong Kong in Kowloon, Hong Kong
- Ellsworth Augustus Scout House, the Boy Scouts of America hostel, in Mendham, New Jersey, US
- Jamboree on the Air, call sign for Baden-Powell House is GB3BPH
- Kandersteg International Scout Centre
- Scout Adventures (The Scout Association)
References
- ^ a b Delahunty, Stephen (6 November 2020). "Scouts to sell two properties and make 100 redundancies". Third Sector. Haymarket Media Group. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
- ^ "Queen's Gate House". Mander Portman Woodward. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Exciting new landmark on the horizon for international students in London". Mander Portman Woodward. 13 September 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ ISBN 0-85165-016-3.
- ^ a b c d James, Chris (2014). A History of Scouting in 100 Objects. London: The Scout Association. p. 80.
- ^ "Queen Opens B-P House 1961". britishpathe.com. 17 July 1961.
- ISBN 9780600613985.
- ^ a b c d Rogers, Peter (2006). Gilwell Park and the White House: A brief history and guided tours. Peter Rogers. p. 21.
- ^ Rogers, Peter (2006). Gilwell Park and the White House: A brief history and guided tours. Peter Rogers. p. 69.
- ^ a b c "Baden-Powell House" (PDF). Scoutbase Fact Sheet. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 December 2004. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
- ^ Bevan, John (2001). Annual report & accounts 2000–2001. The Scout Association.
- ^ Asplin, John (2005). Join the adventure. Annual Report 2004–2005. The Scout Association.
- ISBN 9780747811510.
- ^ "Baden-Powell House International Centre re-opened by HRH The Duke of Kent" (PDF). The Passing years, Milestones in the progress of Scouting. The Scout Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 July 2006. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
- ISBN 9780600613985.
- EBSCOhost 4397196.
- EBSCOhost 25579912. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
- EBSCOhost 24829455.
- ^ "Scouts announce plan to protect movement's future". scouts.org.uk. The Scout Association. p. 24. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ "Statements of cash flows". scouts.org.uk. The Scout Association. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
- ^ "Building of the Month February 2005". The Twentieth Century Society. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
- ^ "Image of the Pavillon Suisse". Galinsky. Archived from the original on 9 November 2007. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
- ^ "Cities and Buildings Database: La Tourette Monastery". University of Washington. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
- ISBN 0-600-03954-4.
- ^ In American usage (where the ground level is termed the "first floor"), the restaurant is on the second floor and the meeting/conference rooms are on the third floor
- ^ "Example of Jagger's painting on scout merchandise". The Scout Association. Archived from the original on 26 September 2006. Retrieved 6 July 2006.