1st history

The 1st Chandlers Ford Scout Group and the Brickfields of Chandlers Ford

The present Headquarters at Brickfield Lane is resting on hundreds of bricks from two brick kilns which were at the end of a narrow lane, the original Brickfield Lane. Our Group Badge represents the old lane with the kilns. These kilns made bricks for many prestigious buildings in London including the Law Courts.
During the years 1960 - 65 The Scouts, Cubs and supporters demolished these kilns (with the permission of the owners), to provide the hardcore for the base of the present HQ. The building was officially opened in 1965 by Ralph Reader; Founder of The Gang Show, his signature appears above the imitation fire-place in the Leaders Room.
This fire-place is made from bricks from those brick kilns, and is all that remain in Chandlers Ford of that brick industry.
On the fireplace is a simple cross of black iron. This cross is made from a bolt and nails from the previous Headquarters which was sited behind hoardings on the corner of Winchester Road and Oakmount Road, behind the current LLoydsTsb bank and offices and the current Library. This building served Scouting in Chandlers Ford from 1928 till 1965
There is a District Cub Scout competition known as “The Bainbrigge Shield” The shield was presented to the District by Miss Bainbrigge in 1958. She was Group Scout Master and Scout / Cub Leader at the 1st from 1924 till the 1950's
The original hut was built by the founding Scout Master, Major C.V. Lanyon of “Oakwood”, Chandlers Ford and his committee of Treasurer, C.F. Pryce of “Deerhurst”, Chandlers Ford and Secretary Mr Turner of “Roo”, Merdon Ave.
Scouting moved to the “Hoardings” from an outbuilding at the Railway Hotel, Hursley Road, now The Monks Brook PH. The first meeting of Scouts took place in 1909, and were acknowledged as existing by the Scout HQ in Sept / Oct 1910; no official records of Troops were kept until the national register was set up in 1919.

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