The Swan Centre

 

The original Swan Hut (as it was then known) was built here by volunteers, out of money that C V Swan had donated. C V Swan (I’ve not yet found out what names the C V stands for), known to everyone as “Swannie”, came from the Newcastle area where, he freely admits, he went along to the Scouts to scoff at them, to make fun of them! But instead he joined up and stayed for many years. Later he moved to the south of England and set up as a farmer in Hampshire, and from there he contributed enormously to the development of Scouting, not the least of which was in the development of Gilwell Park. He was one of the earliest to be appointed as a Deputy Camp Chief, and throughout his life he never missed a Gilwell Reunion.

 

After some passage of time it became necessary to rebuild a larger building, and it was decided to keep his name attached to it as the Swan Centre. This new building which you see here now is a Norwegian style timber construction. It was planned as a dual-purpose hall, to include an indoor chapel for occasions when a Church Service could not be held outdoors. C V Swan and Alf Wingrove were old friends, both of whom had made great contributions to Gilwell Park, and so the chapel was named as the Alf Wingrove Memorial Chapel. Until at least 1980, maybe longer, an early morning Communion Service was held in here every Sunday throughout the main camping season from spring to autumn, and clergy from local parishes would be invited to come and officiate for the Services. There is a bell on the outside corner of this building near the swan sign, which a member of the Gilwell staff would ring to let campers in the camping areas and those who were attending a Leader Training Course on the Training Ground know that the Service was about to begin.

 

The Outdoor Chapel

 

The Outdoor Chapel puts the “out” into Scouting! At the Gilwell Reunion and on other special events the Sunday morning Communion Service would be held here, weather permitting.

 

The Altar would have been [here], against a very large Cedar of Lebanon tree, but, in January 1978 the tree and the Altar suffered severe damage from high winds and a snow storm. The chapel was re-designed by the Gilwell staff and maintenance teams, and the new Altar was consecrated during the Sunday morning Service at the Gilwell Reunion in that same year, 1978.

 

The cross was carved from the wood of the Cedar of Lebanon which had fallen.

 

During 2016 further work was done to let more light into this area, clearing away some old conifer trees that had become very overgrown, and instead planting laurel bushes which are kept to a height of 8 feet (2½ metres) so as to provide a secluded area but also allowing light to flood in making it a warm and welcoming place.

 

Also in 2016, in addition to the landscaping work, the cross, which after standing there for 38 years was suffering from wood rot, was replaced with a new cross by the Gilwell Volunteer Team. After the Gilwell Reunion in 2025 this new cross was due to be refurbished, but, even after only 10 years, was found to have wood rot already, so it was replaced by the cross you see here now in time for this year’s 2026 Gilwell Reunion.

 

William and Margaret Chinnery lived in the house from 1796 until 1812, at which time they changed the name from Osborne Hall to Gillwell Hall. Margaret was a passionate gardener and in the area now occupied by the Roman Catholic Chapel, the Swan Centre and the Outdoor Chapel she created a beautiful children’s garden for their three children: twins George and Caroline, and Walter. Sadly, Walter died at the age of nine, and a memorial was placed in the garden in his memory. When Caroline miraculously recovered from whooping cough, Margaret erected a Greek-style column in celebration, but unfortunately Caroline became ill again and died a year later. Those memorials are still here to this day, Walter’s on the other side of the Swan Centre and Caroline’s here in the Outdoor Chapel.

 

Nowadays, Church Services and religious gatherings in the Gilwell Park chapels are not held on a fixed schedule, but these take place as and when required for visiting groups, camps, and events such as the annual Gilwell Reunion.

Individual group ceremonies, such as investitures or presentation of awards, often take place around the historic Gilwell site, on the Buffalo Lawn, under the famous Gilwell Oak, or in the Outdoor Chapel, or at other designated religious spaces along the Faith Walk.