Hopehill
Campsite
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Hopehill
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History
19th Century
The name Hopehill extends before the Scouting movement even became into being possibly even before Robert Baden-Powell was born. Appearing on a OS six inch map from the mid 19th century ‘Hopehill Wood’ hasn't changed its general appearance in at least 175 years.
Late 19th Early 20th Century
Sometime between 1892 and 1914 a quarry appeared in the woods beneath the letter ‘p’. Nowadays the quarry houses our campfire circle.
Hopehill Wood was a worked woodland providing lumber for a variety of purposes through the act of coppicing. This is a traditional practice of managing woodland still in use to this day although not presently at Hopehill. The act of coppicing is to fell a single stem tree in the first instance and allowing multiple new shoots to take life. This replaces the old trunk allowing the tree to survive rather than rotting from the inside out. This can be done many times. You can see some of this practice in the woods to this day.
1950
In 1950 what is now Gravesham Scouts had purchased the woods plus some adjoining fields. These are now the Activity field, West and East camping fields. One the below map features start to appear, Circled in blue is the Barnes hut. Circled in red is the original toilet block which is now the district explorer store and network HQ. The purple FS is the abbreviation for Flagstaff. The yellow outlines the perimeter of the site at this date.
Access to the site from the main Wrotham Road A227 was by a path that ran down the right hand side of the present outer carpark in green on the map above. There is a pole in the neighbours field if you look closely enough. A lamp would be hoisted up the pole to signify the entrance to the site.
The land that the outer car park was purchased.
1981
In 1987 following the death and extremely grateful donation the Clifford Allen Building (Main building) and the Madeline Allension Block (toilet block in centre of the site) were built.
On 15th October 1987 the Great Storm arrived. Famously Micheal Fish, a TV weather forecaster, said
‘Earlier on today, apparently, a woman rang the BBC and said she heard there was a hurricane on the way. Well, if you're watching, don't worry, there isn't!’.
Although technically not a hurricane the storm delivered hurricane strength winds. This up rooted many trees in the woods. The trees that fell on the flat area of the woods were easy to remove. The ones on the hill still lay in testament to that night. Now with over 35 years passed the fallen trees are still growing albeit at a very strange angle in places fighting for the light.
1991
the Climbing tower arrives.
2000
In 2000 the field that we imaginatively called 5 acre was bought.
Hopehill Gallery
