Pax Lodge

By 1978, however plans were underway to move the premises again. The idea of the Olave Centre Project formed and three years later, the Project had a site: 12c Lyndhurst Road, in the residential suburb of Hampstead. An area famous for its artistic and literary connections, as well as for Hampstead Heath, 800 acres of open land high up on the hill overlooking London.

A new name had to be found for the empty lot that was to become the World Centre and it was decided to name it ‘Pax Lodge’ as a tribute to the Baden-Powells who had used the Latin word for peace ‘pax’ in the names of their two homes, Pax Hill in England and Paxtu in Kenya. The name also highlights that peace is an important part of the Girl Guiding/Girl Scouting Movement.

The groundbreaking ceremony for Pax Lodge was held on 8 November 1988. The following year on 6 May, The Honorable Mrs. Betty Clay, daughter of Lord and Lady Baden-Powell, unveiled the foundation stone – on the fiftieth anniversary of Our Ark and 100 years after the birth of the World Chief Guide. The building took around 18 months to build, but by July 1990, staff were ready to move into Pax Lodge. The new Centre could accommodate 59 people and had a large dining room, kitchen, lobby lounge, library, resource centre, shop, TV room, guest kitchen, and a staff/resident wing.

On 1 August, Pax Lodge received its first guests. The World Centre was active again after a two-year break. On 29 September 1990, the Guider-in-Charge and members of staff walked four miles across London from Olave House to Pax Lodge carrying the World Flag. They ended up raising £500 for the Centre in the process. The doors to Pax Lodge were donated by members of the Baden-Powell family and, in an official ‘door opening’ ceremony, were opened by Natasha King, great-granddaughter of the Founder and World Chief Guide. In doing so they carried on a tradition initiated by Olave Baden-Powell who often gave a donation towards the doors when asked to open a new building. Her intention was to symbolically express that the doors of Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting are open to women and girls to prepare them for the outside world.

On 15 March 1991, H.R.H. The Princess Benedikte of Denmark officially opened Pax Lodge. Since opening, Pax Lodge has welcomed over 62,000 guests, including day visitors from more than 65 countries. It has become an international gathering place for friendship, education and accommodation, and it is an ideal place to stay when visiting London.

Ten years later, Pax Lodge celebrated its 10th birthday with a weekend of activities. The weekend included a day out in London visiting the London Eye and other attractions, a visit to Leeds Castle in Kent, a party for the local Brownies and an official reception for past volunteers, staff, committee members and other supporters and friends of Pax Lodge. Over 100 people attended, with some travelling as far as South Africa, Australia, Canada, USA, and Lebanon.

Celebrations were also held for the 15^th anniversary in 2006 and 2011 saw a 20^th birthday celebration and the first staff and volunteer reunion.