The hut was placed on its current site in the Lake District by the Crossley & Porter School Scout Group in 1953. When this Troop disbanded in 1975 the hut was offered to the 24th and gratefully accepted.
Officially it accommodated five persons for sleeping purposes. Cooking and lighting were by Calor gas. Constant running (cold ) water is provided by a small stream which passes two yards from the front (and only) door It has been used by countless numbers of scouts, leaders, and former leaders of the 24th St Paul’s Scouts since then.
As the years have gone by it had been repaired numerous times and was becoming life expired. The National Trust contacted us to ask if we could do something about the hut, which was starting to look an eyesore. After a lengthy discussion, they agreed to us replacing it with a new one bigger and more suited to our needs. Designs were agreed upon and plans put in place to do this, but Covid-19 blocked progress.
As soon as we were allowed to travel once more, a small team went up and demolished the old hut at the end of June 2020. Considerable time was spent preparing the base for the new hut and on 25th September 2020, the new hut was delivered and erected.
Loads of work still need to be done inside, but then again we cannot take scouts away at the moment. Hopefully, as soon as the Covid Crisis has passed many more scouts will enjoy coming here.
When visiting the Lakes I often have a look for the hut to see if it is still there and this May was astonished to see a new hut. Keith Rawnsley told me who now uses the hut. My brother Peter and I were members of Crossleys 5th Halifax troop in the 1950s and spent many happy times there.
We wish 24th St Pauls every success with the new hut and hope it will last as long as the old chicken hut which was transported to Elterwater from Luddenden Dean in 1953.
When visiting we used to fill in a log of what we had been doing ( Not everything !) do you still have the old logs? I donated some climbing books many years ago and wonder if these still exist.
Good luck to you all. Michael Denton.
Well done St Pauls. I hope you have as much pleasure as we did.
Kind regards Frank Rycroft
Former 5th Halifax Crossley and Porter Scout.