About us

In 1960 due to the growth of the Guide Movement, The Girl Guide Association (as it was known then), decided there was a need for Regional Headquarters as the number of members had become too large to administer from one point. After much deliberation, six Regions were formed in England with Preston being chosen to be the Headquarters of the North West Region, which would cover the five Counties of Cumberland, Westmorland, Cheshire, Lancashire and the Isle-of-Man.

The next task was to find suitable premises and eventually No.1 Ribblesdale Place was chosen. The house is of late Regency or early Victorian design, being erected between 1842 and 1845 with a later section being added on the Colonnade side of the adjacent park. The building enjoys an enviable position on the edge of the lovely Avenham Park.

Many notable people have lived in it, including Dr. Arthur Raynor, the brother of the first suffragette of Preston, Mrs Edith Rigby. It is recorded that though Dr. Raynor did not always approve, many were the times when sister Edith collected her friends at the house to discuss the many problems of the day and the franchise of women.

As many professional men and their families lived in this part of Preston, Ribblesdale Place being known as the Harley Street of Preston in the early part of the 20th Century, it was thought inappropriate for certain ladies, intent on improving the position of women in all conditions of life, to be holding meetings in such residential property, even though it be their own or that of relatives.

It seems fitting that such a property should eventually become the home of Guiding in the North West.

At first the property was leased but in 1978 was purchased by North West England. A staff of two were appointed in January 1971 and, aided by working parties of Guiders, the building was cleaned and painted and the garden cleared ready for the official opening, on May 1st 1971, by the Hon Beryl Cozens-Hardy, OBE, JP, Vice Chairman of the World Association of Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting (WAGGGS) and the former Chief Commissioner for England, in the presence of many notable dignitaries, Guide Association officials together with Brownies, Guides, Rangers, Guiders and Commissioners. Further repairs and refurbishment were carried out in 1988 and 1993 to give us a Headquarters to be proud of.

In 1971 there were 12 Guiding Counties, but in 1973, in line with local government reorganisation, these increased to 14. On 1.

1st April 1983 Lancashire South East and Lancashire Border were formed out of Greater Manchester North and in 1987 Lancashire North West and Lancashire South were formed out of Lancashire West and Gtr. Manchester West respectively to make the 17 Counties we have today.

STAFF Currently there are 6 staff members working from the office. Ann White Region Manager, Bev Seddon,Office Administrator, Pamela Naylor, Registrations, plus a team of 3 CRB Administrators; Louise Smith and Sue Jeeves deal with all the CRB checks for new volunteers and Linda Morris deals with the retrospective CRB checks.

The office is open Monday – Thursday 8.45 – 5.00pm and Friday 8.45 – 4.00pm

Together the staff has just over 45 years experience of working with Girlguiding North West England at the office in Preston and have helped our members with many enquiries over the years. If you have a problem or just want some information, pick up the phone and call!