The 19th Durham Scout Group opened in January 2006 following the merger of the 1st Durham Scout Group and the 9th Durham Scout Group. This was to the benefit of both groups as 9th had only a Scout Troop with low numbers while 1st had good Beaver numbers but didn't have it's own building. Now 19th is a strong Group with Beaver, Cub and Scout sections meeting regularly at Nelson Hall in Neville's Cross.

Nelson Hall

Nelson Hall was opened on the 20th September 1969. The kitchen was upgraded in 2005 and the original roof replaced in 2006. Also in 2006 all the internal walls were replaced, insulated and new heaters were installed. The toilet was upgraded to provide disabled access in 2007. In the summer of 2010 the interior ceiling was replaced and new lighting was added to make the hut a brighter more welcoming place for the group. Although the outside appearance of Nelson Hall looks run down this is purposely like this. View a Map to our Hut.

1st Durham      

In 2005 St. Oswald's church hall started becoming overly expensive for 1st Durham Group as well as not providing ideal facilities.

9th Durham     

The 9th Durham Scout Troop was formed from the 3rd and 6th Durham Troops on the 1st April 1966 under the leadership of Rodger Darsley. The first activity of 9th was a summer camp at Commondale in Yorkshire in 1966. Previous to this there had been a long history of co-operation between the two troops and they quickly began to regard themselves as 9th Durham instead of 3rd or 6th. With the influx of Scouts from the two Cub packs the nucleus of the new troop was formed.

3rd Durham

The 3rd Durham Scout Troop was formed on the 27th November 1953 round a lamp post in the North End.
Subsequent meetings were held in the basement of 7 Western Hill, Durham, the home of Alan O. Pigg who was the founder of the troop. The first patrol was called the Tiger Patrol and consisted of Patrol Leader Michael Macaulay, Second Charles Hedley, and Scouts Peter Hewitson (died 25/08/1954 - road accident), Samuel Valentine and David Macaulay.

As the troop grew a room over the garage at the rear of 7 Western Hill was put at the disposal of the Troop.

The Cub Scouts were started in 1955 by Mrs Mary Coxon, Jim Standish became the first Scout Leader and the Group Scout Leader was Alan O. Pigg. Thus a full group was formed. Soon the HQ was bursting at the seams and so a new place had to be found. Through the good offices of the parents committee and in particular Mathew Hayes a second hand building was bought in Meadowfield, it was pulled down and rebuilt on a site next to Tyre House Ainsley Street, Durham by kind permision of Jeffrey Dixon and was opened 05/09/1959 by Lord Barnard, County Scout Commissioner. In one year the Group held the following Trophies:-

Lonsdale Cup,
Stopford Shield (District Trophies),
Geoffrey Gordon Cup
B.P. Guild Shiled (County Trophies)

6th Durham

The 6th Durham group was first registered on the 7th August, 1930, the Scout Master was Mr. Hallaham of the Avenue, Durham. The years between this date and the early 1950's are shrouded in mystery, although from looking at the district trophies it seems that 6th were very good at sports and also won competitions in Scoutcraft. In the early 1950's the Cubs and Scouts were meeting in the "Scout Hut" behind St John's Church under the leadership of W. Nelson and L. Mitchienson. Even at this date the hut was in a state of disrepair and modifications were being carried out. (The hut was second hand, originally belonging to the 2nd Lady Boyne Group).

During the 1950's, the Cub section gained strength, feeding a troop which, although not large in numbers, was of good quality, and in 1956, a joint camp was held with the 3rd Durham at Raby Park. When Mr Mitchienson retired, Bill Nelson took over the Scouts, Mrs Nelson now being in charge of the Cub Pack. When the first Chalmer Shield for Cubs took place, it was won by 6th Durham.

As there were no senior Scouts in 6th, in 1961 the older Scouts went to the 3rd Durham Seniors, forming a senior section that proved to be the best in the County, 3rd lads providing the brawn, and the 6th the brain.

The last Scout Leader of the 6th was Rodger Darsley, who pioneered the work on the new headquarters, drawing up the initial plans and encouraging the parents committee to raise the money. Unfortunately the time came for Rodger to leave the University and get a job, which meant that the Scouts would be without a leader. This happened just at the time when the 3rd was without a meeting place, and the problems of the both troops were solved by the amalgamation.

During 2004 the 9th Durham Cub pack was forced to close and there was a consequential drop in Scout numbers over the remaining years.