Winchester youth hostel was a first among many; one of the first youth hostels in Britain, a first city youth hostel and the first opened with support from the National Trust. You might want about 15 minutes to read this article Jack Catchpool, first national secretary for the Youth Hostels Association, equivalent of today’s chief... Continue Reading →
No barracks, no sheep pens – super new hostels
A planned new youth hostel will be big. It'll be purpose built and it'll be in London. Not what many of us expect from a youth hostel? It's easier to think that youth hostels are small, out of the way places in fantastic locations. We might love those kind of hostels but we should think... Continue Reading →
G M Trevelyan
GM Trevelyan, historian and author, was the first president and great spokesman for the Youth Hostels Association. He epitomised the spartan in youth hostels. He also gave land and money for youth hostels including Black Sail, Castle Hedingham, and Once Brewed. YHA could have chosen his brother, Sir Charles Trevelyan, for their president but instead... Continue Reading →
Eighty years of youth hostelling
<p value="<amp-fit-text layout="fixed-height" min-font-size="6" max-font-size="72" height="80">Eighty years of youth hostelling portrays eight decades of YHA up to 2010 through nearly 450 photographs.Eighty years of youth hostelling portrays eight decades of YHA up to 2010 through nearly 450 photographs. The writers examined more than 2000 images when they were compiling the book. Personal reminiscence and extracts... Continue Reading →
A trip to the Albert Hall
August and a visit to the Albert Hall for a prom is becoming a habit. Sitting in the hall, waiting for Clemency Burton-Hill to introduce The Sixteen, I counted chairs and wondered how much space 5000 people took. That number of people turned up in August 1950 for YHA's 21st birthday. The celebrations were lavish.... Continue Reading →