Glasbury House was purchased in 1963 by the London Borough of Redbridge and opened as an Outdoor Education Centre.

Are you one of the thousands of residents of the London Borough of Redbridge who have visited Glasbury since then?

Mail us your memories!

and we'll put them here....

- Back in July 2009 I revisited Glasbury House and was invited in and shown around the house and the grounds. Some of it looked just the same as the first time I came here in 1965 when I was 12 and at Gearies Secondary School for Girls.  I think we were the youngest children to visit at the time, I remember being told that we were a trial group.  I loved the canoeing and was really sad that, when I came again in 1968 the water was too low for the canoes and there was no transport to take the canoes further down the river.

I also desperately wanted to learn how to ride a pony only to find that we had been split into two groups and I had to wait another day to do so.  We were to have a lesson in the morning and go for a pony trek in the afternoon.  The first group had a person drop out after the lesson and my hand went straight up to go out that afternoon.  We hadn't gone far when one of my classmates fell off her pony and I was asked to catch it.  That was my introduction to horse riding!  The next time I rode was again at Glasbury House in 1968 in the Black Mountains.  It took another 25 years before I had riding lessons and now my husband and I hack in Epping Forest and go horse riding each year in Spain... CS

- I am often zapped back to the time I visited Glasbury House during summer 1989 while at Canon Palmer Catholic High School.  I can remember all the fantastic memories and learning experiences good and bad, that will never leave me even at my ripe old age of 34.  During our trips to Glasbury House our PE teacher was an inspiration not only to myself and my brothers but to many at Canon Palmer.  Keep up the inspirational work you do at Glasbury House for years to come ... GR

- I came to Glasbury when I was a teenager and had such a fantastic time that I would like to know if you have a brochure that you can send out to me to pass on to my daughter's school, so that they can benefit from such a great experience... JH

- I had a few great holidays at Glasbury when I was a school girl from Canon Palmer School in the late 70's.  People like Bill, John and Ian were the instructors together with our own great teacher. I just wanted to remind you of the long term effect you guys can have.  I am now 45 and still do the activities we were introduced to there with my scouts.  I have just bought a Land Rover, my dream since I was bounced around in one there when I was 14!!  I hope you continue to inspire young people for many years to come ... FK

- I spent many summers at Glasbury House as a family friend of the first Head of Centre. Since then I think I have known all the Heads of Centre… right up to and including Jon, the current Head…Glasbury is my family and I still keep in touch even now after first going there 42 years ago….I am now living in the Middle East and still reminiscing… The lessons I have learned at Glasbury have genuinely stood me in great stead for the role I am now hosting as a company CEO…Keep up the good work and may Glasbury House continue to flourish for very many years. It is one of the best learning experiences there is in life. My best wishes to all the team! .. SH

- I visited Glasbury twice, 1967 and 1968, from Aldersbrook School.  I remember arriving at the big beautiful house, in the coach, all of us very excited.  The bunk rooms were upstairs in the main house... I have always remembered an absolutely fantastic time. Doing activities I had never done before, or since!  We did pony trekking over the moors (I lost a stirrup!) with camping out, abseiling, pot holing and canoeing... On our "walk" we got lost due to one girl taking over the map and reading it upside down.  When this was realised we were far from anywhere and I took over the map reading and eventually we got back, having been met by the search party on its way out to find us!!!  ... I live in New Zealand now where outdoor activities are a big part of most peoples lives, but I still think we had some very simple and enjoyable fun.  A lot of children can benefit from that. ... Sadly I have no photos of my time at Glasbury.  I know one of our teachers took a movie of some parts of what we did but other than that there are just memories.  Thanks for them! ... TC(W)

- Is Glasbury exclusively used by Redbridge schools or can any school book a week there? I went to Glasbury as a student over ten years ago and I'm now a Head of Year in another borough.  I'd love to take a group to Glasbury; it was one of the most rewarding experiences I had throughout my education.. MY

- I stayed at Glasbury House in the summer of 1964 when it first opened.  I went to the Dane School for Girls which was on Melbourne Road in Ilford.  I loved Glasbury and had a wonderful time.  I loved sleeping in a big room with the other girls and using all the communal facilities as I'd always dreamed of going to boarding school and this seemed to be just what it would be like!  It was a very warm summer and we spent the week walking through the countryside to various places, with our packed lunches.  It was my first real taste of independence and I have long lasting, fond memories of the week we spent there ... JC

- Hi, this is a girl called Kate who visited Glasbury in Year 6 last year (2009) and it was the best trip I have ever been on!  When I go into secondary school I hope I get the opportunity to go again with my friends I went with last time and my new friends! ...

- I visited Glasbury House with my school St Barnabas Girls, Woodford Green in 1971 -1972 for the first time and with Youth Club aster with many visits to follow.  One of the greatest memories I have is out pony trekking and we came across an abandoned lamb which Jon our instructor rescued and took it to a nearby farm, they kept the little lamb and we named it Barnabas.  If I remember rightly he was still alive when we went back the following year.  Fabulous memories and times.  The most wonderful place and experience, we loved every minute of it and fell "in love!" with the instructors Dave, Ian and Jon, and cried every time we left. KO

- The weekend was stunning, walking in the Black Mountains... Every one of us was very delighted with our stay in the Bunkhouse.  The place is very friendly, comfortable and equipped with everything a group could need, just perfect!....NM (March 2013).