Britain

The first branch office of the Watch Tower Society was established in London in 1900. Its facilities have had to be enlarged many times. On August 7, 1993, the latest addition, a 200,000-square-foot [18,600 sq m] factory and administrative complex, was dedicated.

The factory buildings at the rear of the site were constructed in just 17 months, using the tilt-up method for concrete wall panels. Some 5,000 volunteers shared in the work. The administrative block is a brick building. Some 133,000 bricks were used. How many bricklayers were required to do that job? Just seven sisters, with two brothers to supervise. A contractor who visited the site shook his head in disbelief when told who did the work.

Albert Schroeder, of the Governing Body, was present to share in the dedication program. He delighted the audience by relating details of the growth of the Kingdom work in Britain since 1937, when he was sent to the British Isles to supervise the work and to encourage at least 1,000 to enroll as pioneers. What a joy to see that there are now 127,395 Kingdom proclaimers in Britain and that, on an average, 12,803 of them are in the pioneer service each month.

[Picture on page 27]

Added branch facilities in London, England