Over 100 Years…
In late 1917 and early 1918, sample meetings were held in Huntingdonshire and the ladies attending were told of the benefits of forming a WI in their town or village through speeches from Mrs Alfred Watt, the Chief National Organiser, Lady Isabel Margesson and Lady Sandwich. The Stukeleys WI were the first to sign their WI rules on 14th February 1918, and they’re still running today! They were closely followed by Ramsey, Alconbury, Great Gransden and Fenstanton later in February 1918.
By April 1918, Huntingdonshire had nine WIs, six of which are still running today, and a meeting with organised for 18th April 1918 by Mrs Alfred Watt with Lady Sandwich in the chair. Our Federation was formed and the “Sussex Rules” adopted. Our first Chairman was Mrs Howard Coote and the Executive Committee, now known as our Board of Trustees, held their meetings in the Archdeaconry Library. Initially, the Executive Committee organised everything within the Federation. Towards the end of 1918, three special committees were formed. These were Propaganda, Finance and WI Industries.
Throughout the rest of 1918 and 1919, an additional nine WIs were established within the Federation and a paid Federation Secretary, Miss Thackery, appointed in October 1919. The Executive Committee held their meetings in a variety of places from 1921. In 1924, the WI Office opened at the Hostel in Huntingdon. In 1935, the WI Office moved to two rooms in All Saints Passage. The office didn’t get its first telephone until 1944! In 1949, the Federation Office moved to the Old Grammar School. In 1965, meetings were held with Northamptonshire Federation to discuss the Soke of Peterborough WIs moving to Huntingdonshire Federation. The WIs voted to move, and in 1967 the Federation Council voted to change the name to Huntingdon and Peterborough Federation of Women’s Institutes (HPFWI). On 22nd May 1972, the Federation Office moved to the WI Centre, 6a Walden Road, Huntingdon, where we can still be found today.
To read more about the history of our Federation, what our WIs have achieved in the past and a brief history of each WI, you can download the book ‘Our Story – A History of the WI in Huntingdon and Peterborough’ by clicking here. The book was written by Jackie Daniels and published in 2003. We’d like to thank Jackie Daniels for her permission for the book to be published here and made available for you today.
Our Building
The site of our WI Centre, 6a Walden Road, is steeped in history. Our building is over 175 years old and used to be the site of a Victorian School.
On 24th March 1842, Reverend Richard Haworth, Rector of All Saints with St. Johns, and Reverend Henry Margetts, Vicar of St. Mary with St. Benedict’s, signed a 99 year lease on a piece of ground situated in the Parish of St Mary, with the ambition of building a school. Funds were raised and a deed dated 28th August 1843 said the school building was completed. The school accommodated for over 100 infants and up to 80 girls. In 1854, the school was the “Girls School of Industry, and Infants School,” and described as:
“The building consists of residence for two mistresses in the centre with the two school houses as wings. The interior of the schools are of ample extent, well warmed and ventilated. The white brick (so frequently used in this neighbourhood) has been employed in the erection of these buildings, to which circumstance may be attributed to its particularly clean appearance. In the school of industry, which is under the management of a committee of ladies, and is supported by voluntary subscription, the number of children is limited to 80. The name of the present mistress is Charlotte Hodgkins. The infant school is under the management of the resident clergyman and is also supported by voluntary contributors. The average daily attendance of children is about 100. The mistress’s name is Maria Buck.” – Hatfields Directory for Huntingdonshire 1854
Families paid 1d per week for their children to attend the school. Before long, the school was enlarged with a classroom added to each school. The school was enlarged again in 1893 and then altered in the 1920’s to accommodate boys too. The school was closed in 1964 after 121 years of providing education. In 1965, the school buildings were sold to Mr F Meadows, and in 1969, the whole site was sold to Mr F Barritt. On 11th January 1972, the Trustees of Huntingdon and Peterborough Federation of Women’s Institutes bought the property for £6000. It became the site of the WI Centre and Federation Office.
To read more about the history of the schools, about school life from 1843 and notable people, as well as a brief history of Huntingdon and Peterborough Federation of Women’s Institutes, you can download the book ‘From Schools To W.I.’ by clicking here. The book was written by Jackie Daniels and Christine Morris in 1993. We would like to thank Jackie Daniels for her permission for the book to be published here and made available to you today.