The History of the ESFWI.                                                                                     by Anne Stamper,  Hon. Archivist NFWI.

1915

 The First WI in England in was Singleton and East Dean WI (West Sussex) which had its first meeting in the parlour of The Fox at Charlton in November 1915. It was started by Madge Watt

                                                          t Madge Watt and right the President and Secretary of the Singleton WI

1917

The Sussex Conference was formed (the first Federation of WIs)

The Conference was composed of delegates from all of the WIs in the county and met twice a year. The Chairman was Josephine Tyrrell Godman and the following WIs, in order of formation, belonged:

Singleton, Wiveslfield , Scaynes Hill, Danehill, Horam Road, Burgess Hill, Lindfield, Ditchling , Henfield, Balcombe, Portslade, Patcham, Glynde , Fairlight, Firle, Lower Beeding

1917

The National Federation of Women’s Institutes, NFWI,  was formed and Lady Denman was elected Chair, she lived at Balcombe.

                                                                                  

Lady Denman

1918

The Sussex Federation formed the first ever WI county office, a shop in The Broadway in Haywards Heath. They also employed Miss Marjorie Walton as secretary

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Marjorie Walton

1919

The Sussex Federation divided into two at a meeting held in Hove Town Hall on the 5th December 1919. The 116 WIs that made up the Sussex County Federation at that time agreed to divide to form two Federations – East Sussex then had 77 WI s and West Sussex had 39. Mrs Caroline Huddart was elected to Chair  the East Sussex Federation

                                                                                   

Caroline Huddart and dog Whypers

1918 onwards the WIs organised classes

                                                                            

in cobbling

                                                                              

in tinkering

                                                                                           

in soft toy making – these ‘Cuthbert’ rabbits were made in Sussex as part of a toy making ‘industry’

1919

Lewes WI market – was the first to be formed in the country, the fore-runner of Country Markets today. Others followed

Eastbourne WI Market in the 1930s

County Office moved to Lewes - top floor above The Old Bank on the  High Street

Old Bank, Lewes

1921 First County Music Festival

East Sussex Federation held the first of the County Music Festivals which were to become such a large feature of musical life during the 1920s and 30s. Held in Lewes Town Hall, there were classes for choirs from WIs , for mixed choirs, and for ‘quartettes’. Later classes were added for mixed choirs and schools

1953 County Office Moved to Westgate Street, Lewes

Opened by Dame Frances Farrer, General Secretary NFWI,

 Lady Castle Stewart – County Chairman

                                                                                

Westgate St ESFWI Headquarters 1953- 2006

 Coming soon.................List of Fed. Chairs and photos