The Women’s Institute

The Women's Institute was inaugurated in 1924, and the meetings from 1924-1939 seemed to have a boundless energy all of their own. Lady Maureen Stanley was unanimously voted in as President. The subscription was 2/- (10 pence). There was an average of 30-45 members at monthly meetings, and 36 names nominated for the Committee in 1937 and an election had to be held. In general the meetings were held in the Parish Hall but also at Meathop Hospital and the Sunday School where the Reverend Scotter gave a talk on the history of the Church.

Every year Lady Maureen Stanley invited the members to Witherslack Hall where tea or a 'sumptuous feast' (I) was enjoyed on the terrace, followed by twelve hands of whist, and a treasure hunt in the garden which was a mass of flowers. There were ten gardeners at the hall, and they grew all types of flowers and vegetables. Lady Stanley was President from 1924 until 1934 when she sent a letter of resignation. However members rejected this and she was re-instated and continued as President until her death in 1942.

Talks in the early months were on rabbit keeping and skin curing, fur glove making, bee keeping and goat keeping, hat lining and trimming, re- footing cashmere stockings and re-seating with sea grass, all portraying rural life in a bygone era. Local history was a popular topic in 1926 and 1927, the 'Life of Dean Barwick' in 1928 and the 'History of Witherslack' in 1933, and in 1937 a limited edition of 'Glimpses of Witherslack' by Miss E. Hodgson' was printed. In 1955 a sub- committee was formed to take care of the local history collection.

The Social Evening took place in December and was a very grand affair. In 1929 140 members and guests enjoyed a delicious supper, a whist drive, and games and dancing was indulged in until l am. The Women’s Institute did try to improve the quality of life in the village but progress was very slow. In 1935 a letter was sent to the Parish Council about having electricity installed in the village, and they said they would consider it for next year. Then came the First World War and so it was delayed. Although it was installed in the Parish Hall in 1946, it was in the early 1950's before it was supplied to the village.

It took 36 years from start to finish to get the mains water. This was only for the central village, many of the local houses pumped their own water from wells, and in some cases they still do to day. In 1936 a letter was written to the National Federation to say that the water supply in Witherslack was unsatisfactory, and in Maya resolution was passed to extend the water scheme by making use of the springs on the West side of Yewbarrow to conserve good water for the low lying farms that chiefly depend on bog water, yet nothing came of it.

Health matters were also uppermost in members minds. In 1931 Lady Maureen Stanley presented a cup for Home Nursing and First Aid and it was decided to have Home Nursing classes in winter. With the event of the Second World War in 1939, membership slumped, and with it came the endless round of fund raising. In 1940 instead of a Social Evening, a Whist Drive was held to which any villager was welcome, cost 1/- (5 pence), and that the proceeds would be divided between The Mayor of Kendal 's Appeal, the Border Regiment and the Red Cross.

In July 1940 members were urged to take out War Savings, to save in general and to do without luxuries. The monthly meeting talks changed to 'wartime dishes', 'make do and mend', and bleeding, burns, fractures and shock'. There were auctions for the Red Cross WRVS lectures or Civil Defence, and in 1942 there was a gas- mask drill. In October 1940 a social evening was held and the proceeds went for Christmas presents for the 26 young men from the village serving in the forces, and letters of thanks were sent in return.

In 1941 it was decided to make Witherslack a centre for jam making, canning and bottling. About 80 2lb cans of peaches, pears and plums and tomatoes were made at a time, and in June 1947, 900 jam parchments and 100 canning labels were ordered. Strangely, there was no indication in the minutes to mark the end of the war. Although there were 8 members present at the September meeting in 1945 but there were 21 members present at their 2lst Birthday Party later in the year. Members returned to the Institute as quickly as they had left and the November Social Meeting in 1945 that 24 members attended was a great success. After the July meeting in 1949 members adjourned to the games field to playa game of cricket, and in 1953 the Men’s Institute once again challenged the Women's Institute to a game of Whist. Although the latter was not mentioned again until after 1956.

In 1974 there was a 70th birthday party to which members both past and present attended. They also had a photograph taken to commemorate the occasion. In 1985 members were asked if they would record the Monumental Inscriptions of St. Paul's churchyard. (1) This was achieved in 1986 and a book was compiled showing the names, the inscription and the position on a map, and over 80 copies were printed.

To commemorate the millennium the members of the women's institute are making a new church kneeler, from an original design by June WaIters. The front is 314cm x 35cm and the two sides are 167cm x 24cm and it is costing over £300 to make.

Over the years Witherslack Women's Institute has been an integral part of the social life of the village, raising money for the church and school and many other worthy causes.

1. Monumental Inscriptions of Witherslack. Privately printed by Mrs. M. James. 30