Durham County Women's Institutes
Reference: D/WI Catalogue Title: Durham County Women's Institutes Area: Catalogue Category: Charity and Society Records Description:
Covering Dates: 1918-2008
Catalogue Index
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- Durham County Women's Institutes
- Durham County Women's Institutes (Ref: D/WI)
- Durham County Federation (Ref: D/WI 1/1-3)
- Executive Minutes (Ref: D/WI 1/1/1-22)
- Sub-Committee Minutes (Ref: D/WI 1/2/1-30)
- Miscelleanous (Ref: D/WI 1/3/1-75)
- W.I. Village Histories Competition, 1959-1960 (Ref: D/WI 1/3/72/1-17)
- Photographic slides concerning a 'Tidy Village' competition (Ref: D/WI 1/3/73(1)-(42))
- Photographic slides concerning "County Show, County Feasts and Festival" (Ref: D/WI 1/3/74(1)-(26))
- Miscellaneous slides (Ref: D/WI 1/3/75(1)-(42))
- Groups of Women's Institutes (Ref: D/WI 2/1-3)
- Group Minutes (Ref: D/WI 2/1/1-10)
- Sherburn W.I. (Hillside) Group Meetings (Ref: D/WI 2/1/10)
- Group Instructions (Ref: D/WI 2/2/1)
- Group Reorganisation (Ref: D/WI 2/3/1)
- Individual Women's Institutes (A-L) (Ref: D/WI 3/1-41, 86-90, 92-95, 113-132, 151-152)
- Auckland Park Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Auc)
- Aycliffe Hospital Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Ayc)
- Aycliffe Village Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/AycV)
- Beamish and West Pelton Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Bea)
- Bearpark Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Bear)
- Belmont Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Bel)
- Binchester Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Bin)
- Bishop Auckland Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Bish)
- Bolam Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Bol)
- Bowburn Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Bow)
- Brandon and Byshottles Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Bra)
- Brafferton and Coatham Mundeville Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Braf)
- Brandon Village Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/BraV)
- Broom Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Bro)
- Broom Park Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/BroP)
- Burnhope Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Bur)
- Butterknowle Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/But)
- Byers Green Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Bye)
- Cassop-cum-Quarrington Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Cas)
- Castleside Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Cast)
- Chilton Buildings Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Chi)
- Cockfield Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Coc)
- Cold Hesleden Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Col)
- Copelaw Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Cop)
- Copley Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Copl)
- Cornsay Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Cor)
- Cornsay Village Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/CorV)
- Cowpen Bewley Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Cow)
- Coxhoe Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Cox)
- Craghead Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Cra)
- Croft Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Cro)
- Crook Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Croo)
- Croxdale Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Crox)
- Dean Bank Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Dea)
- Delves Lane Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Del)
- Deneside Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Den)
- Dipton Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Dip)
- Earl's House Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Ear)
- Easington Colliery Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/EasiC)
- Easington Village Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/EasiV)
- East Murton Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/East)
- Edmondsley Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Edm)
- Edmundbyers Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Edmb)
- Eggleston Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Egg)
- Eldon Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Eld)
- Escomb Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Esc)
- Fatfield Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Fat)
- Firth Moor District Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Fir)
- Graythorp Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Gra)
- The Grove Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Gro)
- Haswell Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Has)
- Hawthorn Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Haw)
- Hesleden Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Hes)
- Hetton-le-Hole Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Het)
- High Grange Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Hig)
- Hobson Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Hob)
- Holmside and Peartree Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Hol)
- Horden Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Hor)
- Hunstanworth Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Hun)
- Hunwick Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Hunw)
- Hurworth Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Hur)
- Hutton Henry Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Hut)
- Ingleton and District Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Ing)
- Kelloe Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Kel)
- Lands Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Lan)
- Langley Moor Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Lang)
- Leamside and West Rainton Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Lea)
- Leasingthorne Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Leas)
- Leeholme Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Lee)
- Lintz Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Lin)
- Ludworth Women's Institute (Ref: D/WI 3/Lud)
Catalogue Description
The history of the Women's Institute (WI) in England began in 1915 when the first institutes were formed with the aim of rejuvenating rural communities and encouraging women to become more involved in food production. Within a few years, institutes had banded together in regional federations. The National Federation was formed in 1917.The WI made a valuable contribution to the war effort, not only in terms of food production, but also by establishing various cottage industries, such as making socks or jumpers which were then sold.
Many of the first WIs in County Durham were in traditional rural areas such as Wolsingham, Cotherstone and Neasham. However, by the end of the 1930s, the list included colliery villages such as Easington Colliery and South Hetton.
When the First World War ended, responsibility for the WI was transferred from the Board of Agriculture to the National Federation. The cottage industries established by WIs during the war struggled afterwards under competition from other manufacturers and so the WI concentrated again on teaching crafts. Wide ranging and varied networks were established whereby members could share their skills and develop new ones. Most were centred around the home, but could be as varied as glove making, and marble painting.
During the Second World War, the WI not only helped with food production as they had during the previous war, but also with the evacuation of children to the countryside.
Following the war, the WI continued to flourish. As well as home crafts, drama, poetry, local history and regular excursions were enjoyed by members.
Catalogue Contents
Acc: 2992(D)
(1 plastic box containing 42 slides)
Acc No: 2992(D)
(1 plastic box containing 26 slides)
Acc No: 2992(D)
(1 plastic box containing 42 slides)
The group comprises Sherburn, Shadforth, Ludworth, Haswell, and Sherburn Hill. Meetings are held twice yearly.
Ref: D/WI 2/1/101/1-13
Ref: D/WI 3/1/12/1-2
Ref: D/WI 3/2/13/1-4
Ref: D/WI 3/3/14/1-13
Ref: D/WI 3/4/15/1-6
Ref: D/WI 3/5/186/1-4
Ref: D/WI 3/86/1113/1-2
Formed, October 1984; suspended, November 1987
6/1-38
Ref: D/WI 3/6/17/1-5
Institute closed 8 June 1976
87/1-16
Institute formed 21 October 1924
Institute suspended, 3 November 1987
8/1
Ref: D/WI 3/8/188/1-2
Institute closed 8 March 1989
9/1-5
Ref: D/WI 3/9/110/1-2
Ref: D/WI 3/10/111/1-6
Ref: D/WI 3/11/112/1-10
Ref: D/WI 3/12/1114/1
Suspended, May 1994
13/1-4
Ref: D/WI 3/13/114/1-3
Ref: D/WI 3/14/1115/1-20
Ref: D/WI 3/115/115/1-4
Ref: D/WI 3/15/1116/1-13
Ref: D/WI 3/116/1117/1-2
Ref: D/WI 3/117/116/1-4
Ref: D/WI 3/16/1118/1-20
Ref: D/WI 3/118/117/1-3
Ref: D/WI 3/17/118/1-4
Ref: D/WI 3/18/119/1-2
Ref: D/WI 3/19/189/1-8
Institute closed 10 December 1991
119/1
Ref: D/WI 3/119/1120/1-3
Ref: D/WI 3/120/120/1-2
Ref: D/WI 3/20/121/1-18
Ref: D/WI 3/21/1121/1-2
Institute suspended, 13 May 1996
90/1-5
Institute closed 15 November 1989
22/1-7
Ref: D/WI 3/22/1122/1-21
Formed, April 1933; suspended, December 1989
23/1
Ref: D/WI 3/23/192/1-9
Ref: D/WI 3/92/124/1-10
Ref: D/WI 3/24/193/1-10
Institute formed 20 October 1947
Institute suspended 20 January 1992
25/1-8
Ref: D/WI 3/25/1152/1
Ref: D/WI 3/152/1123/1-14
Formed, November 1936
124/1-8
Ref: D/WI 3/124/126/1-3
Ref: D/WI 3/26/1153/1
Ref: D/WI 3/153/127/1-3
Ref: D/WI 3/27/128/1-6
Ref: D/WI 3/28/1125/1
Closed, January 1993.
126/1-16
Ref: D/WI 3/126/129/1-12
Ref: D/WI 3/29/130/1-4
Ref: D/WI 3/30/131/1
Ref: D/WI 3/31/132/1-3
Ref: D/WI 3/32/1127/1-15
Ref: D/WI 3/127/133/1-3
Ref: D/WI 3/33/194/1-29
Institute formed 20 February 1923
34/1-17
Ref: D/WI 3/34/1128/1-10
Ref: D/WI 3/128/1129/1-35
Ref: D/WI 3/129/135/1-8
Ref: D/WI 3/35/195/1-3
Institute formed 16 December 1924
36/1-7
Ref: D/WI 3/36/137/1-8
Ref: D/WI 3/37/138/1-4
Ref: D/WI 3/38/139/1-5
Ref: D/WI 3/39/1130/1-2
Institute suspended, July 1968
40/1-6
Ref: D/WI 3/40/1131/1-10
Formed, March 1968; suspended, March 1994
41/1-8
Ref: D/WI 3/41/1