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Chrishall

Chrishall Women's Institute
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The History of Chrishall Women’s Institute

The Chrishall Women’s Institute was formed in February 1926 and it has plodded on staunchly and steadily, without let or hindrance ever since.

During the last war, under the supervision of Mrs Lewis Kent and Mrs Langford, a Fruit Preservation Centre was opened. Here, enthusiastic women made, literally, hundredweights of jam using fruit grown in village cottage gardens, that would otherwise have been wasted. As the well-known broadcasting Chef Ambrose Heath said: ‘When the Women’s Institute made jam, they made History!’ Not only did they make jam, but they bottled and canned fruit. Then, at the end of the fruit harvest, they turned their attention to chutneys and pickles.

In its early days it was the W.I. that was instrumental in getting the County Library to supply books from Chelmsford. They came by rail in a large and somewhat unwieldy box.

It was the W.I., too, that started the fund for a Village Hall. A nucleus of £6. 10s. was paid into the bank on June 13th 1939 to this fund. This sum was raised as a result of some members trading with each other and this sum remained in the bank all through the war.

After the war was over, a Village Hall Committee was formed and many W.I. members served on both committees. Their combined efforts raised the Village Hall fund to over £800.

Also - producing, acting in and watching sketches has always been a popular pastime in the Chrishall W.I., and their first sketch ever produced here was entitled ‘Jackets’.

During the war, an entry in a competition for a rhyme about the W.I. gave this rather telling insight about the W.I. from a member’s point of view.






‘Our Institute’



We congregate in Chrishall School,

In Winter frigid - in Summer cool,

We snatch a pianist - and then

Begin by singing ‘Jerusalem ’.

Minutes follow, are read and signed -

Correspondence discussed - we’re not behind!

The speakers vary - as speakers should,

Some awful, some passable – some, even good!

By the time we’ve listened, marked and learned,

A hot cup of tea we all have earned.

How welcome it is as we sit and shiver,

Why even our very noses quiver!

Over that blessed cup of tea

We suddenly rival the BBC

News and views and latest prices

Somebody’s virtues - NOBODY’S vices!

Cookery recipes - how to bite ’em!

Clothes coupons - coal shortages - ad infinitum.

(I like Mrs Flack to help with tea,

She brings cheese straws and spoils me)!

Roll Call gives us all a chance

To air our views - or tilt a lance,

Competitions invite us to pit our skill -

The response is sometimes small - but still

We hope for real co-operation,

As craftsmen we come of a gifted nation.

The social time brings programmes various -

We’re seldom glum — more often hilarious

The ‘daily round, the common task’

Don’t furnish all we need to ask,

An occasional break is good for all

Although a pity our numbers are small

We hope ‘twill continue to bear much fruit -

Our Chrishall Women’s Institute.


Irene Cranwell, Chrishall Historian &  Fred Davies, Chrishall Local History Recorder

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