Following the announcement that Bridport WI closed its doors for a final time this month, with members singing one last rendition of ‘Jerusalem’, we’re taking a brief look at the history of the long-standing institution.

The history of Bridport WI dates back to Thursday, October 25, 1917, when an executive committee met at Mrs Sutcliffe’s house to form a Women’s Institute in Bridport. Those present were Alice Ackerman, Miss Biddlecombe, Mrs Christie, Mrs Deveuish, Mrs Holden, Miss Hourfall, Mrs Cameron, Mrs Oliphant, Mrs Suttill and Miss Wilham.

Eileen Ursula Holden became the first president of the W, with Mrs Deveuish as the first vice president. A signed picture of Mrs Holden is a prized possession of the group.

The first members meeting took place in the Bull Hotel. The first mention of Bridport WI having a meeting place was November 4, 1919, but it was at a members meeting on January 20, 1920 that Mrs Suttill formally handed over the deed of the Bridport WI House to the president, Mrs Holden. The John Suttill House as it was known consisted of 13 and 14 West Street on the corner of North Street.

The new hall was built in 1925 after acquiring land behind the John Suttill House and opened on Monday, November 2, 1925 by Mrs LT Tucker (formally Mrs Suttill), supported by Miss Style, the chairman of the Dorset Federation of WIs (DFWI), Benita Lady Lees, the hon secretary of DFWI, Miss Gildea, the mayor, F Weeks Esq, Mrs Leaker, the president of BWI.

On September 16, 1939, the hall was requisitioned by the military authorities and the furniture stored at the hospital. The various WI meetings were held all over Bridport during this time as the WI were without a home until March 1947.

The hall was first used as sleeping quarters for soldiers stationed in the town but later transferred to the Minster of Food and became a British restaurant.

Many WI members helped at rest centres and evacuation committees where help was given in the billeting and clothing of evacuees.

There were four air raids recorded in Bridport, one written record stated that in the evening of the August bank holiday 1942, an enemy plane dropped two bombs, one of which landed on a public house. The blast sent a beer mug through the window of the pub, across the road some 60ft, through a shop door, landing upright on the shop counter, which was owned by Bridport WI. The shop and another, a long with a flat above, were attached to the hall and let out by the WI at the time, eventually being sold to refurbish the hall on December 11, 1981.

The first talk recorded for the WI was by Mrs Sanctuary, who spoke on the urgent need for a Red Cross hospital war depot. There were also demonstrations of dried fruit and vegetables, home cobbling, making potato bread, a lecture on the care of teeth and general health, citizenship and how to make garments from old trousers, which in turn led to competitions for the best garments and potato bread with badges given to the winners.

In the early days, Bridport and Beaminster took it in turns to hold group meetings, in which all the WIs in the area were represented.

Early debates included, ‘are we strict enough with our children?’ and ‘should men be domesticated?’ as well as talks on ‘notable men and women of Dorset’ and ‘WI subscriptions’.

There were outings in a Charabanc - a large old-fashion coach with several rows of seats - to Forde Abbey and Exeter amongst others, with more recent trips to Yeovil theatre by minibus or car.

Bridport WI supported the local hospital at Port Bredy - now private apartments - by initially donating £1. 1s annually. This was increased as the years went by and eggs were also collected at monthly meetings, sometimes as much as seven dozen at a time. Members also helped with mending at the hospital and held several of their committee meetings in the hospital depot during the Second World War.

A letter to the town clerk in September 1955 from the WI secretary complained about the inefficiency of the turnstile in the ladies’ toilets in West Bay, saying it was difficult to use for the disabled and elderly. In reply, the town clerk said that ‘it was their policy to have turnstiles in ladies’ public conveniences and any difficulty in operation is caused mainly by misuse’. A resolution the following year from the National Federation of WIs ‘urged the government to make it illegal for turnstiles at the entrance of women’s public lavatories as they were inefficient an a source of fear to women, children, the old and physically handicapped, therefore constituted a menace to good health’.

From its beginnings and almost to the present day, Bridport WI had a notable choir, with the first choir photographed outside Mountfield. In recent years it also organised a Christmas carol service, in which the choir performed along with members of other WIs in the area at Bridport United Church during the Christmas tree festival.

The WI’s handicraft group made the Bridport Centre WI banner between 1935 and 1936, with Mrs H Gale presiding. It features a country woman sitting at a table and the making of the rope and net industry of Bridport. All the materials used were produced in Bridport, including a piece of sailcloth the banner is on. The handicraft group has held exhibitions over the years and won several cups, notably at the Melplash Show.

Craft members also undertook a millennium wall hanging in the hall, showing notable buildings and the landscapes of Bridport and West Bay. The group’s latest wall hanging depicts 100 years of activities and competitions, a picture of the hall, community gifts, the war effort, the memorial vase and a painted picture of the first Bridport WI president.

The memorial vase was purchased by subscription from Bridport WI members, initially to commemorate the death of Mrs Green, a past president, because of her love of flowers. The inscription reads, ‘In loving memory of all the loyal members who have passed out of our earthly fellowship to the higher life, 1952’. A fresh vase of flowers was placed here every month by members for groups hiring the hall to enjoy.

A wooden seat was presented by Bridport WI to the town to commemorate Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation on June 2, 1953, and was placed in East Street.

Bridport WI has had a variety of interests over the years, including music, whist drives, folk dances and drama groups.

Bridport WI closed earlier this month after 102 years of supporting the community, outings, talks, and a whole range of events that are so important to the town’s history.

Former member Hilary Iles said: “As president of Bridport WI’s last meeting on December 3, I felt very sad regarding its closure, which was not taken lightly.

“The last two years have been difficult, and with regret at the start of 2019, the committee and members voted to close.

“During the three and a half years being president and having a supportive committee, we have had many happy memories and some great speakers.

“I am sure we will be seeing each other around the town in the future.”