"Y mae'n debyg i hedyn mwstard; pan heuir ef ar y ddaear, hwn yw'r lleiaf o'r holl hadau sydd ar y ddaear, ond wedi ei hau, y mae'n tyfu ac yn mynd yn fwy na'r holl lysia, ac yn dwyn canghennau mawrion."
Marc4:31 & 32
"It is like a grain of mustard seed, when it is sown in the earth is less than all the seeds that be in the earth. But when it is sown, it groweth up...and shooteth out great branches."
St Mark 4:31 & 32
LLANFAIRPWLLGWYNGYLL - The First in Britain - 1915
Mrs Alfred Watt
The Anglesey village of Llanfairpwllgwyngyll is world famous for having Britain's longest place name, but far less well know is the fact that it can boast to be the place where the very first Women's institute in Britain was founded.
The Movement itself was started in Canada in 1897. In 1913 a lady called Mrs Alfred Watt, who had worked at the WI headquarters in Canada came over to work in London and tried, without success, to start WI's in the south of England.
Colonel
Stapleton
Cotton
She then joined the Agricultural Organisation Society, which was set up to advise the Government on food production during the First World War. She was invited by Bangor University College to address the North Wales branch of the society.
There she met Colonel Stapleton Cotton, its Chairman, a man who lived in Llanfairpwll and worked tirelessly to benefit the local community. He invited a group of ladies from the village to meet Mrs Watt and consider starting a WI in the village.
There she met Colonel Stapleton Cotton, its Chairman, a man who lived in Llanfairpwll and worked tirelessly to benefit the local community. He invited a group of ladies from the village to meet Mrs Watt and consider starting a WI in the village.
The report in the North Wales Chronicle for 18 June 1915 reads:
A well attended meeting, presided over by Col Stapleton Cotton, was held at Graig, by permission of Mrs WE Jones, on Wednesday. The lecturer was Mrs Watt, a lady from British Columbia, who gave an interesting account of the work done in that portion of the Empire, by means of the Women’s Institute. It was proposed by Mrs Wilson, seconded by Miss Watts, Aber Braint, that a society of this description be established in the village. The motion was passed unanimously.
And so the first official British WI was founded in Llanfairpwll in September 1915
Mrs Stapleton Cotton became the first President, a committee was formed and they agreed to have monthly meetings of ‘an educational and social character’ on the first Tuesday in each month ‘at 2 pm in the room kindly lent by Mrs W E Jones, until such time as the Women’s Institute has its own building’.
Stapleton Cotton gave help and support to the new WI. About six months after the opening he wrote to Madge Watt that
he had himself been one of the many who doubted the capacity of women to conduct even their ordinary business with success, but I have learned more about women than I have learned in forty years . . . I see and believe that women can and will bring all classes, all denominations, all interests, all schools of the best thought together in that common brotherhood of love . . . which every man and every woman longs for in his or her innermost heart
Llanfairpwll was a good place to start the first WI. The University College at Bangor, just over the Menai Straits, had agricultural studies in its curriculum. There was a supportive Principal, so there was an opportunity to invite as speakers some of the staff there who knew about the latest developments in agriculture. But all was not easy. As the minutes of the first annual meeting of the new WI show, some of Mrs Watt’s ideas needed interpretation:
Mrs Watt, who was connected with the movement in Canada, attended our first meeting and explained the objects and working, as well as the rules, which we have followed as far as is consistent with the different circumstances of life in Anglesey.
The subjects for the meetings during the first year of Llanfairpwll WI reflect how the programme was adapted to local needs. At the first committee meeting it was agreed ‘that the food supply of the country be the special subject for discussion’, and the programme planned for the first year clearly reflected this decision.
At the meetings, ‘papers were read and demonstrations given’:
Professor Robinson read a most instructive and learned paper on ‘Food values and diet’.
Professor Philips, of the University, gave a short talk on the Gathering of Wild Herbs; those required for medicinal purposes. It had been the hope of some members that this might be the objective of the Institute for the summer but, as the lecturer pointed out very forcibly, each individual effort should be turned towards producing food; any object taking time from this latter should not be started. We shall take the Professor’s advice and leave it for the present.
Mrs Hunter Smith of the University, Bangor, The easiest and most humane way of killing a fowl; also the proper manner in which to dress and prepare it, so as to increase its marketable value.
Other speakers came from outside agencies; for example:
Explanation of The Board of Agriculture’s poultry scheme.
Lecturer provided by the Agricultural Organisation Society – the conservation and bottling of fruit.
But local people also spoke. The minutes record:
Dr Williams spoke at length on a Nursing and maternity scheme.
Dr Price of Bangor spoke forcibly and to the point on the dangers of flies and rubbish heaps.
and the egregious Stapleton Cotton ‘demonstrated in a masterly fashion on salads and salad dressings’.
The minutes also show that from time to time the members took action following a talk or demonstration. After a talk on ‘The buying of good seed’ they agreed to buy co-operatively. They heard a talk on ‘The women’s labour on the land question’ and decided that ‘a canvass of the village be taken as to potential help’.
This doesn't sound disimilar to today's WI's who are still have interesting and topical speakers and get involved in local and national issues
CLICK ON PHOTOGRAPHS FOR FULL DETAILS
Llanfairpwll WI continues to meet in the Hall in Llanfairpwll on the third Tuesday afternoon of every month. A second evening WI, Gwyngyll, also meets in the Hall.
The Hall is also used as the Federation Office for Anglesey and as well as the monthly board meetings being held there, the Hall is used for Fundraising and Information events.
If you would be interested in visiting the hall, please see our Hall Visits page.
The Hall is also used as the Federation Office for Anglesey and as well as the monthly board meetings being held there, the Hall is used for Fundraising and Information events.
If you would be interested in visiting the hall, please see our Hall Visits page.
