Lady Woodhouse, our founder member, returned from a visit to Lanfair P.G. (the first WI in the UK), determined to start a Womens Institute in her own village.
True to her word and with the support from a neighbouring WI, Ludworth and Mellor WI held its very first meeting on 23rd April 1918. 43 local women attended the meeting and agreed to form themselves into an association know as the Ludworth and Mellor WI of the County of Derby (Marple Bridge was in Derbyshire then).
They agreed to pay 2 shillings (10p) a year and to conform and abide by the rules and bye-laws of the Institute and the regulations duly made for the government and management of Women's Institutes in England and Wales. The original document, with the signatures remains in our archives.
Membership steadily grew and the meetings took place in a local hall.
In 1925, Lady Woodhouse announced that she would give the Institute members their own hall and this was formally opened on 13th January 1927. In May of the same year it was decided to open the monthly meetings by the singing of 'Jerusalem' and this tradition continues today.
The archives show that Ludworth and Mellor WI have always offered an interesting and varied syllabus including literature, music appreciation, craft demonstrations, household tips for spring cleaning, health and welfare, travel, citizenship, local government.
As you will see from our Programme and Activities pages, we continue with this tradition, offering our members a wide and interesting variety of options.
True to her word and with the support from a neighbouring WI, Ludworth and Mellor WI held its very first meeting on 23rd April 1918. 43 local women attended the meeting and agreed to form themselves into an association know as the Ludworth and Mellor WI of the County of Derby (Marple Bridge was in Derbyshire then).
They agreed to pay 2 shillings (10p) a year and to conform and abide by the rules and bye-laws of the Institute and the regulations duly made for the government and management of Women's Institutes in England and Wales. The original document, with the signatures remains in our archives.
Membership steadily grew and the meetings took place in a local hall.
In 1925, Lady Woodhouse announced that she would give the Institute members their own hall and this was formally opened on 13th January 1927. In May of the same year it was decided to open the monthly meetings by the singing of 'Jerusalem' and this tradition continues today.
The archives show that Ludworth and Mellor WI have always offered an interesting and varied syllabus including literature, music appreciation, craft demonstrations, household tips for spring cleaning, health and welfare, travel, citizenship, local government.
As you will see from our Programme and Activities pages, we continue with this tradition, offering our members a wide and interesting variety of options.