History of Hampshire WI
WI HOUSE (WINCHESTER & EASTLEIGH) – A BRIEF HISTORY
(This is the history of Hampshire WI house in Winchester and then Eastleigh and is and abbreviated further here, the full brief history can be found here http://hampshirewi.org.uk/wi-house-history/)
Hampshire Federation of Women’s Institutes was established, when there were about fifteen WIs formed and ‘consolidated’ at a meeting held in the Council Chamber of the Castle, with Lady Northbrook in the chair, and Lady Denman attending as a visitor, on 14 May 1918.
Office space was rented in Winchester, for some time in Southgate Street, then High Street, and from 1936 at 66a High Street – where the accommodation consisted of two offices on the first floor and a committee room on the second floor.
As WI activity in Hampshire increased Oakley & Deane WI were responsible for instigating the move to purchase a property to provide more space and facilities. After a great deal of fund raising throughout the county the present headquarters of the Hampshire Federation in Winchester was purchased in l969 and remains a valuable resource, source of information and cups of restorative coffee and tea to members visiting Winchester.
In October 1968 the Premises Committee began negotiations to purchase the Leasehold of a semi-detached residence then known as Ivanhoe, at 56 Hyde Abbey Road, Winchester. The keys were handed over to the Premises Committee on 30 June 1969, for the purchase price of £5,500. In July 1969 the Leasehold was purchased for £112, thus ensuring the property would be Freehold in perpetuity. Moving-in Day, was 7 May 1970.The House was renamed WI House and was formally opened by the then Chairman of NFWI Miss Sylvia Gray, MBE in July 1970.
In 2015 WI House in Winchester was sold and on 10th November 2015 HCFWI moved to 22-24 Station Hill, Eastleigh, Hants, SO50 9XB. A newer two storey building with an underground car park, close to rail and bus links.
The house was officially opened by the Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, Mr Nigel Atkinson and named WI House on 15 June 2016.