Brick Text

Book Text (1987)

Abridge
Alresford
Ashdon
Ashingdon
Barnston
Black Notley
Blackmore
Bocking
Boreham
Bradfield
Broomfield
Bulmer & District
Bulphan
Burnham on Crouch
Buttsbury
Canewdon
Castle Hedingham
Chadwell St Mary
Chalvedon Pitsea
Chappel & Wakes Colne
Chigwell
Clacton on Sea
Colchester Centre
Colne Engaine
Doddinghurst
Dolphin
Dovercourt
Downham
Engains
Erdelega Ardleigh
Eves Corner
Farnham
Feering
Fobbing & Corringham
Freshwater Heybridge
Friars Grove
Gosfield
Great & Little Horkesley
Great Bentley
Great Bromley
Gunfleet
Hainault Forest
Harlow
Hastingwood
Hatfield Peverel
Helions
Henham
Heybridge & Langford
High Easter
Highcliffe
Homestead
Kingsbridge
Kingswood Basildon
Langdon Hills
Langham
Lawford
Leigh Evening
Lexden
Linford
Little Clacton
Lower Nazeing
Maeldon
Maplin
Matching
Melbourne Park
Newport
Noak Hill
North Benfleet
North Ockendon
North Springfield
North Weald
Paglesham
Peldon, Wigborough & Abberton
Purfleet
Radwinter
Rayleigh
Rettendon
Ridgewell
Rosebay
Roxwell
Sheering
Shoebury Village
Sible Hedingham
South Benfleet
Southminster
Stambridge
Terling & Fairstead
Terling Evening
Thorpe le Soken
Thorrington
Thundersley
Thundersley Village
Toothill
Toppesfield & Gainsford End
Walton on the Naze
Wendens Ambo
West Bergholt
West Tilbury
White Notley & Faulkbourne
Witham
Writtle Evening

Brick Text

Book Text (1987)

Aldham
Arkesden
Belchamp St Paul
Bentley
Birch & Layer Breton
Boxted
Bradwell on Sea
Briscoe (Pitsea)
Canvey Island
Chigwell Row
Coggeshall
Dunmow
East Hanningfield
Eight Ash Green
Elmstead
Elsenham
Felsted
Fingringhoe
Fordham
Frietuna
Fryerns
Fyfield & District
Galleywood
Gibson (Saffron Walden)
Good Easter
Great & Little Leighs
Great Baddow
Great Canfield
Great Clacton
Great Wakering
Great Wakering Evening
Greenstead Green
Hadfelda
Hadleigh Castle
Hadleigh Evening
Hadstock
Halstead
Harold Wood Evening
Hatfield Broad Oak
Hatfield Heath
Hawkwell Hacheuuella
Henny & Middleton
High Garrett
High Roding & Great Canfield
Hockley
Holland on Sea
Horkesley Evening
Horndon on the Hill
Hutton
Kelvedon
Lambourne
Layer de la Haye
Leigh Afternoon
Little Warley & Childerditch
Littlebury Green
Loughton Valley
Mistley
Moulsham Lodge
Mount Rayleigh
Mundon
Ongar
Orchard Springs
Orsett
Paycockes
Priory Heath
Purleigh
Ramsden Bellhouse
Rayleigh Mill
Riverside
Roach Evening
Rochford
Roding Valley
Roydon
Sandon
Sewardstone
Shenfield & Hutton Morning
Shenfield Afternoon
Shenfield Green
South Woodham
St Osyth
Stebbing
Stock
Stock Harvard
The Maplesteads
Thorndon
Thorrington Evening
Three Stones
Tile Kiln
Tillingham
Tolleshunt D’Arcy
Ugley
Upminster & Cranham
Upper Nazeing
West Horndon
Wicken Bonhunt & Clavering
Wickham Bishops & Great Totham
Wickham St Paul, Twinstead Gestingthorpe
Widford
Woodham Ferrers
Wrabness
Yeldham & District

Brick Text

Book Text (1987)

Althorne
Aveley
Baddow Hall
Barling & Little Wakering
Bassett
Berechurch
Billericay
Birdbrook
Bishops Hall Park
Brightlingsea
Brook Street (South Weald)
Buckhurst Hill
Chignals & Mashbury
Chingford
Claremont
Cold Norton & Stow Maries
Coopersale
Copford
Cranham Engayne
Crays Hill
Cutlers
Danbury
Debden & Debden Green
Dedham
De-Vere Earls Colne
Earls Colne
Eastons & Tilty
Epping
Fiddlers Hamlet
Finchingfield & Cornish Hall End
Fox Hatch
Frinton on Sea
Fryerning
Goldhanger, Little Totham & Tolleshunt Major
Grange Hill
Great & Little Bardfield
Great & Little Sampford
Great Hallingbury
Great Holland
Great Tey
Great Totham
Great Warley
Hadleigh Afternoon
Hall Green Hutton
Harold Park
Harold Wood
Holland Haven
Home Farm
Kingston Thundersley
Kirby le Soken
Knightswick
Langley
Leaden Roding Evening
Little Baddow
Little Burstead
Little Hallingbury
Little Walden
Little Waltham Evening
Loughton
Magdalen Wood
Maldon Centre
Manuden
Marks Tey
Mayland
Mile End
Millwood
Moreton
Navestock
Nelmes
Nevendon and Vange
Oglethorpe
Old Heath
Perryfields
Plantation
Ramsdale
Rayne
Rowhedge
Runwell
Saffron Walden
Sewards End
Shalford
Shrub End Colchester
Sible Hedingham Evening
Silver End
South Green
South Hanningfield
Springfield
St Lawrence Bay
Stambourne
Stansted Afternoon
Stansted Evening
Stanway
Steeple Bumpstead
Stifford
Stisted
Stondon Massey
Takeley
Tendring
The Strood
Theydon Bois
Tollesbury
Walthambury
Weeley
West Mersea
Wickford
Widdington
Willingale
Wivenhoe
Woodford Green
Wormingford
Writtle Afternoon

Brick Text

Book Text (1987)

Ashingdon Village
Audley End
Balkerne Gardens
Beaulieu Belles
Berden
Brentwood Centre
Brentwood Homestead
Chafford Hundred
Chelmer Village
Chelmsford Centre
Church Langley
Cinque Port Brightlingsea
Colchester South
Dagenham Dames
Earls Colne
East Edge Sisters
East Ham
Ferndale
Finchley
First Ladies Barking & Dagenham
Forest Gate
Foulness Island
Furtherwick
Great Notley
Great Notley
Great Oakley
Great Waltham
Guildhall Girls
Hackney Wicked Women
Harlowbury Old Harlow
Harringay
Hartswood
Hockley Hawkwell
Hockley Village
Hornchurch Harmonies
Kelvedon Hatch
Maldon Wycke
Manor House Laindon
Marconi Belles
Mardyke
Margaretting
Millbank
N1 Islington
New City Girls
Newlands Spring
North Stifford
Pyghtle
Rayleigh Mount Evening
Rickling & Quendon
RM1
Roydon Village
Saffron Walden Afternoon
Southchurch Park
Southchurch Village & Friends
Southend Central
Southend Sisters
The Alexandra
The Brentwood Belles
The Resevoir Rebels
The WIGs
Tiptree
Tiptree Priory Heath
Tolleshunt Knights
Tye Green & Cressing
W.I.N.Gs
Waltham Abbey Warrior
Wanstead
Wendens Ambo with Littlebury Green
West Hanningfield
Westcliff on Sea
Wethersfield & Blackmore End
WI L8 (Frinton)
Wickham St Pauls
WINK
Witham
Witham Diamonds

Book Text (1987)

Baddow Bees
Gosfield Girls
Old Moulsham Mavens
Rainham Clocktower
Tea N Tiaras Chelmsford
Rainham Village
The Virtual Vixens
Wild at Heart (Virtual)
Elm Park Spitfires
Legra Ladies (Leigh on Sea)
Saxon Queens
LoveLeigh Ladies

Book Text (1987)

Roothings Group. As Abbess & White Roding this institute was originally formed in 1925 and suspended in 1943. In 1950 it was re-formed as White Roding, and during this period produced a village history which is now in the County Archives. It was reformed in 1980 as Abbess & White Roothing WI.

Book Text (1987)

Roothings Group. As Abbess & White Roding this institute was originally formed in 1925 and suspended in 1943. In 1950 it was re-formed as White Roding, and during this period produced a village history which is now in the County Archives. It was reformed in 1980 as Abbess & White Roothing WI.

Brick Text

We have no information about this brick. If you know who embroidered it or can explain the elements depicted in the design please get in touch.

Book Text (1987)

Forest Group. Abridge WI celebrates its diamond jubilee in 1986. In King John’s day, the village was a small settlement at the old river crossing on the road from Epping to Romford, known as “Aeffa’s Bridge”. Now the busy Ongar to London motor traffic zig-zags through.

Brick Text

The simple cross stitch design portrays aspects of Aldham and its WI. The Church of St Margaret and St Catherine’s is in the centre of the village. It was moved brick by brick from its original site to its present position. Bows and Bells signify the “Bows and Bells” ladies clog dancing team who danced at the WI County Show 1990 and 1991. The embroidery frame and knitting signify the creative talent of the Aldham WI members who hold regular craft mornings and enter a variety of competitions.

Book Text (1987)

Mandeville Group. The second youngest institute in the Group is Aldham WI, formed in 1968. The busy A604 road runs through the village, but the church and village hall are half a mile away in peaceful countryside. This WI submitted a film called “Autumn in Aldham” to the “Green and Pleasant Land” exhibition at Earls Court in 1970.

Book Text (1987)

Castle Group. This area specialises in WIs with long names. This one was formed in 1919, Pebmarsh having joined them thirteen years ago (1974). Mrs Anne Legge, County Chairman 1968-1972 was a very popular member of this WI and of the Castle Group. She was also a strong supporter of Halstead WI Market.

Notes

Pebmarsh name added 13/11/1968

Brick Text

We have no information about this brick. If you know who embroidered it or can explain the elements depicted in the design please get in touch.

Book Text (1987)

Estuary Group. The 1950s saw the arrival of two WIs in this area. At Alresford in 1954 there was so much interest shown in the St Osyth branch that Mrs De’Ath of the Grance suggest a separate WI be formed in Alresford.

Brick Text

The embroidery depicts the legend of the Battle of Bridgemarsh Island. The mist was rising above the river when a young Saxon boy awoke Altenai. “The sea wolves are coming in on the flood tide,” he shouted to his chief. They had been expected when the news had come that the cowards of Maldon had paid the Danegald after the death of the brave Earl Brithnoth as he defended the Heybridge over the River Pant onto the causeway, and the egress to Witham. Altenai’s men lay nervously by the creek, awaiting the coming battle, determined to protect their womenfolk when, to their amazement, the long boats put about. The oarsmen struggled against the tide as others raised their shields. As Altenai looked around, up out of the mist that lay over Heyron Fields there arose from the ground mystic figures of Roman soldiers. So, the legend was true, the cohort had returned. Now one thousand years later, Althorne WI have embroidered the scene of that battle dated Pridie Idus Augustus CMXCI (the day before the 13th of August 991, i.e. the 12th day of the month). The fields lying on the right of the lane down to Bridgemarsh were cultivated by retired Roman Legionnaires which may account for the ghosts of Roman soldiers seen on the road from Riverview to the War Memorial.

Book Text (1987)

Crouch Group. Althorne WI (formed 1923) is an old established institute. Althorne looks out over the river Crouch and Bridgemarsh Island, which has been lost and reclaimed from the waters many times over the centuries.

Book Text (1987)

Spring Valley Group. At Ardleigh in Erdelega WI formed in 1966, taking its name from the Anglo-Saxon word for Ardleigh. One of their members (originally a member of Ardleigh WI, now suspended) attended Writtle Agricultural College in 1940, learning fruit preservation in a shed and on a valor stove. Mrs Guivere has always been connected with music and drama, and still runs a small choir.

Brick Text

Embroidered by Nell Ashworth. The embroidery shows the church and the annual pancake race. In 1992 the playschool children too part, all bar one child wo insisted he wouldn’t join in unless he could eat his pancake before the race!

Book Text (1987)

Audley Group. Arkesden WI is proud to have had as one of its members Maryon Becher (formerly Eeles), almost a founder member, Vice Chairman of both National and County Federations and Chairman of the National and County Organisation Sub-Committees, she was also for many years on the committee of Denman College.

Brick Text

The embroidery depicts the remaining of Ashdon’s original three windmills. It can be seen from many of the widespread boundaries of the village. It was restored by Mr Edmund Vestey during his years at Walton’s Park. The embroidery was designed by Mrs Cherry Fisher and worked by Mrs Pat Smith.

Book Text (1987)

Harvey Group. Ashdon is a rural village with just over 700 residents and lies on the edge of Essex, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire. The institute was formed in May 1918 by Mrs Luddington who was a member for 57 years until her death in 1975. 54 attended the first meeting, whilst the present membership is 52.

Brick Text

We have no information about this brick. If you know who embroidered it or can explain the elements depicted in the design please get in touch.

Book Text (1987)

Rochford Hundred Group. Ashingdon WI was formed in 1945. The story of the village is much older than that. It was the scene of Canute’s defeat of Edmund Ironside in 1016. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle tells that in 1020 the victor returned to consecrate a stone church he had built “for the souls of the slain”. A silver coin of Canute has been found in the churchyard. The villagers work hard to preserve their ancient church.

Notes

Book states formed in 1945 but records say otherwise.

Brick Text

We have a brick for Ashingdon, but not one for Ashingdon Village.

Brick Text

We have no information about this brick. If you know who embroidered it or can explain the elements depicted in the design please get in touch.

Notes

Formerly Wendens Ambo and Littlebury Green. No date recorded for the name change.

Brick Text

We have no information about this brick. If you know who embroidered it or can explain the elements depicted in the design please get in touch.

Book Text (1987)

Thames Group. Aveley, once a pretty, small village with a great house, Belhus, where Constable stayed in 1813, grew to incorporate LCC (London County Council) housing. However, the house’s Capability Brown landscape remains as an Essex Country Park, and the institute, formed in 1961, congratulates itself on easy access to the M25, an “all points beyond”.

Brick Text

Baddow Bees hadn’t made a embroidered brick before they suspended so this brick was made by Clare Wood (WI Centre staff) retrospectively taking the bees and lettering from their logo and the mast from Baddow’s village sign.