Copythorne WI Wall Hangings
Displayed in the Main Hall are 3 Wall Hangings which have been created by Copythorne WI and are a particular feature of the Parish Hall.
To mark the Hampshire County Federation of Women’s Institutes Diamond Jubilee in 1978 a competition was held to produce Wall Hangings with the theme “Our Village”. Seventy Six entries were exhibited at King Alfred’s College Winchester. It was hoped that these Wall Hangings would provide a visual heirloom of great interest to be hung in village halls and churches around the county.
This was a new challenge for Copythorne WI. A sub-committee was formed and a plan was made. It was decided that the centre panel would symbolise the forest in the form of the Cadenham Oak as well as local buildings and people, whilst the side panels would show the flora and fauna of the locality. A list was made of all the items that would be required to make the wall hanging and members kindly agreed to make the various items. Indeed, such was the enthusiastic response and so much material was produced that a choice of items could be made, bearing in mind the size and colour, to give the best overall result.
The members worked at home and some in small groups, then at intervals meetings were arranged for all to assemble the collage using everyone’s ideas.
On completion it was felt that a wooden hanging rod would add to the wall hanging as would a handmade fringe. The Copythorne wall hanging gained a “Special Mention” in the competition and after hanging in King Alfred’s College it was displayed in the window of the Romsey Advertiser for a week before finally being hung in the Parish Hall as a gift to the parish.
The WI members central to the creation of the wall hanging were Mesdames: Bowell, Buck, Burke, Dunsford, Farmers, Fitzgerald, Knight, Middleton, Morriss, Mussell, Palmer, Skene, Smithson, Underwood, Vardy, Weston, Wingham and Woodmansee as well as other members who provided materials etc.
A particular mention goes to Mrs Moriss who designed and supervised the side panels, Mrs Middleton and Mrs Farmers who gave so much of their time to the centre panel and to Mr and Mrs Bowell who gave over their home for many weeks and provided the ladies with endless cups of tea.
Following the interest shown in the original wall hanging members got together again to create another depicting the Flora and Fauna of the New Forest. Following much discussion each member who wished to help was given a calico sandwich on which to embroider their design. Those taking part were Mesdames: Bedford, Bowell, Buck, Edmonson, Fisk, Gate, Greenwood, Haughton, Heitman, Hillman, Lovell, Maidment, Middleton, Mussell, Reece, Sawyer, Skene, Smithson, Strachen, Soper, Strover, Wainwright, Weston and Wingham.
Once completed it hung for some considerable time in WI headquarters in Winchester before returning to the Parish Hall to hang alongside the original wall hanging.
In 1995 to mark the 25th anniversary of the Parish Hall, Copythorne WI decided to create another wall hanging, this time depicting the wide range of clubs and activities using the Hall. It is interesting to note just how many of these activities are still going strong today.
The Clubs and Activities wall hanging was created by Mesdames: M. Arney, M. Burke, E. Gray, B. Middleton, J Mussell, B Weston and A Wingham as well as others whose names have sadly not been recorded.
During the redecoration of the Hall in 2021 the wall hangings were taken down and were found to be in quite poor condition and their coverings were beyond repair. They are a part of our history and the Hall seemed bare without them so the hangings were cleaned and renovated and in 2022 they were re-hung in modern clear acrylic which allows the details, colours and skills to be seen and appreciated for many years to come.
