麻豆社

In September 1915 a branch of the WI was established at Llanfair PG. It was to be the first in Britain. This followed a public meeting in June of that year, when Mrs Madge Watt from British Columbia addressed a meeting at Bangor about the women鈥檚 movement in Canada.

Anglesey landowner Colonel R.S.G.Stapleton-Cotton, together with his wife Jane, invited Mrs Watt to address the women of Llanfairpwll. It was agreed to establish a branch of the WI, and Jane Stapleton-Cotton was elected president.

The emphasis was on improving domestic hygiene, and enhancing food production for the war effort. Members were treated to lectures on such topics as how to kill and prepare a fowl, or how to prepare a salad!

The first WI meeting, a year into World War One, was at the home of one of the members just down the road from the toll house. Meetings were held at the Summer House of Y Graig, a mere stone鈥檚 throw from the branch鈥檚 present-day headquarters. Later, they would purchase their own premises, a hut, attached to the toll house.

The toll house was later sold to the local council. In 2008 the WI on Anglesey decided it would like to buy the building and signed a 25-year lease with the council.

Image/location: The Toll House, Llanfairpwll, Anglesey, Ll61 5SX

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