About Us

About the Wannock Downs WI

Our WI has been around for just over 70 years and was known as Jevington and Filching. We changed our name to Wannock Downs WI in 2020 as this better reflects where our meetings moved to in 2019, namely Wannock Village Hall, Jevington Road, Wannock. This venue has very good access for anyone with a disability and a loop system for those with hearing difficulties.

The very beginning

The following is taken from the Scrapbook compiled by members of Jevington & Filching WI in January 1953 as part of an East Sussex competition.

“Our Institute owes its existence to Mrs Eastwood who went to the County Agricultural Show held in 1951 in Polegate, where she visited the WI stand. The Jevington & Filching WI was started on 29th October 1951, when 16 people, two with babies in arms, made their way in torrents of rain to the schoolroom to meet Lady Castle Stewart, Mrs Houghton and Mrs Peacock who acted as Secretary. These ladies had come to explain the aims of the WI movement with the result that everyone voted in favour of a WI in Jevington, and the Formation meeting went ahead. The first Institute meeting was held on Friday 23rd November 1951”.

Why don’t we meet in Jevington and Filching?

Unfortunately, there is no longer a building of suitable size or access for us in Jevington or Filching. The schoolroom now renamed Jevington Village Hall is approached by steep steps off a busy main road through the village with no pavement or parking.

Sadly, no ladies with babies in arms now but our membership fluctuates from 30-45 and is thriving and very young at heart. Any lady over the age of 18 can join us or come as a visitor to our meetings regardless of where she lives. At the present time our members come from Jevington, Wannock, Willingdon, Polegate, Hailsham and Eastbourne. Husbands/Partners are welcome on many of our outings.

Would like to know more?

You may find answers to some of your additional questions on our FAQ (Link) section.

We look forward to hearing from you or seeing you at one of our meetings.

Tea and coffee are never far away! Jam and Jerusalem are optional.

Our Beginning

The Jevington and Filching WI Pennant was made by our Craft group for the 2012 ESFWI County competition. It features a horse as the village has always been famous for its stables and horses right up to the present day.

The old schoolroom now Jevington Village Hall

Wannock Village Hall

Our Present

In 2020 we changed our name to Wannock Downs WI which is a reflection on where we moved our meetings to last year, namely Wannock Hall, Jevington Road, Wannock. (Location map). We are only a stone’s throw from both Jevington and Filching and membership is not confined to these areas.

This venue has very good access for anyone with a disability and it also has a Loop System for those with hearing impairments

Why don’t we meet in Jevington or Filching? Unfortunately there is no longer a building suitable in size or access for us. The schoolroom, now renamed Jevington Village Hall is approached by steep steps off a busy main road through the village which has no pavement or parking. Sadly no ladies with babies in arms now but our membership which fluctuates from 30-45 in number is thriving and very young at heart.