A History of Gloucester (WI) Country Market

WI Country Markets were formed in 1919, just after the First World War, in response to economic difficulties. The Land Settlement (Facilities) Act 1919 encouraged County Councils to help ex-service men and the unemployed, by giving them allotments in order to help feed themselves and their families. At that time the Women’s Institute (WI) Federation were the biggest rural organisation in existence, so the Government asked them to oversee the administration of retail outlets so that the surplus produce could be sold. These outlets were individually managed, self-funding co-operatives, known as WI Markets. The WI Markets were run in parallel with the WI Federation and, contrary to popular belief, it was never a requirement that Market producers should be members of the Women's Institute, although many were.

Gloucester WI Market established in the 1930s

Gloucester WI Market 1952 Gloucester WI Market was established in 1934. The first meeting of the Gloucester WI Market Stall Committee was held on Friday 13 October 1933. It was attended by Mesdames Nicholls, Smith, Murray, Jotcham, Davies and Hodges, who co-opted Miss Miles. They discussed possible sites, advertising on the cinema screen and sending letters to various women’s organisations. At the next meeting on 17 October, it was agreed that the Market would open one day a week in the Eastgate Market Hall in Gloucester, if a stall was available, from the start of 1934. At the November meeting it was agreed to contact the local Women’s Institutes (WIs) and Committee Members would go and speak at the WI meetings if required. A “guarantee fund” of £5.0s.0d was started by the Committee Members to pay incidental expenses. A circular was sent to twenty-nine WIs and eleven requested a speaker. By February 1934 ten of them had agreed to send representatives to a conference to discuss final plans and appoint up to two members to the Market Committee. These WIs were Frampton, Elmore, Quedgeley, Shurdington, Newent, Hartpury, Standish, Norton, Highnam and Dymock . [In 2004 the first three WIs were still Trustee Shareholds, although Frampton dropped out in 2005.] By the end of February a stall in the old Eastgate Market Hall was available for 10/- (ten shillings) weekly. The guarantee fund was increased by donations from individuals to £9.10s.0d. The commission charged was set at 1d (one old penny) in the shilling. Of the two delegates from each WI, one was to be the Institute Market Secretary. [In these early days, Market business with the WI producers was conducted, and cash distributed, through the Women’s Institutes.]

A stall was rented from 24 March 1934, but they decided not to pay 1/- (one shilling) a week for electric light – until the 1940s they seemed to have relied on the electric light from the next stall! It was agreed to sell vegetables, fruits, flowers, jams, pickles, herbs, eggs, bottled fruits, cheese, cream, butter, poultry, tomatoes, rabbits, honey, cakes and bread. Handicrafts were not sold until 1958. Two thousand printed postcards advertising the opening of the Market on 6 April 1934 were circulated by the Committee Members and the WIs were sent a list of what produce was required. Two Members of the Committee were appointed to the County Marketing Committee.

By June the stall was losing about 5/- (five shillings) per week, and by October 1934 the total sales were £448. The Market Controller was paid 6/- (six shillings) a week. The Market’s average weekly takings were £11.5s.6d and commission went up to 1½d in the shilling.

Gloucester WI Market circa 1930s The National Federation of Women’s Institutes Marketing Organiser’s report on the stall at the end of 1934 thought the stall “drab and difficult, because small”. She suggested more advertising, perhaps by sandwich-board men. One positive note was that the Controller had arranged for shops to take any surplus produce.

By December 1935 things had improved and it was decided to take on the adjoining stall – the rent had gone down.

In the six months ending March 1936, the Gloucester WI Market sold:

348 head of poultry
761 dozen eggs
1076lbs of butter

but the average weekly takings was only £13.16s.10d!

In November 1937 it was decided to pay helpers 2/- (two shillings) per week towards their expenses.

The 1940s

The Gloucester WI Market Minutes for the War years do not mention the War as such, but there were concerns over what the Market’s position was as a retailer of butter and it was stipulated that produce must be brought to the stall early to catch the shoppers coming in early to the shops for their rations. Money had to be paid towards fire watchers, first 7d then 8d. The WI Market was obviously struggling and the second stall was given up.

Gloucester WI Market Stall in the 1940s

The 1950s

Things improved after the war, rotas for helpers were arranged, but pay to them was stopped in 1957. By February 1956 the stall was open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and was offered to charity organisations free on Saturdays – when there were no takers, the WI Market used it themselves.

Gloucester WI Market Stall in 1952
LR: Mrs Blakemore, Mrs Pamphillon, Mrs Fry, Mrs Robertson, Mrs Lambert, Mrs Hunt

The Gloucester WI Market Stall in 1952, in the old Eastgate Market Hall

In January 1957 it was agreed that all producers should be encouraged to have individual shares so that they could vote on matters concerning the WI Market.

In April 1958 the Market stall was open for the sale of handicrafts on Tuesdays.

Gloucester WI Market was "swinging" in the 1960s

During the 1960s the Gloucester WI Market continued to grow in popularity and at its peak was trading six days a week, selling home-made cakes, preserves, garden and dairy produce, honey, poultry, eggs and rabbits, along with a variety of craft items. The Gloucester WI Market, along with other WI Markets, gained a reputation for the high quality of the produce it sold.

The 1970s

Gloucester WI Market continued trading whilst the old Eastgate Market Hall was rebuilt in the early 1970s. The "new" hall was built behind the old one so there was little disruption to trading.

The "new" Eastgate Market Hall (right)

The "new" Eastgate Market Hall, Gloucester

WI Market stall in 1979
LR: Brenda Huggins and Myrtle Nash serving a customer

The Gloucester WI Market Stall in the new Eastgate Market Hall, 1979

The 1980s

Gloucester WI Market continued to trade in the new Eastgate Market Building until 1987, when lack of people to man the stall six days a week, together with rising rent, meant moving to a different location.

Producers marking the end of an era at Eastgate Market

LR: Mary Adams, Paddy Greenaway, Myrtle Nash

LR: Brenda Huggins, Simone Neinenger

The "party" in 1987 when Gloucester WI Market left the Eastgate Market

LR: Mrs Griffiths, Brenda Huggins, Simone Neinenger, Myrtle Nash

LR: Mrs Harbard (check coat), Mrs Griffiths, Liz Campbell, Paddy Greenaway, Kathy Bullock

Article about WI Market leaving Eastgate Market

The cake they are cutting, was decorated with the words:
"End of an Era, Gloucester WI Market 1934 to 1987".

This article from the Cotswold Town and Country Magazine dated November 1987, about Gloucester WI Market leaving Eastgate Market Hall after 53 years, describes why it seemed like the "end of an era". (Click on picture to see legible copy.)

The 1990s

When the WI Market left the Eastgate Hall in November 1987, they moved to Wheatstone Hall in the Gloucester City Museum building in Brunswick Road.

Despite being a wrench to leave the Eastgate Market after such a long period, Gloucester WI Country Market settled well into its new spacious surroundings, trading on two days each week. Taking advantage of the large room and kitchen at Wheatstone Hall, they began serving refreshments. These proved to be a big hit with the Market's customers and provided a weekly meeting place for many people for the next 17 years.

Gloucester City Museum

Gloucester Country Market in the 21st Century

In April 2004 WI Country Markets were renamed "Country Markets". This came about as a result of the Charities Act 1993, where the Federation of Women's Institutes is classified as a registered charity and the Country Markets are not.

Also in April 2004 Gloucester City Council decided to use the Museum Hall purely for educational purposes, so Gloucester Country Market moved its weekly Market to Northgate Hall in St John's Lane, Gloucester. Since moving to a more prominent location, the Market has gone from strength to strength, gaining many new customers.

Northgate Hall,St John's Lane, Gloucester

In recent years people have become concerned about the food they are consuming, and are more interested in locally-grown produce, this has meant that Country Markets are seeing a growing demand for their goods. At Gloucester Country Market we welcome new local producers (both men and women) to supply local people with high quality, genuine locally-produced goods. If you are interested in becoming a seller please follow the "become a seller" link.

One of our customers summed up what Gloucester Country Market means to her: "Essential part of the shopping week - good quality produce from local, identifiable suppliers, at competitive prices. Been coming for years" and another added "Long may it continue!"

A History of Gloucester (WI) Country Market

Gloucester WI Market established in the 1930s