'A TIDE of feeling' over the future of the Women's Institute headquarters in Oxfordshire has prompted members to rally in a bid to secure its future.

Denman College in Marcham Park, just west of Abingdon, is the WI’s creative centre, offering members and non-members alike the chance to take part in a range of paid-for courses.

Last April fears were raised for the the Georgian estate's future due to a large cash deficit and WI members are trying to raise £2m to pay for ‘very expensive’ maintenance of the Grade II-listed buildings.

So far more than £275,000 has been raised as part of the Save Denman Appeal, led by Swindon WI member Christine Hounslow.

Pat Tulip, chair of the Denman committee at the National Federation of Women’s Institutes, said: "The funds are for a dedicated maintenance fund to help look after the buildings and grounds.

“Nothing has changed since the appeal was launched; members are still working hard to raise money.”

The fundraising drive comes to an end in March 2018 when the WI board will review the site’s future.

Ms Tulip added: “We would like to set the record straight that the future of Denman is not dependent on the fundraising group reaching its target.

“The funds are very helpful but the future of the college depends on offering courses that both members and non-members will want to attend.”

In Oxfordshire about 4,900 women are members of the WI, spread across 141 groups, many of which have held their own fundraisers.

The local WI group of Oxfordshire federation chairwoman Pauline Goddard is also holding an auction next month for Denman.

Mrs Goddard said: “It’s an ongoing cause and we are all very keen and interested in promoting Denman. There is a great tide of feeling, not just emotional but practical.

“Individual WIs are doing things and as a federation we gave them each £5 to try to multiply up. That will finish at our annual meeting in March.”

Denman is named after Lady Denman, the first chairwoman of the WI federation. It opened in 1948 and offers residential and day courses in everything from cookery to crafts to skills such as languages, photography and music.Its Home Economics Centre was opened by the Queen in 1979.