Ethel Winfrey Rodwell (née Wood)

This page shares some photographs of Ethel Winifred Rodwell (6.12.26) during her time in the WLA in Bedfordshire during the Second World War. Ethel was from Bolton upon Dearne, Yorkshire and was based at Cople Hostel in Bedfordshire.

According to Stuart Antrobus’ website, Cople hostel was a:

“Large 3-storey country house you could not see from the road, belonging to the Barnard family (which had owned Barnards Bank in Bedford, situated opposite the entrance to the Swan Hotel, next to town bridge, on the Shire Hall side). Estate sold in June 1943 and split up. Bedfordshire War Agricultural Committee decided that it needed Cople House. Miss Barnard objected but was overruled. She moved to her estate in Dorset. Accommodated up to 94 land girls.”

Many thanks to Ethel’s daughter, Christina Barter, for sharing these photos.