HOW DID CO-OPS BEGIN?
The United Kingdom is home to a widespread and diverse co-operative movement, with over 7,000 registered co-ops owned by 17 million individual members which contribute £34bn a year to the British economy. Modern co-operation started with the Rochdale Pioneers’ shop in the northern English town of Rochdale in 1844, though the history of co-operation in Britain can be traced back to before 1800. The photo shows the first group of people who formed the 1st Co-op in Rochdale.
Very soon, in 5 years, Arneway Housing Co-op will celebrate our 50 years anniversary since it was first formed. So, we too have a long tradition. All our members should be thinking about how we might celebrate this wonderful date.
Please send all your ideas to the Office.
HOW THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL CO-OP STARTED
The first successful co-op was formed in 1844 in Rochdale, Lancashire. At that time, living conditions in northern industrial towns were tough. Flour, sugar, butter and oats were expensive. Often, milk was watered down and mill owners mixed their flour with sawdust to increase their profits. A group of 28 working-class men decided to change this. They raised the funds to set up a co-operative shop that provided good quality products to the community at a fair price. The Rochdale Pioneers, as they are now commonly known, spurred on a movement that has spread throughout the world and continues to thrive today.
THE ROCHDALE PIONEERS MUSEUM
The Rochdale Pioneers Museum is widely regarded as the home of the worldwide Co-operative movement. It’s the perfect place to see how your ancestors did their shopping and where the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society opened their first little store selling pure, unadulterated food at fair prices and honest weights and measures. The ground floor faithfully recreates the original shop with its rudimentary furniture and scales where basic needs of daily life first went on sale over 150 years ago.
PIONEERS MUSEUM VIRTUAL VISIT
A virtual tour of Rochdale Pioneers Museum is now available to rent or buy. If you can’t make it to Rochdale to see the world famous Toad Lane in person, then why not rent or buy the virtual tour, available now!
Starring tour guide Payal Mistry, it follows her on a journey from Rochdale to Manchester and charts the history of a movement that’s grown into a truly unique worldwide phenomenon.
The 35 minute film, is a perfect whistle-stop tour of the movement, covering many of the key details that anyone new to co-ops might want to know.
You can download the film to buy or rent with subtitles from https://vimeo.com/ondemand/virtualpioneers2021
You can book digital heritage sessions with staff at the Trust, or visit or hire their spaces for learning opportunities and training with the Co-operative College or with Co-ops UK.
Small community co-ops in the UK or overseas can apply for a 50% discount, contact us at museum@heritagetrust.coop for a discount code prior to renting the film.
PERHAPS WE COULD ASK FOR A COPY AT OUR NEXT AGM?
A typical Housing
Co-op: Just like Arnway. Send your comments to our office: What do you like about a Co-op ? Why do you prefer to live in a Co-op?