Cooperatives Yorkshire and Humber

2013 celebrates the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Co-operative

Wholesale Society – which is now, of course, The Co-operative Group.

 

Just to get an idea of how the Co-operative Movement began, we need to

have a look at the lives of ordinary men and women workers during the early

days of the industrial revolution. I have no wish to spell it out, suffice to say

that it was a scene of appalling poverty, where working people had no rights,

no power, no property. Working class people were effectively owned by the

industrialists.

The textile workers of Lancashire and Yorkshire were very badly abused.

Naturally, working people made valiant attempts to improve their situation.

They tried forming trades unions. But their situation was too desperate, and

the opposition too strong. Any attempt to improve their situation through

strikes were easily smashed.

Chartism was a movement taken up by the masses of people. It was a

movement to petition parliament for basic democratic rights for working men.

The peoples charter of 1830 advocated;

• an annual parliament

• payment of M. P.s

• equal electoral divisions

• universal male suffrage

• vote by secret ballot

• abolition of the property qualification for M.P.s

Despite the petition with thousands of signatures going to parliament, the

M.P.s, all wealthy land owners and industrialists, threw it out, leaving no hope

for the ordinary man and woman.

People had no representation and no political rights.

All that was left was collective self help.

It was by people coming together to pool what little they had and organising

the necessities of life free from the exploitation of profiteers, that the

Co-operative Movement began.

Here again there were many failures. But 1844 marks a turning point. That is

the year when, on 21st December the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society

opened their first shop at 31 Toad Lane Rochdale with £28 collected from the

members at a few pence per week towards their one pound share (a share in

the Co-op is still £1 deducted from the new members first share of the

profits). I will not dwell on the Rochdale Pioneers because their story is well

documented. You might like to see the film ' The Rochdale Pioneers' made by

the Co-operative Youth Film Academy, released last year for the United

Nations International Year of Co-operatives 2012, and commissioned by the

Co-operative Group. www.therochdalepioneers.co.uk

The important thing to note is that the Pioneers put education at the heart of

the co-operative and wrote education into the co-operative aims and

principles. Their store had a reading room and a library upstairs. Newspapers

and books were too expensive for working people to buy, so this was an

opportunity for members to become informed. There were also regular

lectures and classes held above the store. At that time virtually all co-op

stores had reading rooms. The values such as education still play an

important part in the life of the Co-operative Movement.

The members benefited by the quarterly 'divi' (a share of the surplus made by

the co-operative in proportion to how much the member spent with the

Society). Instead of getting into debt, members were beginning to manage

their money much better. And despite it being illegal at the time, women had

their own accounts, and co-op societies ensured that their share was returned

to them.

The Pioneers also enthusiastically supported and advised others who wanted

to set up co-operatives. They had a model that worked and sound values and

principles which they could share. In turn other co-operatives supported new

co-operatives and so the movement grew rapidly with small co-op societies

providing the necessities of life traded fairly for the benefit of the members.

Thus, in 1847, only three years after the opening of the Pioneers store in

Toad Lane, there were co-op societies in nearby Bacup, Todmorden, Leigh,

Salford, Palidon and Middleton. By 1900 there were 1,439 co-op societies in

Britain.

By 1860 it was becoming clear that a federal society was required which

could serve the growing co-operative movement. A co-operative wholesale

society was proposed in which co-operative societies would be members.

And here we get to the date; 1863 – the founding of the Co-operative

Wholesale Society. (It was originally the 'North of England Co-operative

Wholesale Industrial and Provident Society Limited'. The Scottish CWS was

formed in 1868 and in due course merged with the CWS).

The CWS became wholesaler, manufacturer, importer, farmer, banker and

insurance provider to the Co-operative Movement. It was a major player in

the development of the Manchester Ship Canal and owned ocean going

vessels for the importation of goods.

In 1934, the CWS launched a Retail Society with the purpose of opening

stores where co-operatives were under represented and taking over failed

societies to bring them back into viability. This was known as Co-operative

Retail Services (CRS).

In the year 2000 the CWS and CRS merged to form The Co-operative Group.

 

Co-operative Newspapers and Publications

 

The Co-operative movement has been well served with newspapers over the

years.

 

• 1828 – 1830 The Co-operator. A monthly periodical produced by

Dr. William King which sold at a penny each and reached a circulation

of 12,000 copies. It was an influential instructional manual of practical

co-operative philosophy.

• Another newspaper also called The Co-operator was published by the

Manchester & Salford Co-operative Society under the editorship of

Henry Pitman (brother of Isaac, inventor of shorthand). This was a

national newspaper and began in 1860 and lasted for about ten years.

• In 1871, the Co-operative Congress supported the establishment of a

national newspaper to serve the Co-operative Movement. And on

2nd September 1871 The Co-operative News was born. Today it is the

oldest democratically owned newspaper in the world and comes out

fortnightly.

Co-operative News is published by Co-operative Press a readers co-op.

Any reader of the News can become a member.

• Co-operative Press has published a number of other titles over the

years e.g. Reynolds News (a Sunday newspaper), Scottish Cooperator,

Our Circle (Monthly), Woman's Outlook (Fortnightly), The

Millgate (the Movements general interest magazine). All this to inform

and support co-operative members.

 

The Co-operative Movement has been served well by the Co-operative Union

since its establishment in 1870 (known initially as the Co-operative Central

Board and now as Co-operatives UK). Out of this national umbrella body

comes

The Co-operative College (est. 1919) which manages;

The Co-operative Heritage Trust, that is to say The National

Co-operative Archive and The Rochdale Pioneers Museum.

(The Pioneers left the premises in 1867 and moved into a

large department store further up the road).

It was not until the 1920's that 31 Toad Lane came back into the

Co-operative Movement. The Co-operative Union and the CWS drew up plans to restore the building to its original appearance and the shop was officially opened as a museum for the Co-operative Movement in 1931). There is an upstairs room which continues to be used for co-operative education purposes, including a programme of talks, lectures and film shows.

www.rochdalepioneersmuseum.coop

 

The Rochdale Pioneers Museum receives funding from the

Co-operative Group.

 

The Co-operative Movement in Sheffield

 

Sheffield Improved Industrial & Provident Society. Est. 1865

Central stores – Snig Hill and Trippett Lane

 

Ecclesall Society. Est. 1874.

 

These two societies amalgamated in 1907 to form the Sheffield & Ecclesall

Co-operative Society, which later merged with Yorkshire Co-operatives and

United Co-operatives.

 

Brightside & Carbrook Co-operative Society. Est. 1868

Changed name to Sheffield Co-operative Society in 1985

Transferred engagements to United Co-operatives in 2006

United Co-operatives transferred engagements to the Co-operative Group in

2007.

In the 1960's B&C absorbed the following Co-operative Societies;

Woodhouse, Oughtibridge, Stocksbridge, Killamarsh, and in 1976, Tideswell.

And in 1968, S&E absorbed Bakewell Society.

From 2007 all co-operative stores in Sheffield are The Co-operative Group.

 

From The Sheffield Yearbook of 1925.

Brightside and Carbrook Co-operative Society Limited

Registered office; Kirkbridge Road, Attercliffe

37 Branches. Membership 35,676. Share capital £418,823. Annual turnover

£990,245.

OBJECTS OF THE SOCIETY

To produce and distribute goods that are made under proper and duly

recognised Trade Union conditions of labour.

To promote organisation for the Social Advancement and better Economic

Conditions of its Members by the medium of Conferences, Classes, Lantern

Lectures and other propaganda means of social intercourse.

To oppose and renounce the evils of Competitive Trading, by securing for the

workers immunity against the tyranny of sweated labour, and thus imparting

thereto healthier and happier surroundings.

To divide Half-Yearly the surplus left, after due observance of the foregoing

conditions amongst the members in proportion to their purchases and to

encourage a policy of thrift and Self-help by the usual employment of

members accumulated Dividends and Home-saving Deposits in the Societies

operations.

EVERY MEMBER ASSURED FREE

NO MEDICAL EXAMINATION. NO PREMIUMS.

Remember that your HUSBAND or your WIFE is assured under this Scheme.

 

 

Sheffield Productive Societies

 

Co-operative Filesmiths Society. Registered 19th Feb 1866 established by the

Filesmiths Union to find employment for members unable to obtain work

elsewhere. By 1821 there were 25 members with £1,250 share capital.

Sheffield Engineering Society. Formed 1873. In 1874 the first year of trade

there were 11 members and £778 of share capital.

Sheffield Cutlery Co-operative Manufacturing Society. Also formed in 1873.

By 1874 it had 34 members, £67 share capital. Trade was done with Co-operative Societies. Taken over by the CWS in 1916. Produced cutlery and

garden tools under the Unity brand name. A new factory was opened in 1937.

A Sheffield society of miners amalgamated with South Yorkshire Mining Co-operative Society (formed at Masborough in 1873).

They issued shares at £1 each and began discussions with mine owners

about various coalfields. At the end of 1874 with a membership of 334

including 20 co-operative societies they negotiated a lease on 300 acres of

High Hazel seam. Coal markets entered a depression and the society went

into liquidation before commencing trade – all shareholders received 19s 6d

in the £.

 

Norton Cutlery Society. Reg. 3rd November 1916.

 

CWS took over S&E premises in Trippett Lane for a shirt making factory.

By 1937 they were producing;

• Douglas – Flannelette Pyjamas

• Hercules – Oxford Shirts

• Jarrow – Union Shirts, Weekend Sports Shirts

• Sheffield – Oxford Shirts

• Victory – Flannelette Shirts

• Waterford – Semi-Stiff Shirts

• Waterloo – Semi-Stiff Shirts

 

Brightside & Carbrook Co-operative Society

 

Collective self help was alive and well in the 1860's in Sheffield. Workers in

the industrial East End were becoming more literate and were becoming

actively involved in the Mechanics Institute and Library and the Working

Men's Clubs. These clubs were a a meeting place for enquiring minds to

listen to and debate the subjects of the day.

Such were the men of the blacksmiths shop of Wm Jessop & Sons Ltd., who

one night met in the School Room, Dean Street, Brightside and the subject of

the working men's co-operative at Rochdale cropped up.

No one could explain until one member said that he noticed the word 'Cooperative'

on a clock over a shop at Kilnhurst. A deputation went over and the

secretary of Kilnhurst Co-operative, Mr Charles Holroyd, not only explained

the principles behind this form of trading, but came over to Brightside and

gave a talk to the club members on how to start a similar co-operative in

Brightside and Attercliffe. The result was that a collection was taken and the

proceeds started what became Brightside & Carbrook Co-operative Society.

This story illustrates three important features of the Co-operative Movement.

First, collective self help and education, which led to seeking out knowledge

of the co-operative principles.

Second, the willingness of one co-operative society to help others to start a

co-operative. You will remember that the success of the Movement was

dependent on mutual support and help between co-operatives. The Rochdale

Pioneers gave that lead. Isolation will always be the downfall of working class

movements, solidarity, the strength.

The support given by the Kilnhurst Society was exemplary.

And third, that by people pooling resources for a common objective, a great

commonwealth can be built up for the benefit of all if it is based on co-operative principles. Present day examples of this in Sheffield are the

community shares of Portland Works, where people contributed collectively to

save a valued place of small industry and craft from being closed down by a

developer. This is now a co-operative owned by the community.

Or Sheffield Renewables, a share offer has led to a project which will help the

community to produce renewable energy, another innovative co-operative.

 

Sheffield Castle

 

Just after the First World War, Brightside & Carbrook Co-operative Society

bought the site of Sheffield Castle on Exchange Street / Waingate.

Before building work took place they commissioned an archaeological survey

of the site, led by a man called Armstrong. The design of the building was

modified to accommodate the remains of the castle. In 1929 the magnificent

City Stores was opened on the castle site. A souvenir booklet was produced

to celebrate the opening of this department store. The City Stores only lasted

for eleven years. It was destroyed by enemy action on the night of the

12th December 1940 in the Sheffield blitz.

In due course a temporary single storey department store was built on Angel Street, followed by the building of Castle House which was opened in 1964.

The board of the B&C Co-operative Society commissioned a painting of

Sheffield Castle as it might have looked and the painter was Kenneth Steel.

This magnificent oil painting was hung in the boardroom in Castle House until

the Co-operative Group sold Castle House in 2011. The painting was taken to

Manchester to be looked after safely by the Co-operative.

The good news is that the Co-operative has loaned the picture to Green

Estate and it is now on display at the Sheffield Manor Lodge. Part of

Sheffield heritage has been returned to the City. www.greenestate.org.uk

What then is the Co-operative legacy in the City of Sheffield?

I have already mentioned a couple of examples of the new wave of Co-operatives in the City, Portland Works and Sheffield Renewables, but there

are many more, see www.sheffield.coop

There is the Sheffield Credit Union, a financial co-operative owned by, and for

the benefit of, the members, to help with money management, savings and

loans at reasonable terms.

There is the direct legacy of the CWS, the Co-operative Group, which offers

many services such as the Co-operative Bank and Insurance and Legal

Services, Food stores, Pharmacies and Co-operative Funeralcare. And, of

course, Co-operative Farms, which produce supplies to the stores.

All of this is under the collective ownership of the members who can play a

part in the life of the Society and receive the benefits of the successes of the

Society. It is the customer members, communities and the wider Society who

are the beneficiaries not faceless speculators playing the stock market.

Just one more thing. It is a long time since anyone wrote a history of the

CWS. So the Co-operative Group has commissioned historians from the two

Universities in Liverpool to write a new history of the CWS. They have been

given full access to the Co-operative Group historic papers and the National

Co-operative Archive. This book will be published by Oxford University Press

and will be available later this year, the 150th anniversary of the CWS.