Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers

Coordinates: 53°37′07″N 2°09′34″W / 53.6187°N 2.1594°W / 53.6187; -2.1594
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The Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers, founded in 1844, was an early consumer co-operative, and one of the first to pay a patronage dividend, forming the basis for the modern co-operative movement.[1] Although other co-operatives preceded them,[2] the Rochdale Pioneers co-operative became the prototype for societies in Great Britain. The Rochdale Pioneers are most famous for designing the Rochdale Principles, a set of principles of co-operation, which provide the foundation for the principles on which co-ops around the world operate to this day. The model the Rochdale Pioneers used is a focus of study within co-operative economics.

History

Photo of thirteen of the surviving Rochdale Pioneers, photographed in 1865.
Thirteen of the surviving Rochdale Pioneers, photographed in 1865.

The Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers was a group of 28 that was formed in 1844.[3] This figure of 28 came about because it was believed that £28 was raised to begin the store, and that each member contributed a £1 - often in installments. The records indicate that 28 men were listed as founding members although they were not called this at the time. Unfortunately, although widely believed, the previous statements are untrue and have been proved so by the actual records of the Rochdale Pioneers. The original Minutes of the Pioneers never speak of 28 men or refer to the figure of £28 and it is believed that this was convenient propaganda invented by Holyoake at the time. Since then historians have continued to quote these figures despite them being proved wrong by researchers in 2016, after careful and full consideration of the documents of the Pioneers.[4][self-published source]

As the mechanisation of the Industrial Revolution was forcing more and more skilled workers into poverty, these tradesmen decided to band together to open their own store selling food items they could not otherwise afford. With lessons from prior failed attempts at co-operation in mind, they designed the now famous Rochdale Principles, and over a period of four months raised £10 to rent a premises based on a total of 28 pounds of starting capital. On 21 December 1844, they opened their store with a very meagre selection of butter, sugar, flour, oatmeal and a few candles which were not sold as stock. Within three months, they expanded their selection to include tea and tobacco, and they were soon known for providing high quality, unadulterated goods. By the end of their first year trading, the Pioneers had 80 members and £182 of capital.[5]

By 1900, the British co-operative movement had grown to 1,439 co-operatives covering virtually every area of the UK.[6]

The later minute books for the REPS (Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society) are held by Rochdale Boroughwide Cultural Trust but the wider records of the movement are held by the National Co-operative Archive in Manchester at Holyoake House.[7] Rochdale Pioneers traded independently until 1991, with name changes inspired by mergers with neighbouring co-operatives, as Pioneers from 1976, and Norwest Pioneers from 1982, based in Wythenshawe, Manchester by 1991. In 1991, then Norwest Co-operative Society transferred its engagements to United Co-operatives, that was run from Rochdale when it in turn transferred to the Manchester-based national hybrid society, The Co-operative Group, in 2007.[8][9][10][11][12]

Objectives

At the outset, the Pioneers had a clear set of what we now would call objectives – in 1844 they called them 'Objects'.

The objects of the Society were stated in "Law the First" of their rules and were:

  • The objects and plans of the Society are to form arrangements for the pecuniary benefit, and improvement of the social and domestic condition of its members, by raising a sufficient amount of capital in shares of £1 each, to bring into operation the following plans and arrangements:
  • The establishment of a store for the sale of provisions, clothing, etc.
  • The building, purchasing or erecting of a number of houses, in which those members desiring to assist each other in improving their domestic and social condition may reside.
  • To commence the manufacture of such articles as the Society may determine upon, for the employment of such members as may be without employment or who may be suffering in consequence of repeated reductions in their wages.
  • As a further benefit and security to the members of this Society, the Society shall purchase or rent an estate or estates of land, which shall be cultivated by the members who may be out of employment or whose labour may be badly remunerated.
  • That as soon as practicable the Society shall proceed to arrange the powers of production, distribution, education and government, or in other words, to establish a self-supporting home colony of united interests, or assist other societies in establishing such colonies.
  • That for the promotion of sobriety, a temperance hotel be opened in one of the Society’s houses as soon as convenient.

Many aspects of these objects can be seen directly in the modern-day co-operative movement.[13]

Museum

Main article: Rochdale Pioneers Museum
The original Toad Lane Store

The Pioneers rented their first store at 31 Toad Lane and moved out in 1867 but the co-operative movement later purchased it, and opened it as a museum in 1931.[14][15] The museum is known as The Rochdale Pioneers Museum - this is not a current legal entity- as the museum and archive are operated by a charity - The Co-operative Heritage Trust CIO (incorporated 2019) The name of the society was discontinued but remains in the registry of Co-operatives UK (formerly known as the Co-operative Union, to whom the building of 31 Toad Lane belonged until legal transfer to the Co-operative Heritage Trust in 2007).[15][16]

See also

References

  1. ^ Walton, John K. "Co-operative movement" The Oxford Companion to British History. Ed. John Cannon. Oxford University Press, 1997. Oxford Reference Online. Retrieved via county library service on 25 June 2008.
  2. ^ Sidney & Beatrice Webb, The Consumers' Co-operative Movement, 1930, p. 5
  3. ^ Fairbairn, Brett. "The Meaning of Rochdale" (PDF).
  4. ^ Davidson, Carol, The Original Rochdale Pioneers, (2016) ISBN 978-1-326-70522-0
  5. ^ "Rochdale Pioneers Centenary Stamp". Stamp and Coin Mart. Warners Group Publications. February 2018. p. 31.
  6. ^ "UK Co-op Milestones". Co-op Online. The Co-operative Group. Archived from the original on 11 June 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2008.
  7. ^ Link4Life | Local Studies | Provider of arts, sport and heritage development work in the Rochdale area Archived 21 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ "Share book search: Rochdale Pioneers". Co-operatives UK. Retrieved 25 June 2008.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "Records of the Manchester and Salford Equitable Co-operative Society: Administrative history". The National Archives. Retrieved 25 June 2008. In 1970 the Manchester and Salford Society merged with the Stockport and Pennine Societies to form the Norwest Regional Society. In 1982 the Norwest merged with the Pioneers Society to form the Norwest Pioneers Co-operative Society.
  10. ^ "Share Book Search: Rochdale Pioneers". Co-operatives UK. Retrieved 24 June 2008.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ "Norwest Co-operative Society Limited, number 73R". FSA Mutuals Public Register. Retrieved 25 June 2008.
  12. ^ "United Co-operatives Limited, number 11253R". FSA Mutuals Public Register. Retrieved 25 June 2008.
  13. ^ A. W. Filson, G. D. H. Cole (25 December 2015). British Working Class Movements: Select Documents, 1789–1875. Springer. pp. 428–429. ISBN 978-1-349-86219-1.
  14. ^ Rochdale Pioneers Museum
  15. ^ a b David Thompson (July–August 1994). "Cooperative Principles Then and Now". Co-operative Grocer, National Cooperative Grocers Association, Minneapolis. Archived from the original on 10 October 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2008.
  16. ^ "Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society Limited, number 26798R". FSA Mutuals Public Register. Retrieved 25 June 2008.

Further reading

[1]

External links

53°37′07″N 2°09′34″W / 53.6187°N 2.1594°W / 53.6187; -2.1594

  1. ^ Davidson, Carol, The Original Rochdale Pioneers, (2016) ISBN 978-1-325-70522-0
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