The Co-operative Movement

The Co-operative Movement has its roots in the early part of the nineteenth century and the principles of self-help and social equity which developed during the Victorian era. Robert Owen, who served his apprenticeship in Stamford then went on to build New Lanark Mills in Scotland, was the inspiration for the Co-operative Movement. He believed in communities working together for the common good. William King, a physician, followed up Owen’s ideas and the retail co-operative established in 1844 by the Rochdale Pioneers became a pattern followed by many others. Each member had a vote and membership was open to everyone. There was a dividend paid on purchases and trading was by cash only. By 1900 there were 1,439 co-operatives and 2 million members.

Peterborough Equitable Industrial Cooperative Society

The society was founded as Peterborough Equitable Industrial Co-operative Society in 1876 and incorporated in 1887. It later absorbed other societies, becoming Peterborough and District Co-operative Society. They offered a personal, high quality service to their customers. Members could also sign up to have fresh bread and milk delivered each day. The milk was produced in Yaxley and bread was made locally. There were a number of branches for the convenience of their customers. Cultural activities and educational classes were provided for children and employees.

Stamford Branch

A small branch of the Peterborough Co-operative opened in Stamford and as this proved a success in 1909 the Co-op bought a building at the east end of the High Street. This 18th century building was formerly owned by J. S Loweth, a wine and spirit merchant. It was rebuilt in a similar style recreating the old architectural features at the request of prominent local townspeople. Three shops were created on the site to fulfil the needs of the Society. The corner shop was for drapery, boots and outfitting, then there was a butchery and a grocery shop next door. A grocery warehouse was built behind the shop and the upper floor was a meeting room for the Society and for hiring out. The fittings were made in the Society’s workshops in Peterborough. Numbers 1 and 2 St George’s Street were rebuilt to extend the main store in 1966 and number 3 became a butcher’s shop. (In 2021 the store belongs to Marks and Spencer.)

The Grand Opening — 12th February 1910.

At three o’clock the town band under the direction of Mr. Steele began to play to the large crowd assembled outside the building.

Mr Lucas a member of the General Committee opened the proceedings and expressed pleasure at the rapid progress made by the Society in the town, which he said was a credit to the members.

He presented Mr Shillaker and Mr Dyer, the managers, with silver keys. Mr Dyer opened the Drapery shop and Mr Shillaker the grocery shop.

Visitors from the March, Whittlesey and Ramsay branches were conducted on a tour of the building. A tea followed in the Assembly Rooms attended by 700 people in two sittings.

Before the evening entertainment, the Director of the Co-operative Wholesale Society spoke of the advantages of co-operation. He said that the Co-operative Movement aimed at a fairer distribution of wealth and raising the standard of living.

The membership of the Society was 897 when the stores opened and the average sales-per-member for the first year was £ 23. 15s. There were 171 depositors with the Penny Bank.

Expansion

For fifty years after the Grand Opening the Co-operative Society thrived in Stamford with a number of shops specialising in different areas of business. number 36 High Street became the Co-op chemists after it was rebuilt in 1939. This business moved later from the High Street to St Mary’s Street and then finally to the Sheepmarket Surgery site at the Hospital. Nos 44 and 45 High Street were purchased, rebuilt and opened as the drapery, tailoring and shoe department. (Later Wilko and now known as Wilkinson’s).

This is particularly remembered for its ‘cash railway’, the Lamson Pneumatic tube system, which conveyed the cash in metal canisters to the cashier who would return any change.

Another branch store was established in Doughty Street then for a short time there was a Co-op supermarket, Rainbow Stores, on Little Casterton Road. The site has now been now re-developed for housing as Elgar Way.

Deliveries

The bakery, butchery and dairy departments were set up at 4 and 5 Wharf Road. This was managed by Mr Tee for many years. Many people recall the deliveries of milk and bread made by horse and cart around the town. The horses were stabled where the Wharf Street car park is now and were taken to graze down Priory Road. Local people also remember the horse and cart delivering paraffin and coal to outlying villages until the 1950s.

Memories of the Co-op in Stamford (from readers of Stamford Living)

It is amazing how many people remember their Co-op ‘divvy number’!

• BM recalled working in the furnishing department as a teenager.

Mr Thorpe was the Manager and there were 3 assistants. It was especially busy at Sale times when extra goods were brought in.

• MJW started as a delivery boy at the Co-op in August 1951, three days after his 13th birthday, firstly at Doughty Street then a week later he was transferred to the High Street grocery shop. These are some of his memories:

Deliveries were still made by horse and van when I started and I well remember proudly sitting up front with Danny the driver as we trotted down High Street. I think I was the last boy to have this experience and this happened only once because a week or two later they changed to using motorized vehicles. I then had to use a trade bike like all the other boys.

click to read more ...

The horse, mentioned earlier, was stabled at the Wharf Road yard, now Watergate, and was looked after by the late George Tee. George's love of horses obviously continued because we have a photo of our two daughters mounted on a pony with George holding the reins, which was taken at a garden fete around l970. I worked in the shop after school for two hours each weekday and on Saturday mornings until I left school, two years later. When I was not making deliveries my jobs in the warehouse included weighing out potatoes, pig meal and chicken feed also helping to make up customer's orders. I worked in the cellar removing the covering from large drum shaped cheeses. In the shop I stocked the "fixtures" with items I collected from the cellar, warehouse and first floor stockrooms. Sometimes we would form a team to pack smaller items like sugar or dried fruit which came in large sacks or boxes. I would put approximately the correct amount into a one or two pound bag. The second person would weigh and correct the amount, the third would close the bag. During my time the main building was shared between the houseware department managed by Mr. Crown and later by Mr. Thorpe and the grocery shop managed by Mr. Seaton. The cottage half (shown on the right of the picture) was the butcher's shop. The gates between the two buildings closed off the cobbled yard. From the street there were two doors into the grocery shop with the cashier's department between and display windows on either side. The shop was served by a zip wire system with five or six positions around the counters where the shop assistant could propel the customer's cash across the shop in detachable cups using the overhead wire to the cashier in her cubicle. The shop had “fixtures” around three walls and counters in front. The manager's office was on the right-hand side and access to the first floor was by stairs opposite. To continue further would take you into the warehouse where on the west wall a large door opened on to a loading platform and the cobbled yard. Stairs down from the south west corner of the shop took you below the warehouse. I really enjoyed my work there and still remember Mr. Chapman on the provisions counter telling so many customers that whatever they were buying he had had 'a bit for his tea the night before'. I also remember a lady in Essex Road who used to come into the shop five minutes before closing time and insisting on having her order delivered that day. It was hard work cycling up to Essex Road but great fun going back down to the shop.

Decline

The Co-operative movement expanded for over a century but that changed in the 1960s and ’70s. The world of retailing was changing and many co-operatives failed to move with the times. The department store in Stamford closed a number of years ago and more recently the Co-op gave up its Westgate store in Peterborough. The Co-op, which was once the most important retailer in Stamford now does not have any shops left.

The Co-op in the 21st century.

The Co-op Society survives elsewhere however and still sticks to its ideals. It is owned by its Members, is an educational charity and they have been at the forefront of modern ethical trading. They were in advance of other supermarkets by concentrating on smaller stores so perhaps their future will be brighter? Perhaps it will return to Stamford?