The
Unofficial Website
The Co-operative Movement in Rotherham
The Masbrough Equitable Pioneers Society was founded on 26 April 1869. A group known as the Rotherham Five were the founders but I have only managed to find four names:-
Jack Bebbington, Alfred Keene, Kenneth Pearce and Arthur Pickering.
The premises owned by the Masbrough Coop were quite substantial and contained warehouses and retail shops together with the Co-operative Hall. I understand that most or all of these buildings were demolished in 1978. The Pioneers became the Rotherham Co-operative Society when they moved into new premises in Main Street Rotherham in 1925 (a building originally erected by the architect John Platt for his own habitation in the Eighteenth Century).
There were many other Co-operative Societies within the Borough of Rotherham (Dinnington, Greasbrough founded 1862, Kilnhurst founded 1860, Rawmarsh and Parkgate founded 1862, Swinton, Wath, the West Melton Working Men's Industrial Society and the Co-operative Flour and Provision Society). There were also Co-operative Funeral Directors, Co-operative Guilds, and a Co-operative Penny Bank. The Co-operative movement was also involved in local education and ran drama, needlework and youth groups, as well as a camera club in Rotherham. Films, slide shows and discussions were also held. Importantly for many poor families, the Co-op used to pay a dividend or 'divi' based on the amounts spent. My mother always spent her half yearly divi on something for herself that she could not have otherwise afforded.