Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Local Co-ops - where were they?
For personal reasons, I have a great interest in the history of the Co-operative Society and so was delighted to recently discover the Bishopsgate Institute's archive of photos of the London Co-operative Society.
I was even more tickled to find some that show the Co-op in Wood Green, including this row of formidable ladies queuing in 1949.
Note the mention of the Election of Officers in the notice in the window. Each society had a board of directors elected by the members, anyone could vote provided they had a share number and anyone could stand for the Board. These ladies, I'm guessing, would be queueing to collect their 'divi' (5p in the £1, when I was a kid). The sale would be to encourage to spend back in the shops
Also some of their daughters (?) meeting a chimpanzee in 1975 at a Wood Green Shop Opening. Was this as part of the opening of Shopping City?
These are question for our long time residents of Harringay, I guess, but where were the nearest Co-ops to here? Where were the Wood Green shops situated? Any memories of the Co-op or the Co-operative Movement in the area? Was anyone a member of the Women's Guilds, the Education Committees or other activities? All contributions, no matter how small appreciated.
Short history of the London Co-operative Society from the Exploring 20 Century London website
The London Co-operative Society covered the London area and parts of adjoining counties. At the height of its operations, it was the largest co-operative in the UK. The society was created by the amalgamation of the Stratford Co-operative Society and the Edmonton Co-operative Society. Later a number of other local co-ops were incorporated from the London, Essex, Surrey, and Hertfordshire areas.
The modern co-operative movement has its origins in the activities of the Rochdale Pioneers in 1844. The object of co-operatives is for people to form voluntary associations in order to work together to further their own economic and social interests. This aim is to be achieved through a jointly-owned, democratically-controlled entity. The examples best known today are probably the Co-op chain of supermarkets and Co-op funeral directors. Historically one of the ways in which co-ops rewarded their members was with the dividend or ‘divi.’
In common with other co-ops, the LCS engaged in a wide variety of commercial activities. Retail outlets included the first self-service food shops in London, and ranged from department stores and supermarkets to small butchers’ and grocers’ shops. Chemists, laundries, funeral directors, and estate agents were also major areas of activity.
The LCS was also active politically and was involved in the Co-operative Party, founded in 1917. An alliance between the Co-op and Labour Parties was formed in 1927 and still exists today. The Society also supported a number of causes such as the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, the movement against the Vietnam War, and campaigns for solidarity with striking workers.
The Society ceased to exist in 1981 when it amalgamated with the Co-operative Retail Society.
see also Wikipedia
Tags for Forum Posts: Co-op, London Co-operative Society
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Susan Penny on
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As you know the Co-op has bought up Somerfield and has moved into the one in Tottenham High Road, tho' the name hasn't changed yet. Should be quite a few more Co-ops when all the Somerfields have been done.
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Permalink Reply by Roy aka Smiffy on
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My 1948 Post Office Directory lists three in Green Lanes.
113-5 Green Lanes. London Co-Operative Society Ltd
485 Green Lanes. Provisions Merchants, London Co-Operative Society
487 Green Lanes. Butchers, London Co-Operative Society
Can still remember from the late 40's/50's - our divi number - 059657 and I still have the divi book!
By comparison there were just 11 Tesco stores in the whole of London! -
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Right, so 485/487 GL would be what I remember in the 70s next to the then Baldwins- perhaps taken over later as Franklins' haberdashery shop, now replaced by the double shop of the same type. I wonder now whether the Funeral Undertakers (present Baldwins) was formerly part of the Co-op's womb-to-tomb service; also had the former Baldwins, mid-Parade and still a butcher's, been earlier the LCS Butchers at 487 ??
The only Co-op I visit regularly on my frequent Whittington excursions is near the start of Archway's Junction Road, opposite the Tube. After Iceland gave up stocking McNamee's Irish soda & brown wheaten mini-loaves (Iceland had a brave but brief affair with all things organic and specialist breads) Archway Co-op continued my hometown McNamee's under the Cuisine de France label for a few years only. Now their only occasional attraction is a small selection of fruity nutty Devon Porridge Oats. -
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Permalink Reply by Liz on
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I have 485/7 as the corner of Pemberton, now a restaurant, jewellers and empty hairdressers.
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Permalink Reply by Trumper on
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Crouch End used to have a Co-op food store, situated on the bend as the Broadway gives way to Park Road. It was a double fronted shop and part of a community of food shops that included International Stores, Sainsbury's, Pay 'n' Take, Fine Fare, a Home and Colonial .. and TWO Tescos plus lots of small independant family ownded greengrocers, butchers and bakers.
David -
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Thanks T for that info. Fine Fare...that's a shop name I've not heard for 30 years, I'd say.
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A correction to the picture above, dated by the Bishopsgate Institute as 1975. Exploring 20th Century London has a similar picture from BI that dates the opening as 1982
Here's what they say:
This supermarket was owned by Co-operative Retail Services Ltd. (CRS). In 1981, CRS expanded into London by subsuming the London Co-operative Society (LCS). This picture shows an appearance by a chimpanzee at the opening of the Wood Green supermarket. The chimp's presence is designed to publicise PG Tips teabags, as can be seen by its shirt and the advertising around it.
I've also added their short history of the LCS to the post above. -
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I spy the Co-op. Stephen found this glimpse on Flickr. Click to view. Photo by AndrewHA
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