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
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