Pioneers Museum celebrates 172nd anniversary of the Rochdale Pioneers

Rochdale Pioneers Museum

On Wednesday (21 December), the Pioneers Museum celebrated one of Rochdale's greatest achievements - co-operation. The Rochdale Pioneers opened their store on Toad Lane in Rochdale 172 years ago at 8pm on 21 December 1844.

Guests enjoyed light refreshments, mince pies and conversation in celebration of the first successful consumer co-operative.

The Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society opened their store selling pure food at fair prices and honest weights and measures. The business revolution that started in Rochdale now involves a billion co-operators as members of 1.4 million co-operative societies across the world.

The Rochdale Pioneers Museum exists to preserve the original store of the Rochdale Pioneers and to generate an understanding of the ideals and principles of the co-operative movement.