171 years since the Rochdale Pioneers opened their first co-operative

Rochdale Pioneers Museum

Monday 21 December marks 171 years since the Rochdale Pioneers opened their first co-operative.

Opened in 1844 on Toad Lane, Rochdale, the first co-operative was initially opened for two nights per week, selling four key items – butter, sugar, flour and oatmeal.

Known as ‘the store’ in Rochdale, the Pioneers continued to trade from Toad Lane until 1867, when they opened their new central premises built at a cost of £13,500.

Toad Lane is widely regarded as the home of the modern Co-Operative movement because it is where the Pioneers laid down a model of values and principles in their rules that set out how and why to run a Co-Operative society.

After the business transferred to the central premises in 1867, Toad Lane was first used for storage and then as a tobacco factory from 1868.

In the 1920s, the Toad Lane building was put up for sale. Recognising the historical significance of the building, the Co-Operative movement set up a special fund to raise money to purchase the building. The building was then bought buy the Co-Operative Union (now called Co-OperativeUK) in 1925.
In 1931, the store was opened as a museum.

During the 1970s the building was restored with the front ground floor room replicating the simplicity of the original Co-Operative store of 1844.

Between 2010 and 2012 the museum underwent further re-development to improve access, add education and meeting space and to renew the exhibitions.

The Pioneers Museum re-opened in October 2012.