Collecting Co-op Societies ..... no. 7....... The Failsworth Industrial Society

Now I have just added another co-op society to my Co-op Hall of Fame.

Failsworth Industrial Society Limited, 2022

It is The Failsworth Industrial Society which was formed in 1859, with a co-operative grocery shop opening in Dob Lane on 28th March 1859. 

“Its first members were William Fletcher, James Taylor, Jock Whitehead, William Barlow, Charles Cordow, James Robinson, Robert Barlow, Thomas Hayes, Tom Taylor, Jonathan Taylor, Josiah Etchells, Ben Aldred, James Winterbotton and James Smith. Thomas Hayes played a prominent part in the establishment of the Failsworth Industrial Society and became the first Secretary of the Society. 

He drew up the rules for the Society based on those of the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society”*

The Graver Lane store, 2022

And in the fullness of time I think I will go looking for these fourteen co-op pioneers.  

For now I shall just reflect that “it set up a laundry business in 1908, which would join with 10 other local societies in 1913 and this federal enterprise would grow to be the United Co-operative Laundries. 

The Society was also a partner in the formation of the Manchester and District Funeral Association and in 1932 joined forces with four other retail societies and the CWS in establishing the United Co-operative Dairies”.*

Our shop was opened in the Society's Golden Jubilee in 1909 when it had nearly 10,000 members and operated 43 shops. 

And it easy to forget that co-op societies were not just trading organizations, but had a wide range of cultural activities, including its own political party. 

The Failsworth Society had opened a library in 1873 and in 1909 it's valuable collection of 20,000 books was passed to the local Council as a nucleus to the first public library.

All of which has come from a most interesting history of the society produced by Jisc Archives Hub, which offers up the full history of the society, along with links to where its archives can be found and a select bibliography.

The Graver Lane store, 1960

Leaving me just to thank Andy Robertson who took these two pictures of the Graver Lane branch as was in Newton Heath.

Location; Failsworth

Pictures; former Graver Lane Co-op store, Newton Heath, 2022, from the collection of Andy Robertson, and in 1960, T Brooks, m35568, courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council, http://images.manchester.gov.uk/index.php?session=pass

* The Failsworth Industrial Society,  Jisc Archives Hub https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/e6180c09-f6ab-3211-9c51-d688f328f48f

Looking for Gibraltar and finding the Kippax in Newton Heath

Now we all know those grim figures which tell the story of the demise of the traditional pub.

The Kippax, 2017

According to the Campaign for Real Ale, on average 27 pubs a week call time, throw the spare beer mats in the bin and shut their doors for ever.

And the Kippax on Grimshaw Lane was one of them.

It is not a pub I knew but Andy Robertson, that diligent chronicler of lost buildings, demolished warehouses and vanished factories  recorded the sad end of the Kippax.

I say the end but it has been closed since sometime around 2014 but did continue to sport the Man City emblem on the front and side walls for another year.

But now even they have gone.

The Gibraltar, 1964

Not that it was always the Kippax, indeed its earlier name was the Gibraltar and according to that excellent pub site Pubs of Manchester changed its name when City moved grounds.

All of which just left Andy to unearth one of those historic pictures from 1964 when the beer will have flowed and the Pink Gins, Babychams and pork scratching were all available for anyone who wanted to drop in.

Location; Newton Heath

Pictures; The Kippax, 2017, from the collection of Any Robertson, and the pub as the Gibraltar in 1964, T Brooks, m49659, courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council, http://images.manchester.gov.uk/index.php?session=pass

*The Pubs of Manchester, http://pubs-of-manchester.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=The+Kippax

When Andy Robertson went to Newton Heath ......... no 3 Old Church Street

Now I don’t post enough about north Manchester.

So here is another in a short series from Andy on his trip  by tram to Newton Heath

Location; Manchester.






Picture; Old Church Street 2017, from the collection of Andy Robertson

When Andy Robertson went to Newton Heath ......... no 2 the Library

Now I don’t post enough about north Manchester.

So here is another in a short series from Andy on his trip  by tram to Newton Heath

This is the library and I do like the idea of displaying the history of the area on the outside of the building.

As the introduction to Newton Heath Library from their web site says, "You can’t miss our building – it’s bright yellow with easily the wackiest wall paintings in Manchester all over it. 

Newton Heath has a mighty industrial past as the engineering powerhouse of Manchester. 

We’re still a powerhouse – of story sessions for tiny tots, job advice for ambitious locals, knitting groups for the creative and thrifty – even visiting musicians."*

So that is about it.

Location; Newton Heath


Picture; Newton Heath Library, 2017, from the collection of Andy Robertson

*Newton Heath Library, Old Church Street, Newton Heath, M40 2JB, http://www.manchester.gov.uk/directory_record/87775/newton_heath_library

When Andy Robertson went to Newton Heath ......... no 1 the canal

Now I don’t post enough about north Manchester.

So here is the first of a short series from Andy of his trip today by tram to Newton Heath

Location; Manchester




Picture; Rochdale Canal, 2017, from the collection of Andy Robertson