Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers

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Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers

Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers one of the first consumers' cooperatives, founded in 1844 in Rochdale, England, by 28 Lancashire weavers. Influenced by the theories of Robert Owen , they opened a grocery store that was so successful that they were able to establish a cooperative factory and textile mill (see cooperative movements ). Their rules combined a fixed interest on capital with a distribution of profits in proportion to purchases. This has remained the basic structure of consumers' cooperatives.

Bibliography: See J. Reeves, A Century of Rochdale Co-operation, 1844-1944 (1944).

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"Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 23 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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Rochdale Pioneers

A Dictionary of British History | 2004 | | Â© A Dictionary of British History 2004, originally published by Oxford University Press 2004. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Rochdale Pioneers is the name given to William Cooper, Charles Howarth, and 26 founders of the Co‐operative movement, whose shop opened in Toad Lane in 1844. They had been encouraged by a lecture from George Holyoake on self‐help. It began on a small scale, opened only on Saturday and Monday evenings with the members serving in the shop. The principle was that profits should be redistributed to purchasers by means of a dividend. By 1851 there were 130 similar shops and by 1862 450 co‐operative enterprises. As the volume of business expanded, the original social, political, and educational objectives were pushed into the background by commercial considerations.

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JOHN CANNON. "Rochdale Pioneers." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 23 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN CANNON. "Rochdale Pioneers." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (November 23, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O43-RochdalePioneers.html

JOHN CANNON. "Rochdale Pioneers." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Retrieved November 23, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O43-RochdalePioneers.html

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Rochdale Pioneers

The Oxford Companion to British History | 2002 | | Â© The Oxford Companion to British History 2002, originally published by Oxford University Press 2002. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Rochdale Pioneers is the name given to William Cooper, Charles Howarth, and the other 26 founders of the Co-operative movement, whose retail shop opened in Toad Lane in 1844. They had been encouraged by a lecture from George Holyoake the previous year on self-help. It began on a very small scale, opened only on Saturday and Monday evenings with the members serving in the shop. The principle on which they acted was that profits should be redistributed to purchasers by means of a dividend. By 1851 there were 130 similar shops and by 1862 450 co-operative enterprises. As the volume of business expanded, the original social, political, and educational objectives were pushed into the background by commercial considerations.

J. A. Cannon

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JOHN CANNON. "Rochdale Pioneers." The Oxford Companion to British History. Oxford University Press. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. 23 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN CANNON. "Rochdale Pioneers." The Oxford Companion to British History. Oxford University Press. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. (November 23, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-RochdalePioneers.html

JOHN CANNON. "Rochdale Pioneers." The Oxford Companion to British History. Oxford University Press. 2002. Retrieved November 23, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-RochdalePioneers.html

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

The story so far: people's instinct to co-operate rather than compete has formed human experience everywhere in the world--but it keeps taking different shapes. Here the NI outlines the growth of the international co-operative movement.(History)
Magazine article from: New Internationalist; 6/1/2004

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Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

	Retail pioneers Newspaper article from: The Northern Echo; 5/7/1999; 305 words ; ...store by the 28 founding members of the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society. The Rochdale Pioneers' big idea spread like wildfire, anchored...than 1.7million members in hundreds of societies across the UK. The movement soon owned...
	Speech by Economic Secretary to The Treasury, Ed Balls MP, to the Building Societies Association's annual lunch, London, 9 November 2006. M2 Presswire; 11/9/2006; 700+ words ; ...5. Building societies are leading the...and friendly societies are delivering...million more mutual society members. 6...origins with the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers, 28 men and...mutual insurance societies to provide for...
	Co-ops: The Post-Corporate Activism. Magazine article from: Synthesis/Regeneration; 9/22/2000; ; 700+ words ; ...depends on how closely they adhere to the Rochdale Principles, a set of principles governed...the first successful consumer co-op in Rochdale, England. The Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society existed at a time when people were rioting...
	AFTER 150 YEARS, CO-OPS ARE TIME-TESTED AND MEMBER APPROVED PR Newswire; 10/3/1994; 700+ words ; ...group of poor trades people in Rochdale, England began the first successful...employers had failed them. The Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society opened a store on Toad Lane...Cooperatives, examines the Rochdale principles and practices that...
	EXPLANATION OF GRANGE'S FAILURE UNCONVINCING.(EDITORIAL)(Review) Newspaper article from: The Capital Times (Madison, WI); 3/16/2001; 700+ words ; ...existing agricultural societies and clubs, farmers...is the so-called Rochdale Plan, whose earliest...from Wisconsin. The Rochdale Plan, inspired by...popularized by the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society in Lancashire, England...
	A Movement that may still pay dividends Newspaper article from: The Northern Echo; 2/24/2000; ; 700+ words ; ...like building societies are being stormed...In 1844, the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society was formed by...benchmark. Their Society was democratic...pre-dates Rochdale by two years...operative societies with 4,000...
	Now United Co-operatives decides to join the fight for Somerfield Newspaper article from: Yorkshire Post; 5/7/2005; 670 words ; ...Wright Deputy Business Editor Rochdale-based United Co-operatives...give further information. The society is being advised by David Forbes...years to the creation of the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society. After its food stores, its...
	1844 SATURDAY 21 DECEMBER Newspaper article from: The Independent - London; 12/21/2007; 225 words ; First co-op shop The Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society opened a co-operative shop on Toad Lane, Rochdale, selling basic items such as flour, butter, tea and candles. Every customer of the shop became a society member
	Cotton mill plan for local property firm; Developer looks over the Pennines.(News) Newspaper article from: Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Huddersfield, England); 4/2/2008; 700+ words ; ...ordinary. It's a very special place - next to Rochdale Canal and natural lakes - so it is perfect for...the founding members of the early co-operative Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society. The mill provided employment for 41 people...
	A modern morality tale: the Co-op raider Newspaper article from: The Independent - London; 4/19/1997; ; 700+ words ; ...operative Wholesale Society, one of the most important...flannel weavers formed the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers in 1840 to sell grain...million members in 2,000 societies. The co-operative societies, along with the trade...