Which Came First?
Controversy is being stoked by the Manchester Evening News blog about the birth of the Co-operative Movement. Despite the popular conciousness settling on the Rochdale Pioneers (or was it Robert Owen?) as the first Co-op, the Scots are pointing out that the Fenwick Weavers' Society predated all other examples.
Well, let me first say that no-one with much knowledge of the Co-operative Movement claims Rochdale in 1844 as the first Co-op. There was a whole movement in the 1830s inspired by William King for a start, although it collapsed almost as quickly as it begun. What is special about Rochdale is that they came up with a recipe of doing business and of operating the Society that was not only successful, but spectacularly so. The Co-operative Group of today is the direct descendent of the Rochdale Pioneers, and is rightfully proud of that history.
However, I do wonder if the Fenwick Weavers were really a "Co-op" in the same way as people came to understand that term by the 19th Century. They were a sort of trade association that did a bit of collective buying on the side. What we can be sure of is that they form one strand of the history of the wider mutual movement - a history of which even the Rochdale Pioneers, as well-known and well-celebrated as they are - are equally just one part of.
UPDATE: Oops, I've just noticed that Martin over at Politics for People has already covered this topic - and rather more thourougly than myself. Ho Hum.
Well, let me first say that no-one with much knowledge of the Co-operative Movement claims Rochdale in 1844 as the first Co-op. There was a whole movement in the 1830s inspired by William King for a start, although it collapsed almost as quickly as it begun. What is special about Rochdale is that they came up with a recipe of doing business and of operating the Society that was not only successful, but spectacularly so. The Co-operative Group of today is the direct descendent of the Rochdale Pioneers, and is rightfully proud of that history.
However, I do wonder if the Fenwick Weavers were really a "Co-op" in the same way as people came to understand that term by the 19th Century. They were a sort of trade association that did a bit of collective buying on the side. What we can be sure of is that they form one strand of the history of the wider mutual movement - a history of which even the Rochdale Pioneers, as well-known and well-celebrated as they are - are equally just one part of.
UPDATE: Oops, I've just noticed that Martin over at Politics for People has already covered this topic - and rather more thourougly than myself. Ho Hum.
posted by Sam at Monday, May 12, 2008
2 Comments:
Dear Sir
I am a resident of Fenwick and a member of the Fenwick weavers co-operative. You said Fenwick was a trade society and did some buying on the side . Well if you look at Rochdales history you will see a large number of the founder members were weavers the same as Fenwick. The Fenwick weavers did not just buy and sell articles on the side it was a case if they did not get oat meal at a cheap price they would have starved to death. Also go into the co-op milestones who do the co-operative list as the first Co-operative in 1769 FENWICK
Hi ferrans_281,
I'm sorry if my description of the Fenwick society offended you. I'm glad that you've set the record straight. I was misled by the East Ayrshire Council website which seemed less certain if the Fenwick Weavers Society was a Co-operative and mentioned that it was set up to promote high standards of weaving.
Sam
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