Skelmanthorpe Co-operative Trading Friendly Society
Later known as Skelmanthorpe Co-operative Society and then Skelmanthorpe Industrial & Co-operative Provident Society, the Skelmanthorpe Co-operative Trading Friendly Society was formed in 1834.
Extracts
Skelmanthorpe Co-operative Society was founded in Feb 1834 under the name Skelmanthorpe Co-operative Trading Friendly Society operating out of property at Shaw Croft. By May 1881 the Society had changed its name to Skelmanthorpe Industrial and Co-operative Provident Society and had a membership of 88. On 8 Apr 1886 the Society became a member of the Co-operative Wholesale Society. In Oct 1895 it was resolved to build a new shop and building began in Mar 1896. The old shop was rented out to the Liberal Club for £7 per year. On 5 May 1898 a wooden shop was purchased to be used as a cobbler's shop. In 1909 the Liberal Club moved out of the old premises and these were converted into a butcher's shop with hardware and crockery upstairs. The Society continued to progress steadily and when they celebrated its centenary in 1934 they had 1062 members. By 1967 the Society had 1582 members. In 1968 the Society transferred to Barnsley British Co-operative Society. Barnsley British Co-operative Society transferred its engagments to the Co-operative Retail Services in 1971.