Rochdale Pioneers Museum facts for kids
Original brick building and 2012 extension
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| Established | 1931 |
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| Location | 31 Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL12 0NU |
| Type | Collection (museum), Heritage centre |
The Rochdale Pioneers Museum is a special place in Rochdale, England. It's in the very building where the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society opened its first shop on December 21, 1844. Many people see this museum as the starting point for the modern co-operative movement.
Inside the museum, you can see a recreated version of the original shop. It has old furniture, scales, and items that were sold there long ago. The museum also shows how the co-operative movement helped with important topics. These include women's rights, fighting poverty, education, fair trade, and making society better. The Co-operative Heritage Trust owns the museum, and the Co-operative College looks after it.
Contents
History of the Museum
The Original Building
The building at 31 Toad Lane was once an 18th-century warehouse. It was on a busy road that led to the town center. In 1844, the Co-operative Society rented the ground floor. The floors above were used by a Methodist society.
The first shop was very simple. They used a wooden plank placed on barrels as a counter. The shop quickly grew. By 1849, the Co-op rented the entire building. They added a library, a meeting room, and even a shoe shop. In the 1860s, the society moved to bigger, specially built premises. After they moved out, the old building became a pet shop.
How the Museum Started
The Rochdale Pioneers quickly became famous. Their idea of co-operation spread across the country and even around the world. Because of this, the Co-operative Union bought the building at 31 Toad Lane in 1925. They wanted to create a museum to celebrate the birthplace of co-operation. The museum first opened its doors in 1931.
In the 1970s, the museum had to close for a few years. There were problems with the building's structure. But it was successfully repaired and restored. Rochdale Council also improved the area outside the museum. They made the street cobbled and added old-fashioned gas lamps and a Victorian post-box. The museum officially reopened in 1981. Princess Alexandra attended the special ceremony.
In 2000, the Co-operative College took over running the museum. It became a registered museum in 2001. In 2010, the museum received a large grant of £1.3 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund. It reopened in 2012 after a big £2.3 million renovation. This included adding new rooms and improving the displays.
What You Can See at the Museum
The museum helps you understand the co-operative movement. It shows how it started in Rochdale and why the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society was formed. You can also learn about the big social impact and growth of co-operation both in the UK and worldwide. The museum also highlights important people who helped the movement grow.
The main things you can learn about at the museum are:
- How the early co-operative movement developed.
- The Rochdale Principles, which are the rules for co-ops.
- Inspiring people who were part of the co-operative movement.
- The history of shops and selling goods.
- How the movement grew and its social history in the 20th century.
- Co-operation around the world.
See also
- Listed buildings in Rochdale
- The Rochdale Pioneers (2012 film)
