A-Z of the Co-op

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pRITIS

IS FOR ARCADIAN The Arcadian restaurant at the top of Market Street opened in 1911. Across the road, the Arcadian Hall was very popular and many people had their wedding reception there or remember going to dinner dances.

Oprrat

at

thought it was like going

Kip?

to the

Zon

Go fu

gold

white

Hom &

&

4,

Tongue &

Bram Brena

&

ter

Buttered Scones & pastries Ass orted cokes

o pruit Trifle Salad & Toes

above

W+ Turkey Hem etc.

Fam &

Saled eto. as above.

cafe 9 60

~

SY

-

DID YOU EVER VISIT

THE ARCADIAN RESTAURANT?

$7 €

ay, VMI"

had some

great times dancing

uw

at the Arcadian. é

/

Lt

f

a

as a treat that we d do no wand again Ww

_

DP

Barnsley British Co-operative Society Ltd. Drug and Jewellery Department

5400i Dinner Dance at the : ARCADIAN Har]

SLEY BRITISH THE BARN TIVE SOCIETY cO-OPERA Club

uM

MITED

14

Social Traffic Dept

Employ ees 2ist Annual

Dance Dinner and ARCAD 1AN FRIDAY, MARCH

NEW

H ALL,

20th.

BARNSL 1970

12 p.m.

Dancing 8 to

prompt Dinner 645 p.m

:

Wednesday, 20th March, 1968 9-0 p.m. to 12-0

am

Dancing to the Music of THE MALCOLM BARRIE QUINTET Reception 7-0 p.m.

Dinner 7-30 P.m.

DANCE ONLY 5;-

%

4

BRITIS

IS FOR BUILDING THE BBCS OPEAA

The Co-op built many stores across the borough of Barnsley. Many of them included a house next door for the manager to live in.

wl

A

The BBCS even built its own flour mill, bakery, abattoir, mineral water factory and jam factory.

E

a

nde

hi Ad

it TY

Many of the Co-op buildings can still be seen in the town centre.

as

BRITIS

ae

IS FOR CO-OPERATION The Barnsley British Co-operative Society was founded in August 1861 by nine visionary men, inspired by the Rochdale Pioneers who opened their first store in 1844.

The Pioneers sold good quality food at fair and honest weights and prices to their members.

By March 1862, they had collected £30 from 68 members and the first

BBCS store was opened.

A member of the Rochdale Pioneers Society, George Adcroft moved to Barnsley to work at the Oaks Colliery. He met with other like-minded men at the Tinkers Temperance Hotel to discuss politics and the idea of Co-operation. They decided to start

Barnsley Co-operative by saving 1 shilling a week and opened their first store in 1862. a

19) Reg. Now

R Yorks.

RULES Barnsley Co-operaie

British SOC

Limited

MANU

tng Works

gat

Forty Stamos

5

5

738 718

rs across

5

pede

38

4

40

this

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e

5

Forty ross t

hike

ths

wav hke

ths

5555555

z

Five and Forty

qat

ant

555500

8 Onty Five

Forty

Every six months, on 'divi day' families would get money back based on what they had spent. People often used their divi money for holidays, new clothes and furniture.

Money se

Seer

I

7

was tight in those days

gellingwo

used

or

a Wds

it to go on holiday

"Twice a near & fo you at

W

WAs A percentage

vr

94+

mo

was welcome in many who, like mune,

families bought

Werything

They

the Co-op

Og 3

HOW DID YOUR FAMILY SPEND THEIR DIVI?

.

BRITIS

IS FOR DIVI Each member of the Co-op had a dividend number, known as the divi. Whenever you bought goods from the Co-op, you gave them your divi number and everything got added up at the cneck office.

OprRAt 1

BRITISH SOC

pERATIVE

MEMBER

SHARE

LIMITED

QUNT

MUTT

LK

Aes 'Mine was 28651. never forget them,

what Tid

Z forget or two

esterday bad LL. should

minutes AKO never; never i)

WHAT WAS YOUR DIVI NUMBER?

that.

Britis! = Seay

NS

Gane No

ted

"ee

gat

on THIS eR ETH Suck EMH ER Sick

ON THIS PAGE

ss

Sta 4 Forty Stamos ; 4 Forty across the

ths

738 738

49

4ow

plock with

with

Dene Stans we ths

Stamps

"ke ths

eee 555°

Five and Forty

_ should

55

ant

55559 act

Fa

138

gat

>

055

8 Onty Five

FortySt

Every six months, on 'divi day' families would get money back based on what they had spent. People often used their divi money for holidays, new clothes and furniture.

One.

Money. so

was tight in those days

divi was important your getting,

wh used it fo go on holiday.

'Tice ayears was

you

which

of WAk & percentage

dspent

9+ was

welcome Ln many who , lite mine ,

families bought

werything

They

the Co-op

HOW DID YOUR FAMILY SPEND THEIR DIVI?

.

IS FOR EMPLOYEES From the shop floor to delivering groceries, office work to packing tea and decorating there were lots of employment opportunities with the Co-op in Barnsley.

Wherever the Co-operative staff worked, they could get involved in a wide variety of sports and social activities.

There was an operatic society, bowling club and dinner dances at the Arcadian Hall.

-

THE BARNSLEY

8RUTISH co-opeRATIVE

April,

1988

car 3

J. MATER

a.

name Included in your

Wages

is

L

SOCIETY LTB,

2/3

eng

u

in the am your éd. (sixpence) Half-year-

basi

earnings:

Cca

pd

during the

sick

Pay

for

does noe

10th August.

GEO. MORREY.

1968

dar,

"L finished school on

Fray

Z gol thee?

at Barnsley British Cor

operative

Society

and L. cfarted on the

nda

morning

a

"The

boys

in the

:

it

The ma

all

Way Up.

ther

pit

went

and the

ails went fo

the

al

BRITIS

[5 FOR FASHION The Co-op became well-known for providing good quality clothes and accessories there was a drapery and millinery as well as special departments and shops for men's and women's clothes, bags, shoes and tailoring.

-

"wpe it

Co-op.

<hoes from

9

loved gong

~ Spring Fashion Paradesi or 'wE @OCIETY,

LrD

lork, even

if

didn't have

by

& BEANE

ABBET

STREET

& CHEAPS

WES

o"

IS FOR

GROCERIES At first, food was sold loose and would be weighed and packed for customers.

They would weigh out what you asked for and wrap the goods in brown paper tied with string.

and.

Your WJ

'a

ould come from The nd the lard from

a slab onthe counter.

Ther wasn't ¢

Pax,

The flour

sae

lad emplied aed av d corn down

of flour, potatoes

hutes from the top flee 4

fron brown

4gs-

-

paclecd. . we have today,

KASS

and a

a

EN

Rl

ISION4S y

4

se...

were

those

gre

Later on, the stores moved to celf-service s and customers could walk the aisle s and Choose for themselves from many different brands.

SYOAO

appasn

approved

tom)

a4OM

woul,

Raat

UIVH

dO SI

BRITIS

IS FOR ISLAND RN October 1862, the BBCS moved to new larger premises on the corner of Wellington Street to serve its growing membership.

This building was known as 'Island Corner' and had lots of different departments inside.

In

N N

TTV

all You were distracted by ladies these r grand all the round ments That were on in the Co-op per,

made of "The coun ters were wood Wwe lovely Leautt polished out drawers

pull

§0

NANT

ae

DID YOU SHOP AT

ISLAND CORNER?

.

BAITIS

IS FOR JOLLY

HOLIDAYS Lots of people spent their divi money on their annual holiday. The Co-op eventually had its own travel department and organised coach holidays.

'Lots of Barnsley people holiday

ir Blackpool

on

their used their divi to fund

Barnsley

Feact Week th Auauct-

wart

Money, those dans Was

Co

Wm

We us

483

on BRITIS

IS FOR KNOWLEDGE AND LEARNING Education was important to the early Co-operators. A special committee carried out educational activities, branch stores had their own reading rooms and libraries. Co-op members could attend evening lessons in science and technology.

BRITIS

[5 FOR LOCAL

SHOPS The BBCS quickly expanded and opened their first village store in Dodworth on 21st February 1863. As membership soared to 10,000 BBCS opened new stores in Kendray, Cundy Cross, Hoyland, Bolton upon Dearne and Goldthorpe. By 1965, there were over 120 grocery shops around Barnsley, as well as smaller district stores selling clothes, furniture and other goods.

'Self Service

;

cECOM

wON

R

BRanctt

ARNSLEY

BRITISH

TRADING

TERRITORY

WHERE WAS YOUR LOCAL CO-OP?

:

ISFOR MILK

;

» o

BOTTLES AND

GROCERY DELIVERIES

PLEASE RINSE AND RET

The Co-op offered a free delivery service to members. You could go into the shop and order your groceries, the staff would parcel them up and delivery boys would bring them to your house by horse and cart, or later by bicycle or van.

"L was a Co-op delivery We packed tall

Lon,

on

up

all

Frid

mg

did

and

Aefiyert

People bought their milk from the Co-op (which had its own dairy) and this would also be delivered straight to your door

by

bike

every. Saturday.

Baar

net

door. svi

.

"dad atthe Burgh

he was fourteen years Co-op when arn and meat. the He flour, otd. weighed it to customers He a large basket on the

fa 4,

the 1960s, the Co-op had special mobile vans which you could buy In

your groceries from directly.

as

to

BRITIS

IS FOR

(DIV)

NUMBERS _

B B

593 \

0919 -

Allmembers of the Co-op had their own individual divi number. Every time you bought something you had to give your divi number and the store kept a log of the transaction.

{ -

and their wothers Co-op

'09

59 5

Tank 1

Share No

4

Elizabeth

74

Avenue,

i1

06

Address

Maton Date to

bo

the Barns;

CORY of which

CO

THE

BARNSLEY

No.

N/BSC. OS

we

BARNSLEY BRITISH

oPERative ME

vBER

SHARE ACCOUNT

yourself a -op you were a number and every, time

"Ouce you member of the

you bought something you qos the number in and a record war of what you spent.

WHAT WAS YOUR DIVI NUMBER?

.

t

=

O

[5 FOR OFFICES The BBCS central offices were at the top of Wellington Street. All transactions from the different branches and departments all over Barnsley were sent here to be checked and filed.

"The check office was where checks from ever

all the

department were sorted info number order to work out s divi share." people

La a

oY

19

FOR

PACKAGING OPERA Back when the Co-op first opened, goods were kept behind a counter and customers would be served by a shop assistant. They would weigh out what you asked for and wrap the goods in brown paper tied with string.

Ever lose which Sayeo

mone

oh

were fea ah d sugar

per

ina paper NEw ISLAND

STREEF CORNER

BARNS

"ALL provisions were

brown

indy small

parcels

Customers ovelers were m

parcels

with string

&

q

BRITISy

19

FOR QUALITY

you from the co-op on it's

put the table."

alll

& ae 2

BATHS

ae,

Tt had a reputation for selling geod

ems at

&

reason able prices.

+

DO YOU STILL HAVE ANY ITEMS BOUGHT FROM THE CO-OP?

g

=

IS FOR RECEIPTS AND ACCOUNTS The Rochdale Pioneers did not give credit to customers and purchases had to be paid for when they were bought.

In Barnsley, shopkeepers allowed people to buy things 'on the tick' but they were expected to pay once they received ther wages.

€

H

BRI

BARNSLEY served PLE ATIVE SOCTETY VhY 1. BARS

YH

>

LENG

S

\LEMBER' SHARE BOOK

IS FOR SERVICE People shopped at the Co-op for the personal service they received.

Re

a4

"There was ho

self

Yo a a the 1950s the Co-op introduced a whole new way of shopping called 'Self-Service. Customers could walk the aisles of the supermarket and pick for themselves from a selection of items straight from the shelves. The BBCS soon changed all their stores to this new way of shopping.

In

ah d someone Serred

yok.

tube

«

P shoot up tr

&

then

mould

i

EET

seared

arene

DEP:

t

PART L--GENERAL Per ALA

As branches expanded to include butchery, bakery, drapery and others, many newskillS were needed and training was provided.

Exams for shop staff were strict. Written and practical tests ensured the Co-op achieved high standards.

The Barnsley Co-op was an important part of the community, and as well as sharing the dividend with its members, it also provided a social welfare fund for hard times too. During miner's strikes, it allowed miners to take out their savings from a strike fund, assisted with providing soup kitchens and widows' funds to help families. In the 1893 coal dispute, the Co-op bakery provided 27,000 loaves to distribute to the miners.

SOCIETY ,

Shopping

2

co-op you HALE-YEARLY wEneine

QUESTIONS

at the

thought

ting

on were Oe

something an PAL ANGE

he

to get

P something. o

+

P

peo

/é

9s

"YOU FELT PART OF SOCIETY IT HAD THAT FEEL ABOUT IT."

[5 FOR VARIETY was said that if the Co-op didn't sell it, then you didn't need it! Departments included bread, confectionery, butchery, banking, fish, milk and dairy, boot and shoe, laundry, restaurant, drapery and fashions, footwear, furnishing, electrical, jewellery, pharmacy, travel, funeral, tinning, optical and more...

It

thet wasnt

nything The Co-op The Co-op then from +t cell it."

1

=

k L

Al

food,

~

N WHICH CO-OP DEPARTMENTS CAN YOU REMEMBER?

fur

home

a

BRITIS

[5 FOR WEDDINGS THE BARNSLEY BRITISH

ARCAD!AN MARKET

T A

STREET Menger

be

co.OPERATIVE u

R

AN

"The bill at

SOCIETY LTD.

the

BARNSLEY

NS aWOTT

ome thin

Lk,

~

OA)

Jb

Arcadian

+

like £70 for a hundred

36 2

my

t+

W

ring from the Co-op B.B.CS. Employees. dager of

LS5 Doreen

Char

Sereet

day

to

Wath,

When

we

haddo have #0tmarvied from the Co-op 9

a

Marry? *

ad Mo H a Bak

M

te

we

shoes

_

we

P> flowers Was

reception mM

Oppnat

IS FOR "XMAS AND SPECIAL

OCCASIONS The Co-op sold its own range of merchandise for Christmas and Easter as well as memorabilia for events such as Jubilees, the Coronation and special anniversaries.

ae AF

BRITIS

IS FOR YOU! As shareholders, members felt they were a genuine part of the Co-op and that the Co-op was an important part of the community.

OprRat

relied on and

customers customers

Co-op tv

on the s

ART he yok knew "You wet everybody,

in the

talk to.

Always somebody it's notgor that fo

op,

It's impersonal° how, personal

ouch. te

oe

"o s

Oy ™

Oy

§

F

3 ~

py a

ever?

A

*

a?

WHAT DID YOU LIKE ABOUT THE CO-OP?

My

The

Co-o

.

in the both community, y and customers. staff

BR1T1S

IS FOR ZERO 10 140,000 A hundred years after the Barnsley society's formation in 1862, BBCS had grown to over 140,000 members. By 1965 there were over 120 grocery shops and 8 mobile grocery vehicles as well as different department stores all over the borough. The Co-op was a huge part of Barnsley life and many people remember it fondly.

"That's uhen Barnsley Was

Barnsley! cae

) souvenir

\

of ninety yeo

br

f

? Seng

CO

touch ofthe Co-op."

K We hada marvelious place

th

Barnsle

"BARNSLEY WAS THE CO-OP."

EAS BINS

URN

NAP \\ \\

\\ 8

66

\C 2?

2

B.B.C S f

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AD

Grocery BBL

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This book is part of a Heritage Lottery Funded project to tell the story of the Barnsley Co-operative Society. From the opening ofthe first store in 1862 to the boom years of the 1950s, the Co-op remained at the heart of the community. >

EASE RINS

Thank you to all those who contributed their memories.

f

BARNSLEY

wauseoenosconarcame

BARNSLEY MUSEUMS

BARNSLEY Metropolitan Borough Council

ottery Tung LOTTERY FUNDED

b