Co-op Museum Toad Lane
The Rochdale Pioneers Museum celebrates the success of the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers’ Society, which is widely regarded as being the first successful retail co-operative society.
The Museum is housed in the original building where the Pioneers opened their doors for trading for the first time on 21 December 1844. From these humble beginnings, with just 28 members and £28 in capital, has grown the International Co-operative Movement with more than 800 million members in over 100 countries around the world.
The Co-operative Heritage Trust has been awarded £1.49 million by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to fund the development of Rochdale’s Pioneers Museum and work is now starting to ensure it opens its doors again in readiness for the UN's 'International Year of Cooperatives' in 2012.
Thanks to this award, the museum will be transformed and updated, creating new visitor facilities and learning spaces. New displays will incorporate images and objects from the National Co-operative Archive, whilst new specialist staff will be recruited to work with schools, colleges and the local community using the archive and museum collections.