Co-op gave good 'divi' to the town

DID you shop at the Co-op? Many older people will remember the days when you could buy almost anything there, from groceries to furniture, clogs to jewellery, and get 'divi' as well!

By 1900 the Co-operative Central Stores covered much of Hammerton Street and were purpose-built to meet the demands of the time.

These buildings are still in use although it is over 30 years now since the Co-op department store moved into the new Burnley centre.

The Co-operative Movement began in Rochdale in 1844 and in the 1850s there were several attempts to bring Co-operation to Burnley.

It was only in 1860, when a shop was opened at number 37 Hammerton Street, that enough people joined to make it a success.

The first purpose-built stored was opened on Hammerton Street in 1862, at a time of financial difficulty because of the cotton famine caused by the American Civil War.

It was a time of great hardship for many members but the store, on the corner of Hargreaves Street and Hammerton Street, opened in October, 1862 with a flourish.

To celebrate the opening of the building "1500 people partook of tea, which being considerably more than was anticipated threw the commissary department into a very busy condition."

An evening meeting was to take place in the new building but with so many people for tea the committee hastily moved the meeting to the Assembly Room of the Mechanics' Institute and it was nine o'clock before the speeches, interspersed with songs and recitations, could begin.

The Quadrille Band was in attendance, as were some Glee Singers, and it was reported that everyone enjoyed themselves.

In the years that followed the Co-op had some difficult times. There were years when trade was bad and in addition a secretary was forced to resign when it was found that £800 had gone missing from the funds.

So it was not until the 1880s that another building was planned. The 1862 building, designed by Mr Hitchen Chadwick, is a plain building, now serving as an Australian pub, but the plans for he new store were rather more grand.

In December, 1885, Thomas Hughes, QC, laid the foundation stone of the new building. He was the author of "Tom Brown's School Days" and was a firm supporter of the Co-operative Movement.

The stone can still be seen high up on the corner of the building where it joins Tanner Street.

The new store was designed by Thomas Dean, and was an imposing building three storeys high with departments for shoes, grocery and tailoring as well as warehouse space and committee rooms.

The store was opened in October, 1886 by Mr Thomas Wilberforce of Leeds and this was followed in the evening by the annual soiree. Tea was served in Brunswick and Salem schools and attended by 800 or 900 people and then the company was entertained in the Mechanics' Institute. Again there were Glee Singers, a pianist and some comic songs.

Four years later what is now the central part of the Hammerton Street building was opened. For the occasion the street was decked with strings of streamers suspended from the windows of the new building and when it was dark electric light lit up the scene, where throngs of people promenaded in the street.

The building was designed by Mr G B Rawcliffe and the work was done under jobs supervision. The new building had a carved centre pediment with a wreath of rose, shamrock and thistle enclosing a beehive.

This can still be seen high up on the building with the motto "The Sweets of Industry."

The opening ceremony, in September, 1890, took place in the Assembly Room and was performed by Lady O'Hagan, who was presented with a gold key in a Morocco case.

During the afternoon there was a musical programme followed by tea, but only for the delegates, who were invited by special invitation. The Assembly Room could seat 400 people and its main entrance was in Hammerton Street. Over the years many concerts and lectures have taken place in the room.

The lower floors housed a butcher's shop, a cloggers and a furniture shop as well as a library.

At the opening it was said that at some future time another similar building was planned so that the front elevation would present a uniform design. This building, designed by Thomas Bell, was completed in 1900 and was opened in November by Mr Samuel Blakeborough, President of the Society.

The new wing contained a restaurant, painter and decorator's department and a jewellery department. After a brief opening ceremony the premises were thrown open for public inspection and tea was served during the afternoon in the new tea room and in the Assembly Room. This was followed by a concert in the Mechanics' Institute.

The Co-operative Central Stores were now complete and in their heyday were at the centre of Burnley's commercial life.

But times change and in the post-war period the stores, with their many seperate shops, seemed old-fashioned as 'walk-through' department stores became more popular.

Also, many towns were building modern shopping centres and Burnley was no exception.

In 1970 the Co-op moved from its old established premises in Hammerton Street into Pendle House, in the heart of the new shopping complex.

This time the opening ceremony, with 1,000 balloons rising into the sky, was performed by the Mayor, Alderman E J Willis, but the main attraction came later when Ken Dodd arrived with his famous 'tickling stick.'

When it opened Pendle House was said to be the largest department store for many miles and a magnet for the shopping public!

That department store may be gone but the wonderful Victorian buildings on Hammerton Street are still with ust still presenting a dignified and uniform front for us to admire.