HOW many people remember their mum’s old Co-op ‘divi’ number?

Before the arrival of supermarkets, the family would buy their needs at the corner shop, or the local co-operative society – and receive their dividend at the end of the year.

There were Co-op stores all over East Lancashire and Jack Nadin looks back at its history in his home town of Padiham.

“The roots of the Padiham Co-op go back to 1869, when a group of 15 local working class men, including Thomas Oxley, subscribed £1 each in shares. The first job for the men was to find suitable premises to launch their new business and the front portion of a cottage in Calder Street, next to the King’s Arms, off Church Street, was acquired on a weekly rental.

They soon had to seek out larger premises and a larger shop was opened, first in Back Lane (West Street), and then in Sowerby Street, which was later occupied by the Local Board.

Membership increased dramatically and, in 1874, larger premises again were acquired in Burnley Road, which became the head store.

Peter Doyle was the secretary at this time. He was a labourer in a coal mine and lived at Hapton.

The stores also began to trade in other things, such as drapery, shoes and boots – and in 1879 a branch store was also opened in Bank Street.

In 1884 the Padiham Co-operative were able expand even more to open their first purpose-built store in Peel Street. A stone inscription on the building today tells of its former use. It also built several of the houses in the street at the same time.

By the 1920s, the Padiham Industrial Co-operative Society sold groceries and dairy products, was a butcher’s, baker’s, confectioner’s, fruiterer’s and fishmonger.

It was a tailor’s and made clogs, while also selling boots and shoes, cycles and ironmongery.

It became a major influence on the town’s shoppers, giving dividends at its main store and branch stores which existed throughout town.

These included Mill Street, Green Lane, Grove Lane, Railway Road, Shakespeare Street, and Whalley Road, as well as part of Vale Mill which was used as the slaughterhouse, stables and stores.

They also owned and farmed Ben Wood Farm for dairy products.”