RAMSBOTTOM INDUSTRIAL AND PROVIDENT SOCIETY LTD: records

GRI/1 Members' Share Ledgers 1884-1957

GRI/2 Balance Sheet Books 1909-1914

GRI/3 Corporation Profits Tax File 1921-1925

GRI/4 Assets & Liabilities Ledger 1875-1916

GRI/5 Depreciation Ledger 1890-1908

GRI/6 Loans Ledgers 1917-1956

GRI/7 Contributions Journal 1962-1963

GRI/8 Club Books 1957-1963

GRI/9 Investments Register 1902-1963

GRI/10 Share Dividends Ledger 1890-1917

GRI/11 Union Mill/Cuba Mill, Stubbins and Star Mill, Ramsbottom Deeds 1862-1924

GRI/12 Expenses & Payments Books 1921-1963

GRI/13 Manure, Carting and Empties Nominal Ledger 1938-1954

GRI/14 Cash Account Books 1913-1963

GRI/15 Warehouse Stock Book 1924-1944

GRI/16 Miscellaneous Purchases Papers 1918-1928

GRI/17 Mortgages Register c.1888-1903

GRI/18 Mortgages Summary ledger 1918-1933

GRI/19 Mortgage Applications 1919-1939

GRI/20 Chief rents Ledger 1898-1921

GRI/21 Rents Book 1910-1931

GRI/22 Butler Street Houses Account Book 1914-1955

GRI/23 Butler Street Houses Correspondence Files 1935-1938

GRI/24 Workers' Travel Association Files 1946-1947

GRI/25 Wage Books 1907-1963

GRI/26 Superannuation Fund Ledger 1926-1948

GRI/27 Concerts Book 1922-1924

GRI/28 Education Department Cash book 1888-1922

<p>Some additional ephemera and publications are included among the holdings of the Ramsbottom Heritage Society (GRH).</p>

Most of the records listed here were deposited with Bury Library on the closure of the Bury Co-op stores, and subsequently transferred to the archive service. A few items salvaged from the Ramsbottom co-op premises in 1987 were transferred via Ramsbottom Heritage Society in 1998. It is clear that as of 1958, considerable quantities of other earlier records existed, but the survival and current whereabouts of these are unknown.

The Society was founded in 1858, drawing on the experience of the neighbouring Rochdale society, the first shop opening on the 1st January 1859 at Wild's Buildings, Ramsbottom Market Place. It was not the only Co-op in Ramsbottom: a Ramsbottom Conservative Industrial Co-operative Society also existed from 1869 to 1912 in Bolton Street (known as 'the blue store).

Purpose built premises were erected in Bolton Street in 1863. The first branch shops, at Stubbins and Bank Lane, were added in 1867. Additional branches were opened at Holcombe (1868), Nuttall Lane (1869) Peel bridge and Turn (1873) and Holcombe Brook (1876), along with a reading room (1864) and library (1866) in Bolton Street. By 1876, the society had 2,400 members.

There was also a branch of the Womens' Co-operative Guild, and evening classes were provided. The society owned and built many houses in the area, and held significant investments in local businesses, records for which are included here. Areas of business included grocery, drapery, clogs and shoes, butchers, coal, milk (1920) insurance (1910), and travel agency (1946). The society amalgamated with the Bury Co-op in 1963, and this in turn subsequently became part of Norwest Pioneers. These notes have largely been taken from the centenary newsletter of the society.