Rochdale Pioneers Museum

The Birthplace of the Modern Co-operative Movement The Museum is now closed for refurbishment and will not be re-opening until 2012. The work currently under way includes the reinstatement of the top floor of the Museum. The floor was taken out in the 1970s during earlier building work and the additional space will be used for educational and community activities. The exterior of the building will be repaired and repointed and a new addition will be an access tower at the side to hold the staircase and lift. This will mean that the whole of the building will be accessible to all.

If you would like further information, please email museum@co-op.ac.uk

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These photographs were taken of the work in progress between the end of June and mid-September:

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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.

For as long as the Co-operative Movement endures, the story of the Rochdale Pioneers will be told and there is no better or more significant memorial to them than the actual shop in which they commenced trading. 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. This website is designed to make the Pioneers’ remarkable story accessible.