Banner of the Barking Women’s Co-operative Guild
Barking Co-operative Society and the Women’s Guild eventually became part of the London Co-operative Society which had a large membership by the 1950s.
The banner was possibly made in the 1920s. The maker is unknown but there are the overlapping letters ‘PJ’ in the scroll at the bottom right hand corner.
The shot woven rayon background, lining with cotton fringe and painted surface decoration suggests that it was made by a workshop. The tatted or crocheted fringe, which may have come from another textile, and the loops, could have been made by a member for the commissioned banner. The banner measures 165cm high and 100cm wide.
The symbols of roses and daisies represent the different ages of the members. The marguerite daisies may allude to Margaret Llewellyn Davies, General Secretary of the Women’s Co-operative Guild (WCG) from 1899 to 1921. The beehives are co-operative symbols and the motto is that of the national WCG.
The Co-operative Heritage Trust 117927
The Trust was formed in 2007 by Co-operatives UK, the Co-operative College and the Co-operative Group to bring together heritage assets of the British Co-operative Movement to educate and inspire audiences about how and why co-operatives developed from the 19th Century.
The Trust cares for Rochdale Pioneers Museum and the Co-operative Archive based in Manchester. In 2012 the National Lottery Heritage funded Rochdale Project took place including a major renovation of the museum building.
The banner and textile collection
As part of the Rochdale Project, conservation of banners in the collection was undertaken at the textile studios of the People’s History Museum, Manchester.
Trades Union style banners were carried by co-operators to reflect the pride of the membership in their societies and to rally support for positive change. As such they are decorated with symbols representing friendship, solidarity and peace.
https://www.co-operativeheritage.coop/
Photography by John Harris / Report Digital. Digital retouching by Adrian Hayes.
Photography, design and print by unionised labour. www.reportdigital.co.uk, www.kavitagraphics.co.uk and www.rapspiderweb.co.uk
