Banner of the Cefn & District Co-operative Society Ltd
Following a visit in 1900 by members of Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society, a local society was formed in Cefn Mawr in 1901.
The building shown is an extended Rhosymedre building and ‘central’ premises celebrating the establishment of the Society in 1901. The familiar symbol of the wheatsheaf and the mottos ‘labor and wait’ / ‘each for all’ are symbolic of the support for federation of co-ops by stocking CWS products as these appear on the building as well as on the banner. The American spelling of ‘labor’ was adopted in support of the Anti-Slavery movement and the support of the Union cause by CWS during the American Civil War in the 1860s.
The maker and date of manufacture is unknown, although the building was completed in 1931. The plain woven silk background ground has twill woven silk borders and 13 silk faced pole loops which are evident on the rear. The fringe is purple silk-cotton and cords are a wool-cotton mix. The images and text are painted in oils. Sewing is by hand. The banner is 226cm high and 242cm wide.
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
