Banner of the Church End Branch, Finchley
The Church End area is now known as ‘Finchley Central’. By the time the banner was made in 1928, there were several women’s guild branches in Finchley. The area had become known for its Jewish population and many of the women in the Guild were political campaigners and social reformers. North Finchley had a branch at the same time.
It is hand stitched by Guild members and embroidered and constructed on cotton velvet background with hand stitched motifs of woven and felted wool and silk/satin. It includes metallic thread braid edging and guide tapes. Metal threaded cord and metal wire tassels envelop wooden formers. The banner measures 131cm high and 92cm 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
