Banner of the Warrington Co-operative Society Women’s Guild
Possibly made in the 1930s and signed by “A Cooke”, possibly the painter or maker.
The silk faced cotton sateen background has silk and cotton brocade lining. The surrounding braid and tassels are of artificial fibre and there are wooden formers to provide rigidity. It was constructed by hand, includes machine sewing and is hand painted in oil. The banner measures 187cm high and 88cm wide.
The central wheatsheaf is the symbol of co-operation. The lower shield is the Warrington civic Coat of Arms.
The group last met in 2015 just before the National Guild closed.
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
