Heckmondwike Co-operative Society

Heckmondwike and District Co-operative Society held its first meeting on 31 December 1859 and was registered in 1860. The chair of the Board was William Archer and the secretary was James Crabtree who later became the society's president. The society opened its first shop around June 1860, its manager was James Lund of Rochdale. In 1887 its central premises were on Oak Street in Northgate. It has branches in Brighton Street, Chapel Fold, Dewsbury Moor, Gomeral, Hartshead, Healey, Hightown, Kilpin Hill, Littletown, Millbridge, Norristhorpe, Robertstown, Stancliffe, Westborough, and White Lee. It had 5,736 members and conducted trade in grocery, drapery, shoes and boots, furnishing, tailoring, coal, baking, millinery, dressmaking, and had a medical aid department.

By 1930, the society had 15 departments, 56 shops, 9,103 members and 249 employees.

By 1979 the society had 13,150 members, with premises in Northgate, Dewsbury, Liversedge, Stancliffe and Westgate. It conducted trade in grocery, butchery and cooked meats, greengrocery, fruits and fish, chemists, optical, drapery and fashion, men's wear, footwear, babywear and nursery furniture, furnishings and hardware, motors, knitting wool, painting and wallpaper, stationary and sports outfitting. It had member services in painting and decoration, TV repairs and funerals.

The society transferred its business to Yorkshire Co-operatives on 8 September 1985.

Sources: The Co-operative Union directories and the society's history "Heckmondwike and District Co-operative Society Ltd 1860-1930, a brief historical sketch"

From the guide to the Heckmondwike and District Co-operative Society, Sep 1962- Mar 1982, (The National Co-operative Society)