Wednesday, September 29, 2010

A store in every district

Below is a list of branches from the M&SE Co-op in south Manchester back in 1951 (source Kelly's Street Directory but was probably compiled in 1950). It shows a network of small branches, though it isn't a network for the consumer. People used to shop local without the use of the car. Shop more often for a smaller basket, and had a lot less choice. Another point is how the districts they are in have changed in the last 50 years. Didsbury is no considered a much bigger area, as it improves the value of your house.
  • Burnage                       Kingsway
  • Brooks's Bar               23-35 Moss Lane West
  • Chorlton-cum-Hardy   442-444 Barlow Moor Road (Hardy Lane store)
                                       66 Beech Road
                                       35 Stockton Road ( next to 66 Beech Road)
                                       90-92 Warwick Road South (in Stretford / Trafford)
                                       349-351 Barlow Moor Road (centre of Chorlton)
  • Didsbury                     220-222 Fog Lane
                                       106-116 Wilmslow Road
  • East Didsbury              476-480 Burnage Lane
                                       179 School Lane
                                       61-63 Ladybarn Lane
  • West Didsbury            129 Burton Road
                                       36-38 Merseybank Avenue (Merseybank Estate)
  • Whalley Range            14 Milton Grove
                                       98 Withington Road
  • Withington                   164-166 Parrs Wood Road
                                       87 Wilmslow Road
                                       86-90 Mauldeth Road West
You can email : coop AT biffadigital.org with any information that will help in the making of this history.