Women's Outlook

Just highlighting a good post from The Shrieking Violet weblog that came out last February. That's just like a minute ago in history.  The subject is "Women's Outlook" a Co-Operative Press magazine from 1919 - 1967. Not just recipes, handy hints and knitting they ruffled a few feathers in their time. Not to be confused with any publication from this century.

If you are interested then go here. It has some pictures as well.

To go with this check out Mary Stott (1907-2002), an editor of that magazine, and later with The Guardian. It's at Radical Manchester.

Guesting Guild Post

Done a spot of guest blogging over at Chorltonhistory. It's a story about the Chorlton & Manley Park Womens' Guild with a three tier cake celebrating their 25 year birthday.

It's an attempt to bring local co-operative stories to  a wider and different audience. Also still on the hunt for a picture of the Co-Op stores on Beech Road (1915-1967) where the above event took place. There is the link if you wish to read and see the 1947 photo...here

Longford Park

In an earlier post about the Co-op Rose Queen there was a reference to "a magnificent landau" that the M&S Co-op used in the summer months. As can be seen in the photograph it was a very large impressive carriage. The picture says it was taken in Longford Park, Stretford in 1949. It actually looks like The Quadrant just outside the Firswood entrance to the park. Just look at the crowds lining the road. The young lass must have felt like royalty.

This leads on to Longford Park celebrating its centenary this year. A section of the park is in Chorlton and it has always been enjoyed by all nearby residents. The hall - sadly demolished after neglect by Trafford Council, and grounds used to be the residence of John (1801-1888) and Enriqueta Rylands (1843-1908). Very rich, multi-millionaire rich, he made his money in the cotton industry. The Longford estate of 62 acres was purchased by Stretford Urban District Council in 1911. It was opened by Harry Nuttall MP on Saturday 11th May 1912 with speeches, brass band, maypole dance and other entertainments.


There are some celebrations this year to the very day in May, and I've noticed Chris Makepeace the noted historian of Manchester is giving a talk.

Centenary celebrations : Friends of Longford Park
Related Post : Queen for the season

Old news from the Guildroom

The Barlow Moor Mixed Guild started in 1931 with meetings at the Hardy Lane store. It attracted over 100 members, and in the following season they canvassed for more.

"We are hoping to have a large influx of members when the session commences in earnest, and the committee are now actively engaged in arranging a publicity campaign which will embrace not only Barlow Moor Estate but also surrounding areas where there is not at present any guild. Our guildroom is now on a main thoroughfare and easily accessible by tram and bus..."

"The season will commence on Tuesday 6th September, when the opening social will be held. As we expect to have accomodation for at least 150 people..."


The opening social was billed as a whist drive and dance. When you look at the size of the rooms then a muster of 150 would have made it very packed. Maybe it was. The advert is from the same publication. No doubt a few would have been having a pipe. Note that the tobacco is from the Rochdale Pioneers' factory and not the C.W.S. Though the early co-operators favoured temperance over selling alcohol they never had a problem with tobacco. "In due times the husbans could get from the store the solace of tobacco and the wives the solace of tea" G.J. Holyoake: History of the Rochdale Pioneers 1893

Ref :
Manchester and Salford Co-operative Herald, page 392, 1932

Queen for the season

Writing about a Rose Queen or in this case something similar a Co-operative Queen was not predicted. But it is surprising what turns up in the email inbox. A low-fi scan of a document called "Memories (are made of these)" from a fellow local historian Bernard Leach. He knows I like anything co-op related. A week or so later I spotted a well researched new exhibit at the People's History Museum featuring a dress and trimmings from a Co-operative Queen from the 1920's. So good was the dress that it was saved, re-styled and used as the wedding dress. Re-vamping clothes was a normal practice - as in the novels of Elizabeth Gaskell (1851) for example dramatised for Tv.

You immediately get its cultural significance. Now back to the document, it has a clear handwritten page from someone, Miss M. Dale who was such a local co-operative queen in 1937.

Guild Starts in 1931

The Barlow Moor Mixed Guild officially started on Tuesday 9th June 1931. "An exceptionally well attended meeting of members had the priviledge of listening to many fine addresses given by our visitors, representatives from the board of management, the educational committee, and the district committee of the National Guild of Co-operators."

The following Tuesday they held a whist drive, which "proved very successful, both socially and financially, and also brought along a number of new members for the guild".
Manchester & Salford Co-operative Herald 1931 page 211

The new guild got off to a good start, and instead of closing for the month of August as would be and still is the norm for voluntary organisations like this they kept holding a Tuesday meeting throughout that month.

When Whist was big!

The card game whist was a popular activity in Britain. Many an hour of social activity was spent at whist drives. It was an important source of fund raising for associations, local Labour Parties and other voluntary groups. It also had a competitive element with prizes for participants and cups for teams.

Barlow Moor Guild - 15th April 1938
Annual meeting. Mr. Forrester , captain of the Whist Team, reported that Barlow Moor had won the shield, and we are all proud that our whist players have secured this honour, especially as we shall be the second Mixed Guild to have its name engraved on the trophy.

The new Guild officials are :
President, Mr. Frank Spires ; vice-president, Mr. A. B. Miles ; secretary, Mrs. Ada Dean ; assistant secretary, Mrs. Doherty ; treasurer, Mrs. Forrester.

Committee :
Mrs. Oultram, Mrs. Oriel, Mrs. Turner, Mr. S. Coombes, Mr. A. Dean, Mr. Morris.
Whist captain, Mr. Forrester ; vice-captain, Mrs. Hinchey. Sick visitors, Mrs. Shaw and Mrs. Wallwork.
from Manchester & Salford Co-operative Herald May 1938.

Frank Spires was a long time active co-operator, one of the original members who founded Withington Co-operative Party back in 1918. Mrs. Oultram on the Committee was Secretary of the Guild after WWII.