The Co-operative shopping empire was started by the Rochdale Pioneers in the 1840’s. Like many villages, Markfield originally had its own Co-operative Society, dating from 1869. The Markfield Society amalgamated with the Coalville Society in 1920 and became part of the Leicestershire Co-operative Society in 1969. This merged in 2005 with others to become the Midlands Society, which in turn joined others in 2013 to become the Central England Society (known as the Central Co-op).
The Co-op was heralded for its biannual (twice a year) ‘divi’ (or dividend) payment, which gave villagers a keen incentive to shop there. When groceries were purchased, the shopper was given a little paper check with the amount spent registered on it, with the more spent, the higher the 'divi' (just like the current day members' card). The eventual ‘divi’ payment could be immensely important within a family budget. It was rarely seen as a little bit extra, but rather viewed as an essential part of the yearly plan to survive, being used to pay off debts rather than to buy any family treats. The Co-op ‘divi’ was in fact an absolute lifeline for many villagers.
The Leicester Chronicle of 13th February 1869 refers to a co-operative store having recently opened in Markfield, reading: 'if carried on in the spirit shown in Wigston, Glen, Oadby and numerous other villages in the county, must prove successful.'
In the Kelly’s & Wrights Directories of 1904 and 1916, the Markfield Co-op is listed as Industrial Cooperative Stores Ltd. The poster further down from 1920 refers to the Markfield Industrial Co-operative Society.
The Co-op is noted in the Census. For example, in the 1891 census, Matthew (E) Spence (aged 44) was a baker and salesman residing at the shop with his wife, 3 sons and 5 daughters. He is also in the baptism records of April 1889 as manager. In the 1901 Census, James Anderson (43) was recorded as secretary. His ancestor had come down from Scotland – reportedly near Atholl Forest. Also in the 1901 Census, Henry Read (age 24) was a salesman, living on site with his wife Rosa (21), both of whom were born in nearby Thornton.
This photo was taken circa 1900. The 'departments' included drapery, hardware and butchery.
This excellent picture of a delivery cart is probably a little later, but probably pre-dates World War I (1914):
This photo may be slightly later still. The Co-op is to the left, followed by two buildings, and then the former George Inn. Then the row of cottages which remains today, followed by a stone wall which is now the junction with Neville Drive. The Co-op occupied this site until the new store opened to the right in 2014, incorporating the former Inn.
In September 1919, the Leicester Daily Mercury carried an advert for powders for sick pigs. Many families in those days fattened a pig in their back yard, to provide meat:
Also in September 1919, the Mercury reported that a 'lightening' strike of workers at the Coalville Society that had led to closure of the stores for the day had been settled, with new minimum weekly pay levels agreed for men of 65 shillings (£3.05) and women of 45s (£2.05). The bakers at Coalville belonged to another society and continued to produce bread. However, with village store such as Markfield being closed, villagers had to travel to Coalville to get the bread. The report notes that despite villagers being 'Cooperatives', they did not band together to arrange transport. The women of the area were not impressed with the inconvenience caused by the strike.
The Markfield Society merged with the Coalville Working Men's Society in September 1920.
This is notice of a special meeting in 1920 to consider the merger. Note the sheet is overwritten with a subsequent amalgamation with the Ashby Society, presumably for the printer to set a new notice. The Ashby amalgamated in August 1921.
In December 1931, the Leicester Evening Mail reported the opening of new branch premises at Markfield, built by the Coalville Society. A tea was was held at the Village Institute, followed by an evening concert, with the Institute being packed.
Co-ops are membership organisations, and even today you are required to pay £1 to become a member. Every member is a part-owner of the Society and receives a profit share based on the amount spent. In days gone by, members deposited more money by way of shares. This is an example from 1934 of a local member withdrawing £32 (equivalent to around £2,000 today). Their total share capital was £82, so they left £50 for another day.
In her book about Markfield in the Second World War, 'Let us go forward together in Markfield 1939-1945', local historian Di Lockley writes: 'There were four main grocers shops in the Main Street - Joyner's, Bown's, Millward's and the Co-op.....The green grocers' vehicles would have the war advertisement posters on the side of their wagons. The Co-op also took to the road with a cyclist collecting your order book. Your weekly provision would arrive by van in neat paper bags inside a cardboard box tidily wrapped up in paper and tied with string. Most of the Co-operative eager divi collectors went to the shop with a list ready in hand. You used to have to remember your Divi number......There were three stores in one - the grocers, the haberdashery and the butchers. It was all behind the counter......no self serve then. Imagine bacon slicers to cut the bacon and large slabs of butter and lard which were ready to have the pieces cut off. All the customers' goods were placed on the counter and then an assistant would just reckon it up in their head. The servers, who included Mr Conibear, Tom Mee and Katy Willars, could go from the food counter to the haberdashery counter.'
Di also notes that the shop had chests of tea, sacks of sugar and blocks of salt, to name but a few. Sugar was sold by being weighed out into ½ lb, 1 lb and 2lb strong blue paper bags, with the end folding down to ensure there was no leakage. There were also the thick twists of tobacco, which came in coils that were cut into ½ oz or one-ounce lengths to be smoked in clay pipes.
This photo is from1978. The inscription in the triangle above the blocked up entrance reads 'Coalville Working Men's Co-operative Society Ltd' - which may have been built as part of the new premises in 1931. The house between the end shop on the right and The George was apparently demolished in the 1960s, leaving open space between them (see above earlier picture).
In June 1994 and January 1995, the Hinckley Times reported a planning application for alterations to the food store and the conversion of adjacent cottages.
In 2009, the store looked like this:
Here is the former George Inn after becoming an Indian restaurant and before it became part of the new Co-op store in the 2014. The white end wall of the shop as it was in the 2009 picture can also be seen.
To end this page, here are the recent recollections of another local resident from the 1960s and 1970s:
"The Co-op was separated into three sections (see the 1978 photo, above). The Grocery, the Drapery, and the Butchers, which was separate, but joined to the main Co-op building.
Next door to the Butchers, was a small cottage, which was attached to The George by an archway, which I assume was the upstairs of the cottage. A man called Harry Boyles lived there alone.
The Co-op was wood panelled, as was the floor. There was a long counter, with a separate part, where they used to slice the bacon. Sugar was sold in blue paper bags, weighed out in the shop. All the Tins, and Packets were on display behind the counter. Milk was delivered daily, by the Co-op milkman “Eric".
You either asked for what you needed, or gave the assistant a list. She would then go and get the items for you. Customers were served individually, (no Self Service), and you had to give your dividend (DIVI) number. A small amount of your bill was paid into your account, and then given back to the customer, at certain times of the year. I can still remember our number. Much excitement, on dividend day, when you collected your “divi”.
I don’t remember any men serving in the main Co-op, only the Butchers. My Uncle was the Manager, for a time.
Everyone was well known to each other and very friendly, and I can remember taking jugs of tea round to the Butchers Department. The Butchers had sawdust on the floor, and the meat was wrapped in white paper. All the meat was cut up on the premises, and you had to ask for what you wanted, as there were no display cabinets.
People tended to shop on a daily basis, as very few had a fridge at home, and certainly no freezers. The shop was always busy, and with a Bakers ( Wardle’s) in the village, most needs were met. This was at a time when few people had cars.
In the 1960’s, I used to buy coloured nylon shirts for my husband from the Drapery Department, as they were an innovation!
There was a burglary once, when a safe was taken. It was dragged down Main Street, and ended up in a field, which is now Neville Drive. No one was ever arrested.
Sometimes, “Teddy Boys”* would gather outside on a Saturday night, and have the odd fight. They soon dispersed when the local policeman, Maurice Nixon, arrived. He lived in the Police House at the top of the village, so was quickly on the scene.
Times have changed, since those days."
*Teddy Boys emerged in London in the 1950s. They were a mainly working-class subculture who stood out with their quiffs, long Edwardian (hence, Teddy) jackets and love for rock and roll music – but they also gained a reputation for violence. Another local resident recalls that Markfield became known locally for its Teddy Boys and their fights. They apparently caused trouble on the local buses of a Saturday night and were banned after turfing off the conductor!
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