Co-operative women's guild banner.
People have also banded together as consumers of goods, housing and benefits. The Rochdale Pioneers Society of 1844 is generally regarded as the founder of the co-operative movement, but Liverpool can proudly claim earlier activity.
In 1829 John Finch formed the first Liverpool Co-operative Society. Members co-operated to lessen the cost of living by jointly buying necessities at the lowest possible price.The Women's Co-operative Guild was founded in 1883 to educate women about the principles of co-operation. The Guild flourished in Liverpool and gave working class women experience in discussing and organising themselves around issues which were important to them.
In the former museum you could: