Simon Danczuk MP

Fighting for Rochdale, Littleborough and Milnrow

Simon Danczuk MP visits Rochdale Pioneers Museum, ahead of new development

Local MP Simon Danczuk visited the Rochdale Pioneers Museum today, to see plans for new development work that is due to take place thanks to a £1,499million award from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The Rochdale Pioneers Museum is housed in the original building where the Pioneers opened their doors for trading for the first time on 21 December 1844. From these humble beginnings, with just 28 members and £28 in capital, has grown the International Co-operative Movement with more than 800 million members in over 100 countries around the world.

Thanks to the HLF award, the museum will be transformed and updated, creating new visitor facilities and learning spaces. New displays will be designed incorporating images and objects from the National Co-operative Archive whilst new specialist staff will be recruited to work with schools, colleges and the local community using the archive and museum collections.
Simon Danczuk MP gave his full support to the announcement, saying:

“If there’s one museum that every pupil in England should visit it’s the Pioneers Museum in Rochdale. Everyone should know how the co-operative movement was founded, and I’m delighted to hear that the Heritage Lottery Fund has committed substantial funding to modernising these facilities.

“At a time when the Government is talking about the need to expand co-operatives, it’s pleasing to note that Downing Street is drawing inspiration from ideas that were formed in Rochdale over 165 years ago.”
Sara Hilton, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund North West, announced the HLF, saying:

“The development of the co-operative movement is an important part of our social history - both for our local communities and for people across the world. By safeguarding the co-operative collection and redeveloping the Rochdale Pioneers building this project will mean that more people will have the opportunity to learn about and be inspired by the story of the co-operative movement.”

Co-operative Heritage Trust

In 1844 the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers began trading as a co-operative at 31 Toad Lane, based on a set of principles that would guide co-operative societies across the world to this day. The Pioneers' original store on Toad Lane was rented by them and they moved away in 1867 but it was later purchased by the movement, and opened as a museum in 1931, telling the story of how the co-operative movement developed through self-help to increase productive employment and overcome poverty.

The redevelopment aims to give more people access to the museum and collections. The museum building will be remodelled restoring part of the third floor to provide a dedicated education space and building an extension to hold a new staircase and lift to give full access to all parts of the Museum. At the same time, an interactive museum website will be developed that will open up access to items not physically on display.

By making the museum and archive collection accessible to a wider range of people, this project will bring a better understanding of the important history of the co-operative movement to local, national and international audiences.