Co-Operative Heritage Trust

Co-Operative Heritage Trust Preserving the heritage of the UK co-operative movement. Come visit us at Rochdale Pioneers Museum & The National Co-operative Archive!

Welcome to the birthplace of the modern co-operative movement, where, on 21 December 1844 the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society opened their store selling pure food at fair prices and honest weights and measures. The business revolution that started here now involves a billion co-operators as members of 1.4 million co-operative societies across the world. Check out our website which covers the

museum and co-op archive at thttps://www.co-operativeheritage.coop

The museum is in a 18th Century building on an authentic cobbled street in the heart of the Toad Lane Conservation Area. The original shop has been beautifully restored for the enjoyment of visitors thanks to a major grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Enter through the green door below the ‘store’ sign and step back in time to 1844. You will be welcomed by the Museum Guides and will see a replica of the store as it would have looked to the Victorian customers, with scales and produce in sacks. You can even dress in Victorian clothes. Wandering through to the ground floor exhibition space you will see the Pioneers’ original minute book from 1844. You will find out about early co-operators like Robert Owen, discover what life was like during in the ‘hungry’ 1840's and find out about Rochdale Pioneers’ principles and legacy. Using the stair or lift in the modern access tower extension, move to the first floor exhibition space you will see a range of co-operative artefacts from delivery bikes to banners. Displays in this area are subject to change. The top floor of the Museum houses the Learning Loft which is used for meeting hire, lectures, workshops and education. When the room is not being used for these purposes, it also houses a screen and seats where visitors can relax and watch vintage co-operative films from our archive collection.

ONE HOUR TO GO! Join us from 11 until 4 today for activities, crafts, games and lots to see and do!PS - we have air cond...
30/05/2026

ONE HOUR TO GO!

Join us from 11 until 4 today for activities, crafts, games and lots to see and do!

PS - we have air conditioning!!

🐞🪲🐛🐜

Setting up for our free family fun day tomorrow! We can’t wait to see you at the Rochdale Pioneers Museum between 11 and...
29/05/2026

Setting up for our free family fun day tomorrow! We can’t wait to see you at the Rochdale Pioneers Museum between 11 and 4 tomorrow for lots of big themed fun! 🐞🐛🪲🐜

29/05/2026

Join us at a free family fun day at Rochdale Pioneers Museum!

We’ll be there as freelance creatives, working on behalf of Rochdale Town Hall, helping families get hands-on and creative with beautiful butterfly printmaking. 🦋

Come along, get creative, and enjoy a fun day out for all ages!

We’ve worked hard for many weeks to make our family fun day extra magical for our visitors, using recycled materials and...
28/05/2026

We’ve worked hard for many weeks to make our family fun day extra magical for our visitors, using recycled materials and things we already had on site. We’ve had LOADS of fun coming up with ideas. We can’t wait to see you all enjoy what we’ve created!

THE DETAILS:

Saturday 30th May
11am-4pm
Free, no need to book
Aimed at kids 11 and under but all welcome.

Crafts, temporary tattoos, fun games, trails AND live handling bugs from professional keepers all available on the day. Visit our page for the full info!

Oral History Interviewers Needed!*Limited Spaces*About the role:We’re looking for volunteers to take part in an oral his...
28/05/2026

Oral History Interviewers Needed!
*Limited Spaces*

About the role:
We’re looking for volunteers to take part in an oral history project for Seeds of Change. Volunteers will receive training to learn how to interview alumni and help preserve their stories for the archive.

Attend three oral history training sessions led by an experienced oral history professional. No previous oral history experience required.

Learn how to:
Prepare for an oral history interview
Develop interview questions
Conduct interviews confidently and ethically
Understand what happens to interviews afterwards (archiving and preservation)
Take part in interviewing Co‑operative College alumni (with support)

Get in contact to book your place with [email protected]

Seeds of Change is a National Lottery Heritage Funded project , cataloguing the Co-operative College collection held at the Co-operative Archive.

27/05/2026

Join us on Saturday 30th May to make your own!

This half term we have TWO completely free activities happening!TOMORROW - join us between 11 and 2 for a free crafty dr...
26/05/2026

This half term we have TWO completely free activities happening!

TOMORROW - join us between 11 and 2 for a free crafty drop-in - make a bee crown to take home and wear!

THIS SATURDAY - our super fun family fun day! Join us any time between 11 and 4!

We can't wait to see you there!

22/05/2026

Join us on Saturday 30th May for our FREE family fun day when you can have a go yourself!

On Saturday 30th May, join us for a COMPLETELY FREE DAY filled with family activities all about bugs and insects. Activi...
21/05/2026

On Saturday 30th May, join us for a COMPLETELY FREE DAY filled with family activities all about bugs and insects.
Activities include:
🎨Fun bug-themed crafts
🔍Trails and displays which will help you learn about the creepy crawlies of this world!
🐜REAL CREEPY CRAWLIES which can be handled (happening between 2:30 and 3:30 and we may need to limit numbers if we are busy!)
🦋 Make your own butterfly wings to take home (happening between 12:30-2)
🤝Stalls with activities from our partners including Rochdale Town Hall, Q Gardens, Stoney Hill and more!
🏓Very fun games
🐝Prizes for dressing up as a creepy crawly!
Drop in any time between 11 and 4 on Saturday 30th May! See you there!

NEXT WEEK! FREE CRAFTY DROP-IN! Make a bee crown to wear on your head and feel like a queen (or king!) bee! Recommended ...
20/05/2026

NEXT WEEK! FREE CRAFTY DROP-IN! Make a bee crown to wear on your head and feel like a queen (or king!) bee!

Recommended for children ages 3 - 11 - the perfect half term activity to entertain the little ones!

All children must be accompanied by adults.

There is no need to book. You can come at any time on 27th May between 11am and 2pm.

PS - These crowns can also be made ready to wear at our free family fun day, which will happen on Saturday 30th - visit our page for more info on that!

Address

31 Toad Lane
Rochdale
OL120NU

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10:30am - 4pm
Thursday 10:30am - 4pm
Friday 10:30am - 4pm
Saturday 10:30am - 4pm

Telephone

+441706524920

Website

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