Albert's Life - The Co-operative Wholesale Society

As a young man Albert worked for West Wylam and Prudhoe Co-operative Society.  I don't know which village he worked in, but this very old photograph is of a typical Co-op village store. This West Wylam and Prudhoe Co-op was at the bottom of Greenside. The department that can be seen was the Drapery and Boot Department. The Grocery Department was around the corner (where you can see an awning). To the other side was the stables where the delivery horses were kept, for milk deliveries etc.  

This is a photograph of the typical type of groceries sold, and the typical way they were displayed in a Co-op. Note no refrigeration, so women shopped every day.

Photograph from rebuilt Annfield Plain Co-op at Beamish Museum

An immaculate 'Store Horse" stabled at the back of Greenside Co-op with Nancy Appleby from Greenside who worked for the Co-op delivering milk

In the name of Progress - Nancy now delivering milk by van - the horses have gone

My Grandma's1940s Bakery Department receipt from Greenside West Wylam and Prudhoe Co-op 

At one time the Co-op was the most important store in every Northern village and town. I can still hear my mam say to me "can you go round to the store and get some butter'. When Greenside Colliery was at maximum production another new Co-op was built at the top of the village.

Greenside Colliery not long before it ceased production in the1960s

Those using the stores became members of the society for a small fee, and were given a check number, these members were paid a dividend e.g. 2 shillings the £ so it was a big incentive to shop there. Even now most older women (that includes me!) will remember either their own or their mother's check number, as it was important to give this to staff who wrote it in the check book on every visit to the 'store'.  My mother's check number was 6176 but thanks to Eleanor we have an actual copy of a check, showing her mother's number. 

The Old Co-op Building Greenside in 2016 the other Co-op was knocked down for new housing some years ago.  There is no Co-op in Greenside today

Albert left the Greenside area with his wife and children to become an undertaker for the South Northumberland Co-operative Services Ltd in Cullercoats. He stayed in this job until he retired. 

Albert and Ivy had two daughters, one became a teacher, the other a secretary.  

Albert died at the age of 76 in 1978.

Ivy died at the age of 81 in 2001.