Co-op Society Banners

Belfast Co-operative Society Banner The society was founded in 1889 and merged with the CWS in 1984. It is now part of the Co-operative Group. The banner was made in 1927. It is painted onto cotton and measures 200 cm square. It is two sided with a painting of the York Road Store on one side and has a symbolic greeting between a factory worker and an agricultural worker on the other side.

Worcester Co-operative Society Banner Founded in 1881 as Worcester New Co-operative Society they changed their name to Worcester Co-operative Society in 1920. It was absorbed into Co-operative Retail Services (CRS) in 1970. This banner was made to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the society. The original no longer exists but this image comes from a lantern slide at the time of manufacture.

Burton-on-Trent Founded in 1890 the society merged with Derby in 1969 and is now part of the Midlands Co-operative Society. The banner was professionally made and measures about 210 cm square. It is painted upon red silk.

London Co-operative Society London Co-operative Society was created out of the merger of many smaller societies in the part of the capital north of the Thames. It was once one of the largest societies in the UK. The banner was created by USDAW, the Union of Shop Distribution and Allied Workers, is one of the few Co-op trade union banners identified. It was painted in1953 by Herbert Sharpe, a former employee at Tutills and later a freelance banner maker. It features the Stratford Headquarters of society. It shows the variety of jobs undertaken by members working for the Society.