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Rochdale Pioneers Museum

Polly Checkland Harding

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Rochdale Pioneers Museum

31 Toad Lane, Rochdale, Lancashire, OL12 0NU
01706 524920
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  • Tuesday10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Wednesday10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Thursday10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Friday10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Saturday10:00am - 5:00pm

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

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The Rochdale Pioneers Museum – once a shop – is widely considered to be the birthplace of the co-operative movement. The Rochdale Pioneers Society opened their store here on 21 December 1844, selling butter, flour, sugar and oatmeal – all at fair prices and honest weights and measures. Visitors from Germany, Russia, Spain and Japan all feature in the visitors book and the model the Rochdale Pioneers used has spread globally. The shop became a storage site after the Pioneers moved to larger premises, and then a warehouse; it was reclaimed as a museum in 1931. Now, the Rochdale Pioneers Museum is home to a fascinating collection, with exhibitions and events year round.

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Toddler standing on grass with a paintbrush in hand turning to the right to look at the camera. He is wearing a navy blue rainsuit with a burgundy and navy blue long sleeved tiop underneath. He is standing in front of large cream coloured sheets that have been strung up on a washing line. The sheets have mud marks making on.
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