The Store 3

The Village Store Interior

New Lanark followed the example of the Rochdale pioneers, and the Lanark Provident Co-operative society began meeting in 1861. Its store was opened on the 14th of June, 1862, and opened from 7.30am until 9.30pm every weekday, though it closed at 11pm on Saturdays.

At first, only food was on sale at the co-op, but by1865, household items and coal were also on sale.

In 1933, the Village Store was leased to the Lanark Provident Co-operative Society. The Co-op prospered, and most villagers bought everything there. Profits from the Co-op went back into the community, and helped pay for educating village children at the school.

PRICES AND VALUE FOR MONEY

When Robert Owen came to New Lanark he found the majority of the villagers in debt since most had purchased goods on credit. Owen’s response to this was typical of the man. He established a village store which supplied both the necessities of life and even some luxuries. Owen was able to buy in bulk in the wholesale markets of the time and charge prices which were, on average, at least 20% lower than the villagers had previously paid.

Wages were never particularly high but Owen taught his workers to “proportion their expenditure to their income”. According to the evidence of Robert Southey, an Englishman who visited the village, they were allowed credit of up to 16 shillings a week, but many never took advantage of this unless in exceptional circumstances.