But back to the early days ... The beginnings of Shepshed Co-op were anything but impressive. The founders had little support for their ideas and were robustly opposed by the local bourgoisie. Ordinary people could readily understand the capitalist conventions in business but looked with suspicion on proposals to deposit money for the purpose of starting a business to supply themselves with their necessities. The idea was even ridiculed until the success of other co-ops began to filter into the village.
In the early 1830's many co-ops had been formed but had failed. Robert Owen was a key figure in this movement; but in 1844 a society was formed at Rochdale which revived the movement's reputation.
Co-operative broadsheets and journals proliferated and even ultimately reaching Shepshed, probably through the zeal of two strong local advocates of co-operation and socialism, Charles and Joseph Argyle.
It was largely through the enthusiasm of the Argyles that Shepshed Co-op was formed in 1865. The inaugural meeting was held in the Old Workhouse Room with eight members. This grew to 20 members by the end of the year. The first shop was opened in Field Street a year later with 25 members and £14 17s 3d to purchase cheese, lard, candles and tobacco. Five years later they moved to a larger shop in Hallcroft.
In 1873 a piece of land in Field Street was bought to build a new store. "Now was the time for weak knees to tremble, for the faint hearted to run away; for hostile critics when viewing the extensive cellarage excavations to prophecy triumphantly that we were digging a grave to bury the Society in." it was said.
An education committee existed from the earliest times and a library and meeting room were set up above the Field Street shop. The Society supported the Co-op Women's Guild. Politically, like most
Co-ops, the Society felt it was part of a new dawn - a Co-operative Commonwealth where everything would combine in common ownership. When the Labour Party was formed, many co-operators joined them but Co-ops wanted a more direct input, perhaps to defend their interests head on. The Co-operative Party was therefore formed to put co-operators into Parliament and onto local councils alongside Labour members. Shepshed Co-op did not appear to play an active part in this at a local level but contributed to national efforts.
Trading progress at Shepshed was continuous and sustained. A butchery department opened, drapery, boots followed, a coal business was opened andthen a bakery in Loughborough Road. By 1900 there were 600 members.
In 1914 a branch was opened in Belton. The Society weathered the depression of the 1920s and again in the 1930s. When the people suffered unemployment or wage cuts, so this was reflected in falling sales but each time this was viewed as a spur to reorganisation and expansion; an example not followed in Loughborough and other areas where Societies suffered severely. War and re-armament, of course, were used as an engine of economic recovery and as a result many Co-ops thrived in spite of rationing and other privations. By 1947 there were 2,300 members and more shops; grocery was opened on the Glenmore Estate in 1954. In 1959 Shepshed and Hathern Co-ops decided to merge, they had worked together for many years.
Even now as a part of the Midlands Co-op, Shepshed has retained its position as a 'co-op village' and has the most significant co-operative shop outside Coalville and Leicester. On the other hand, active membership has seriously declined. Voting at the annual elections is minimal and no Shepshed person stood for office since the formation of the new Leics Society. If local democracy and accountability is not working, we have to ask if it can be made to work or if national control is preferable.
Last updated 5 March 1999