| 1883 |
December 10th - First meeting to form a Co-operative Society held at Bletchley Station.
To raise capital, 200 shares were issued at 10 shillings each (50p)
December 31st - Second meeting - Mr H Piper elected President for three months.
|
| 1884 |
February - First shop opened in rented premises in Park Street - Mr Bailey from Chipping Norton appointed Manager - he started work on 25th February.
June 7th - First Report and Balance Sheet - Registered Office was in Park Street and the profit for the period amounted to more than £42. There were 160 members at this time.
No. 1 Branch opened at Fenny Stratford - this store was open until 10pm on Saturdays! |
| 1885 |
Arrangements made to accept Small Savings from members and their children 'to encourage thrift'
Land purchased to build a new store in East Street (Now Albert Street)
|
| 1886 |
Tenders invited for the building of a bakery and other necessary buildings in connection with the Central Stores. |
| 1889 |
Plans submitted for enlargement of Central Premises |
| 1895 |
Trade diminishing - the Society seemed to have lost considerable ground leading to a £55 loss int eh first Quarter.
No. 1 Branch closed
|
| 1896 |
February 4th - Women's Co-operative Guild constituted (although they had been active for several months prior to this) |
| 1899 |
Drapery Department opened |
| 1901 |
Butchery Shop commenced |
| 1902 |
Boot & Outfitting Department opened - and stables and extra storeroom built |
| 1903 |
'Climax Check' system adopted |
| 1911 |
Purchased two cottages - Nos 35 and 37 Bletchley Road so they could plan shops in the main road. These had still not been converted in the 1939s because other, more suitable land came into the Soociety's possession. |
| 1913 |
November 12th - Fire broke out in the Bakery Deparrtment in Albert Street - stock, fixtures and utensils destroyed. Bakery staff transferred to Wolverton and bread was on sale in Bletchley the following morning. |
| 1914 |
Despite price rises due to the First World War, the Society decide to keep their prices at the lowest level for their members |
| 1915 |
The last time gold was used to pay out Dividend and Interest to members |
| 1916 |
Completed the purchase of Park Nurseries |
| 1918 |
Amalgamation of Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Industrial Co-operative Society with the Bletchley Mutual Coal Society to form Bletchley and District Co-operative Society Ltd.
Bletchley Road Butchery bought from Mr J C Edwards
Confectionery Department taken over from the executors of Mr A Richardson.
Dairy and Grocery shop bought from Mr HGH Kemp.
|
| 1919 |
New slaughterhouse built at rear of Butchery Dept |
| 1920 |
Tingewick grocery and Bakery Departments were started |
| 1921 |
Claydon Grocery |
| 1922 |
Winslow Coal, Grocery and Bakery
After and interval of 26 years, a branch was again established at Fenny Stratford
|
| 1926 |
Refrigerator installed in Butchery Department, driven by electric power produced on the premises. |
| 1927 |
27 Bletchley Road acquired from Mrs Brooks.
Drapery and Allied Departments erected on site of the old Nursery on Bletchley Road.
Garage built behind Confectionery Department
|
| 1928 |
New Bakehouse constructed in Park Street |
| 1934 |
Society celebrates its Jubilee
The Jubilee Building opened
|
| 1949 |
The Drapery Department (opened in 1927) burnt down |
| 1953 |
New Bakery opened. It serves Bletchley Aylesbury, Wolverton and Newport Pagnell |
