Brechin Co-operatives

Brechin had two co-operatives that were formed in 1833, Brechin Upper. A few years later the Nether Tenements Saving Association opened. They paid profits depending on the number of shares, not the amount purchased. By 1861 the two co-operatives were known as the Old Grocery Association and the Brechin Joint Stock Association. In that year adoption of a system of dividends based on payments, the Rochdale system, led to a split.

In 1913 the Brechin Equitable Co-operative and Brechin United Co-Operative Association, see below, joined to become the Brechin United Co-operative Society Ltd. It joined North Angus in 1969 and Scottish Midland in 1998.

BRECHIN EQUITABLE CO-OPERATIVE

People wanted to adopt the main features of the Rochdale system and register. By May 1861 the Brechin Equitable Co-operative Society had been set up. In the same month those seeking reform were defeated by a large majority in the Brechin Joint Stock Association. In June the Old Grocery Association resolved to close and the Joint Stock Association decided to pay up members who wanted to leave.

The Brechin Equitable Co-operative Society had 105 subcribors for shares in July and in August it was registered with a shop opened in the High Street. There was a soiree to celebrate the opening in September. In December the society was calling for members and customers to return checks, for which they would recieve a reicept.

BRECHIN UNITED CO-OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION

Shortly after the opening of the Brechin Equitable Co-operative store, the Old Grocery Association and the Brechin Joint Stock Association joined to form Brechin United Co-Operative Association. By 1863 they had adopted the Rochdale system and were approached by Brechin Equitable with a proposal to unite. They decided not to.