Redding Co-operatives
Redding has a long history and can be traced back to at least the 15th century. The village developed as a mining village. Being close to the Forth Clyde Canal, this was used to transport coal to domestic markets. In 1823 it was advertised that due to an existing agreement with the Canal company, Redding coal was available in Edinburgh[1]. The railways from Falkirk and Glasgow run past Reading, with a passenger station at Polmont Station. This improved the transport of coal.
The worst disaster in Scottish mining history happened at Redding Colliery when a sudden inrush of water from a disused mine working flooded No. 23 pit, trapping 66 miners underground. 21 men were rescued wth 5 hours with another 5 rescued 10 days later. The rest died, with the majority drowned in the original flooding. 11 miners survived for a fortnight in a dry section of the mine but could not be rescued in time.
Although the mines are now closed, Redding has continued to grow and is now part of the Falkirk Braes, a group of villages that have grown together to form one continuous settlement while retaining their own identity.
REDDING CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY 1861-1968
The society was formed in 1861 by twelve workmen and registered in 1862[2]. The society soon erected it's own premises in Newlands Road at Reddingmuirhead. This led to the society being in financial crisis in 1869, which was resolved by a member giving the society a £180 loan and the value of the shares being reduced. Having had a branch in rented accomodation at Blackbraes for some, in 1886 the society opened it's own store and in 1890 opened a store it had built in Maddiston. It was agreed to open a branch in Standburn in 1895, with the new store opened in that year. This branch initially stuggled against high competition from provision merchants' carts.
In 1901 there was a petition by two hundred members for a branch in that area. The society responded by opening a new branch in 1902 on Main Street close to the station. A branch was opened in Shieldhill in 1904 to serve members there. In 1913 a branch was opened in Linlithgow Bridge. The society continued to open branches, but on a smaller scale, with small one person shops opened from about 1945 onwards. The Maddiston and Shieldhill stores became selfservice in 1967.
The society joined Falkirk in 1968.
| REDDING CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD | ||
|---|---|---|
| File:ReddingCoop.1Pt.jpg | ||
| Source | (ebay no. 266527631518) | |
| Filename | ReddingCoop.1Pt | |
| Value | 1 PINT | |
| Add Desc. | MILK | |
| Size (mm) | 25 | |
| Manufacture | White Plastic | |
| Notes | ||
| File:ReddingCoop.1Qt.jpg | ||
| Source | (DRR) | |
| Filename | ReddingCoop.1Qt | |
| Value | 1 QUART | |
| Add Desc. | MILK | |
| Size (mm) | 25 | |
| Manufacture | Black Plastic | |
| Notes | ||
Tokens for Polmont Station Branch - opened 1902.
| REDDING CO-OPERATIVE SOC LD PS BRANCH | ||
|---|---|---|
| File:ReddingCoop.1b.jpg | ||
| Source | (Falkirk Museum) | |
| Filename | ReddingCoop.1b | |
| Value | 1d | |
| Add Desc. | ||
| Size (mm) | 22 | |
| Manufacture | Turquoise Plastic | |
| Notes | ||
Tokens for Shieldhill Branch - opened 1904.
| REDDING CO-OPERATIVE SOC LD SHIELDHILL BR | ||
|---|---|---|
| File:ReddingCoop.1c.jpg | ||
| Source | (Falkirk Museum) | |
| Filename | ReddingCoop.1c | |
| Value | 1d | |
| Add Desc. | ||
| Size (mm) | 22 | |
| Manufacture | Red Plastic | |
| Notes | ||
