Slamannan Co-operatives

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Slamannan can be traced back to the 12th century, developing round the parish church and fortification close to an important crossing point of the River Avon. Coal started to be mined commerically at the area at the beginning of 19th century. The Slamannan Railway opened in 1840, which led to rapid expansion of mining activities. Pits and miner’s rows were soon established around Slamannan, which became the central village for the area.

The population of the parish peaked at 6731 in 1891 but with reduced mining operations the population ahd declined to 3443 in 1911. There then followed rapid depopulation and in 1911 it was down to 3,443. In the 1920s there were only a small number of independent mines in the area working the remnants of the coal field. The train station closed in 1930.

Today the village is a commuter village for Falkirk and other towns.

SLAMANNAN CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY 1861-1966

In 1860 a handful of miners met to consider a new co-operative store for the village. They corresponded with the Rochdale society and in 1861 the Slamannan Co-operative Society was registered. It initally known as the Slamannan Industrial Co-operative Society, but soon reverted to the Slamannan Co-operative Society.

Subscriptions were collected and in June that year there was sufficient to obtain a five year lease on a double shop on Main Street. In September they entered into an agreement with the Airdrie Bread Society to obtain bread. A miners’ strike in September 1862 led to many of the miners withdrawing their capital fromthe society. This led to the society becoming seen as an effectiive savings bank. In 1867 the society aquired land and built a store with a bakery added in 1868. A second store was opened adjacent to the station in 1874. In 1875 a branch was opened at Kirkburn followed by a branch at Longriggend in 1877.

Unfortunately the local bank was the City of Glasgow Bank. When this bank collapsed in 1878 the society had £4,650 deposited. As result of this the society suspended dividend and did not allow withdrawl of capital. It also negotiated credit with it's suppliers. In 1880 the society accepted an offer by the bank's liquidators of £1550 without interest. By this time the society was once more declaring dividends. In 1881 a branch was opened at Limerigg and in 1893 a branch at Avonbridge.

The gradual decline of population led to closures of the ociety operations, including the Longriggend branch in 1960 and the Limerigg branhc in 1964. The society joined Falkirk in 1966.

SLAMANNAN CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD ?
File:SlamanCoop.1Pt.jpg
	Source	(DRR)
	Filename	SlamanCoop.1Pt
	Value	1 PINT
	Add Desc.
	Size (mm)	24
	Manufacture	Dark Blue Plastic
	Notes

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