Bridge of Weir Co-operatives
Port of Weir was a crossing of the River Gryffe close to a salmon weir on the route between Paisley and Greenock. The name was changed to Bridge of Weir when a bridge was built, with a stone bridge being built in 1770. Between 1790 and 1794 three cotton mills were built. In addition leather working mills were establshed. This resulted in the growth of Bridge of Weir as a village for the mill workers. A train station was established in 1864 which closed in 1983.
The map opposite shows Bridge of Weir in 1896.
BRIDGE OF WEIR CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY 1873-1953
The society was formed in June 1873[1]. The store was opened in August[2]. By 1876 of the 190 families in the village, 105 were members of the society.
Members were questioning the accounts of the society with calls for an external auditor to be brought in and requests for £1900 in share capital to be withdrawn[3]. It was noted that if the capital was withdrawn the society would have to go into liquidation with each member recieving about 12s 6d per £1 of share capital. This resulted in the society suspending withdrawl of capital for six months, either as cash or as goods[4]. There was also no dividend declared. The society recovered and was holding it's annual excursion in 1903.
The society joined Johnstone in 1953.
| BRIDGE OF WEIR CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LIMITED | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Source | (DRR) | |
| Filename | BWeirCoop.£1 | |
| Value | £1 | |
| Add Desc. | ||
| Size (mm) | 23 | |
| Manufacture | Brass | |
| Notes | ||