26:, Scotland by 16 weavers on 14 March 1761. The Fenwick Weavers' Society is considered to be the earliest known co-operative in the world for which full records exist. The society was established during a decline in handloom weaving due to increased mechanisation in the textiles industry and increased expectations on weavers to accept lower payments. The society was originally set up for weavers to support each other, to secure the future of the weaving trade, and to ensure a fair price for work. The agreed terms and conditions of the society included being faithful and honest to one another and their employers, making good sufficient work, and setting prices that were ‘neither higher nor lower than are accustomed in the towns and parishes of the neighbourhood.’
37:
Over time, the society took on other initiatives like a co-operative subscription library, founded in 1808, which resulted in the creation of the
Fenwick Library, and setting up an ‘emigration society’ to help Fenwick villagers emigrate to places like New Zealand, Australia, Canada, South Africa and
29:
In
November 1769, the society expanded its purpose to benefit the wider community and agreed that its funds should be used to buy food in bulk to be sold to members and non-members in smaller quantities for a cut price with the savings divided amongst society members. Some historians argue the
38:
the United States. The society existed until 1873 when the population of
Fenwick dropped from 2,000 people to 500 people, partly due to the society’s emigration support programme.
215:
261:
256:
123:
31:
233:
McFadzean, John. "The Co-operators - A History of the
Fenwick Weavers". East Ayrshire North Communities Federation Ltd, 2008.
212:
Crawford, John. "The community library in
Scottish history." 68th IFLA Council and General Conference, August 18–24, 2002.
66:
266:
251:
42:
30:
Fenwick
Weavers’ Society redistribution model was a precursor to the ‘divi’ or dividend model established by the
41:
The
Society was reconvened in March 2008 and has been reconstituted as a co-operative, in legal form as an
221:
157:
246:
23:
196:
94:
8:
184:
165:
45:, in order to record, collect and commemorate the heritage of the Fenwick Weavers.
240:
169:
226:
222:"Strike Rochdale from the record books. The Co-op began in Scotland"
158:"Strike Rochdale from the record books. The Co-op began in Scotland"
34:
and which formed the basis of the modern co-operative movement.
156:
Carrell, Severin; correspondent, Scotland (7 August 2007).
22:
was a professional association created in the village of
124:"Fenwick Weavers are back in business after 134 years"
155:
95:"Ayrshire weavers recognised as world's first co-op"
238:
239:
32:Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers
216:East Ayrshire Council tourism website
151:
149:
147:
145:
118:
116:
89:
87:
61:
59:
57:
13:
14:
278:
262:Organizations established in 1761
142:
113:
84:
54:
43:industrial and provident society
257:1761 establishments in Scotland
1:
48:
71:National Library of Scotland
7:
206:
10:
283:
267:Co-operatives in Scotland
252:History of East Ayrshire
20:Fenwick Weavers' Society
24:Fenwick, East Ayrshire
220:Carrell, Severin.
195:has generic name (
128:Co-operative News
67:"Fenwick Weavers"
274:
230:, August 7, 2007
201:
200:
194:
190:
188:
180:
178:
176:
153:
140:
139:
137:
135:
120:
111:
110:
108:
106:
91:
82:
81:
79:
77:
63:
282:
281:
277:
276:
275:
273:
272:
271:
237:
236:
209:
204:
192:
191:
182:
181:
174:
172:
154:
143:
133:
131:
122:
121:
114:
104:
102:
101:. 14 March 2011
93:
92:
85:
75:
73:
65:
64:
55:
51:
12:
11:
5:
280:
270:
269:
264:
259:
254:
249:
235:
234:
231:
218:
213:
208:
205:
203:
202:
141:
130:. 18 July 2008
112:
83:
52:
50:
47:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
279:
268:
265:
263:
260:
258:
255:
253:
250:
248:
247:East Ayrshire
245:
244:
242:
232:
229:
228:
223:
219:
217:
214:
211:
210:
198:
186:
171:
167:
163:
159:
152:
150:
148:
146:
129:
125:
119:
117:
100:
96:
90:
88:
72:
68:
62:
60:
58:
53:
46:
44:
39:
35:
33:
27:
25:
21:
16:
227:The Guardian
225:
193:|last2=
173:. Retrieved
162:The Guardian
161:
132:. Retrieved
127:
103:. Retrieved
98:
74:. Retrieved
70:
40:
36:
28:
19:
17:
15:
175:12 November
134:12 November
105:12 November
76:12 November
241:Categories
49:References
185:cite news
170:0261-3077
207:See also
99:BBC News
168:
197:help
177:2023
166:ISSN
136:2023
107:2023
78:2023
18:The
243::
224:,
189::
187:}}
183:{{
164:.
160:.
144:^
126:.
115:^
97:.
86:^
69:.
56:^
199:)
179:.
138:.
109:.
80:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.