On December 21,1844, the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society opened the doors to their first shop on 31 Toad Lane. While there were earlier co-operative groups, or the Rochdale group became the prototype for other societies,as they were responsible for a set of principles for co-operation called the Rochdale Principles.
The Rochdale Principles—voluntary and open membership; democratic member control; member economic participation; autonomy and independence; education, training, and information; cooperation among cooperatives; and concern for the communityare still used by co-operatives around the world nowadays.
While the society moved out to purpose-built premises in 1867,in 1925 the Co-Operative Union purchased the building with the plan to create a museum in the birthplace of co-operation. The museum eventually opened in 1931. The building is so principal to the movement that a replica was built in the Co-operative College in Kobe, Japan.
The front of the museum is a recreation of the original shop, or including furniture,weighing scales, and items that were for sale. The rest of the floor is dedicated to the history of the movement, and with a temporary exhibition space located upstairs.
Source: atlasobscura.com