In the Huddersfield Examiner report dated 10^th May 1934, reporting the centenary of Kirkheaton Fieldhead co-op, the last paragraph stated- In 1845 one section of the society split away from the parent body and formed a society which has since been acquired by the Huddersfield Industrial Society Ltd. The first building owned was a small cottage where the council houses now stand. Afterwards premises next to the Spangled Bull were acquired.

Later they moved to Town top and in 1868 a newspaper [1] reported that the society held a public tea party and their first meeting in the Fields School room. Nearly 200 people enjoyed a knife and fork tea before the meeting which was presided over by James Thornton.. By 1871 business amounted to £7,000 amongst 190 members and by 1876 membership had increased  to 216. The dividend that year was 1s 9d in the pound.

In 1883 they asked the Huddersfield Industrial Society to take them over. The business was transferred on the 1^st January 1884 [2] becoming branch number 18. In 1887 tenders were invited for the erection of a new store [3] comprising of a three story grocery building with attached single story butchers shop (Pictured above). The society was often named   “The new co-operative society.” In more recent years it became part of the CRS group but increasing supermarket competition led to its demise in the 1960’s. For a time it became a washeteria before Kirklees Karpets took over (later renamed Greens furnishings).

Photo by author 2023

The building still retains many original features on the north side including a hoist used for hauling groceries  to the top floor.

JBT-Jul23

1. Huddersfield Chronicle 1st February 1868
2. Huddersfield  Chronicle 11th Jan 1884
3. Balmforth, Owen; The Huddersfield Industrial Society-50 years of Progress 1860-1910; CWS printing works 1910. He offers little information apart from stating the architect was J Berry

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