The Chesterfield & District Co-operative Provident Society Limited was founded in 1894 with the first premises in New Square Chesterfield.

The West Bars premises as opened in May 1903.

History Milestones

1894 :

25^th March – Premises procured in New Square

12^th April – Registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1876

28^th April – Opening Day for Grocery business

30^th April – A public tea and meeting held

29^th September – First Report and Balance Sheet presented :

Sales : £1,268

Dividend to members : 1s in the £1

Members : 114

1895

8th October – Business premises transferred from New Square to West Bars

18^th June – Formation of Women’s Guild

1899

16^th February – First order placed for 1 dozen Co-operative news weekly

1900

8^th October – Educational Fund formed

1901

15^th August – Land purchased at West Bars

November – Donation towards Queen’s Park extension

1902

13^th January – Quarterly Meeting. Committee empowered to deal with the building of the proposed new Stores in West Bars.

25^th March – No 1 Branch Whittington Moor opened

1903

20^th May – New Central premises in West Bars opened for business

13^th July Membership reached 1,000

1909

20^th September – Formal opening for Grocery and Drapery business at Brimington (No 2 Branch)

1911

10^th July – Amalgamation of Whittington and District Co-operative Society comprising two shops, these being Nos 3 and 4 branches.

1914

January – Membership 3,000

February – No 5 Branch agreed at Brampton

1919

7^th October – Special Shareholders’ Meeting approves amalgamation with the Hasland Society

28^th October Alteration of name of Society to “Chesterfield and District Co-operative Society Limited”

1924

8^th January – Members agree the amalgamation of Pilsley Society

1932

24^th November – Land purchased in Elder Way

1943

12^th April – Society Party under the constitution and affiliated to the Co-operative Party formed

September – Membership reached 17,000

1944

January – First Committee of the Co-operative Party local Committee elected

March – Highest figure recorded in the cash sales of the Society – £625,897

Thanks to the Co-operative Party for this timeline