London’s Screen Archives enables Londoners see their past come alive on film. Managed by Film London, we are a unique network of historic film collections that cares for, collects and screens heritage film across the city. Together we preserve London’s rich film heritage from feature films to home movies, public information films, newsreels, and records of the capital’s many different industries.
This film is part of Free
People with a Purpose
Documentary on the history of the Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society’s and its education programme inspired by the Rochdale Pioneers.
From the collection of:
Overview
The Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society was a consumer co-operative based in Woolwich, the name originating from the royal munitions works in the area. Inspired by the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers, forerunners of a countrywide co-op movement in the 19th century, the group ran for a century before the rise of supermarkets. Fascinating scenes show the educational activities they organised, which includes tutelage in bacon slicing and theatrical technique.