The Fenwick Weavers' Society was a professional association created in the village of Fenwick, East Ayrshire, Scotland in 1761. In 1769, the society formed a

consumer co-operative A consumers' co-operative is an enterprise owned by consumers and managed democratically and that aims at fulfilling the needs and aspirations of its members. Such co-operatives operate within the market system, independently of the state, as a fo ...

for the benefit of members. The original purpose of the society was to foster high standards in the

weaving Weaving is a method of textile production in which two distinct sets of yarns or threads are interlaced at right angles to form a fabric or cloth. Other methods are knitting, crocheting, felting, and braiding or plaiting. The longitudinal ...

craft, but activities later expanded to include collective purchasing of bulk food items and books. The latter resulted in the creation of the Fenwick Library in 1808. This practice of collective purchasing for the benefit of members has led many to consider Fenwick Weavers' Society the first co-operative. The Society was reconvened in March 2008 and has been reconstituted as a co-operative, in legal form as an

industrial and provident society An industrial and provident society (IPS) is a body corporate registered for carrying on any industries, businesses, or trades specified in or authorised by its rules. The members of a society benefit from the protection of limited liability ...

, in order to record, collect and commemorate the heritage of the Fenwick Weavers.

References

*Crawford, John. "The community library in Scottish history." 68th IFLA Council and General Conference, August 18–24, 2002.
East Ayrshire Council tourism website
*Carrell, Severin
"Strike Rochdale from the record books. The Co-op began in Scotland"
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The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers '' The Observer'' and '' The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the ...

'', August 7, 2007 *McFadzean, John. "The Co-operators - A History of the Fenwick Weavers". East Ayrshire North Communities Federation Ltd, 2008. East Ayrshire History of East Ayrshire Co-operatives in Scotland 1761 establishments in Scotland Organizations established in 1761 Consumers' cooperatives in the United States {{Scotland-history-stub