T'owd Lane

I met ChrisF in Rochdale today for a wander around town, a visit to the Rochdale Pioneers Museum and then lunch at pub next door, The Baum.

The museum is in Toad Lane - so called after being known for years as "The Old Lane" or, in local dialect "t'owd lane." The Pioneers were established in 1844.  Although there had been earlier co-ops, the Rochdale model and their Principles were widely emulated in Britain and beyond.  The small but fascinating museum attracts visitors from all over the world - many from Japan and recently a large party from Korea.

I was interested in the sign setting out the Pioneers' original objectives. Apparently they achieved all of them, except the final one - "Promotion of sobriety and a Temperance Hotel to be opened."