The preface to the book, is included below, and is followed by the first chapter of the book which gives the social background to the formation of the Great Horton Co-op. The remainder of the book is the history of the Great Horton Co-op, and it is very unlikely that I will be transcribing nearly 200 pages that will be of little interest. There is a map of Great Horton in 1827, which is badly creased and will need some work, after its been scanned. There are about 40 photographs of committee members, but they are not dated. I have also put the committee members into a spreadsheet, noted half yearly, and contains over a thousand entries, and if anyone wants a copy it can be sent as a CSV file. Regards John PREFACE In presenting the accompanying: history the compiler has been actuated by a desire to record simply, and as briefly as possible the outstanding features of the societys career. It has been a. pleasant although laborious task, the whole of the work having had to he done in addition to, and outside the ordinary round of business. There is no pretension to literary achievement, and no one is more conscious of defects and shortcomings than the writer. Such as it is, it is now left to the tender mercies of my readers, in the hope that if it does not meet with universal approbation, it will at least be interesting as a calendar of events, marking the various stages of growth and development. The record of the Great Horton Society is not unlike very many of its contemporaries in its quiet and smooth course. Nothing, with the exception of the great right of way case, has occurred to make the story sensational or fascinating. The minute books record no exceptional disclosures, and in this respect have been almost barren in providing material for comment. The balance sheets show that the society has been most fortunate in its dealings throughout its career; financial losses have not been its lot; fraud, with one exception has not intervened to create unpleasant anti painful situations, with consequent loss; members meetings have invariably been characterised by good feeling and harmony; serious crises have been absent; all tending to make up a career singularly immune from risk and romance. We would not wish it otherwise. We hope that nothing has been written which will in the slightest degree cause pain to a single person. Anything of a personal nature has been studiously avoided as the intention has not been to record personal pecularities and shortcomings but to confine the narrative to a record of the accomplishments of the members as a whole. Owing to specially long connections of some or exceptional services of others, we have been necessarily obliged to give these prominence but this has only been done where omission would have robbed the story of its chief interest. There may he some who in the opinion of others deserved special mention; if these have not been referred to, their omission has not been, from personal motives or feelings of disrespect. It will be obvious that to mention all who have served the society in the various offices, would have been impossible. We desire to express our thanks to all those who have contributed in any way to the work of compilation. Amongst these are Mr. Joseph Shepherd, president, Mr Alfred Boyes, Mr. William Milnes, Mr. G. F. Laycock. We are indebted for much of the information relating to early times to the work of the late Mr. Wm. Cudworth If the reading of the book will stimulate the members to greater interest, the writing will not have been in vain. No other reward is coveted than the knowledge that it has been the means of giving an impetus to the spread of true co-operation, the outcome of which would be greater opportunity for conferring the benefits it does, and can bestow when wholly and fully practised. Can anyone doubt the power for good the society has created on the social life of the community during its 50 years existence? It can safely claim to have emancipated thousands of its members from the burden of debt which once weighed them down, and not only gave them a spirit of independence and self-reliance, but created within them a desire to improve their position, which made it possible for them to obtain a competency. Just as surely it was the means of procuring for its members and the public generally, who have thus benefited indirectly, a pure and improved food supply. This has an important bearing on our health and development. It has been the pioneer in the district for shorter hours of labour for its assistants, improving the conditions and rates of wages. All this it has done, and more. We need to be proud of our heritage. Then let us see to it that in our day and generation we do all in our power to develop its resources, so as to render it more powerful for good to succeeding generations.