On December 4th, Marple’s new Co-operative Store opened on Church Lane, directly opposite Market Street; (above) 146 years after the Compstall Industrial Co-operative Society opened its first Marple store in 1874. The first store was in Market Street, near the junction with Stockport Road. In 1898 a drapery store was built opposite the original store in the same architectural style. Today the drapery building is home to Helen Winterson Ltd

In 1913 the grocery store front was remodelled as shown in the photograph right.  Derek Waterfield, took a colour photograph shortly before the building was demolished this shows the entrance to the store and the decorative tiling, which was a prominent feature of so many Co-operative stores.

The opening of the Marple Branch of Compstall Co-operative Society on 29 March 1913. Opened by George J Wilkinson (on picture centre doorway man in profile without a hat slightly out of focus). George was president of the Co-op for over 40 years, until his death. An inscribed gold key was given to him at this opening.

63 years later in 1976 a new store was built on Market Street before moving to a larger, purpose-built, supermarket on the site of the old weaving sheds of Hollins Mill in 1989. However, when the Coop changed its business strategy it sold the Ridgedale Centre to Asda in 2014. For a time the only Co-op presence in Marple has been at the Texaco Garage on Church Lane but it has now moved back into the centre once more.

Welcome back old friend!

Hilary Atkinson
December 2020

The management of the Co-Op, thought to be in front of a carnival day display but date details unknown

Co-Op Management

Shopping Area Improvements August 1962-19: Compstall Co-Op
The Co-Op buildings on Market Street with Trinity Chapel far right. From Marple Local History Society Archives. One of a series of photos taken in August 1962 entitled Marple Shopping Area Improvements.

Co-op 1969

A colour photograph taken by Derek Waterfield, shortly before the building was demolished shows the entrance to the store and the decorative tiling, which was a prominent feature of so many Co-operative stores.

Doorway Market St.

A colour photograph taken by Derek Waterfield, shortly before the building was demolished shows the entrance to the store and the decorative tiling, which was a prominent feature of so many Co-operative stores.

Doorway Market St.

A colour photograph taken by Derek Waterfield, shortly before the building was demolished shows the entrance to the store and the decorative tiling, which was a prominent feature of so many Co-operative stores.

Doorway Market St.

The old Marple Co-Op on Market Street disappears under the demolition workers bulldozer in January 1974

Demolition

The Co-Op on Stockport Road, between Trinity Street and Market Street in 1970

Market St. 1970

The former site of Hollins Mill is cleared ready for construction of the Co-Op (now Asda) in September 1988

Ridgedale Centre

Marple Co-Op in the winter of 2009/10.
By Tom Wood

Winter 2009/10

Marple Co-Op Closing February 2015
Marple Co-Op ready to close after almost 102 years in Marple. Photo by Ruth Hargreaves.

Co-op closes