Westerton Garden Suburb Co-operative Society
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TitleWesterton Garden Suburb Co-operative Society
ReferenceGD317
Date1915-1925
Archive creatorWesterton Garden Suburb Co-operative Society
Scope and ContentMinutes 1915-1925.
Extent2 volumes
LanguageEnglish
SubjectCooperative Societies
Level of descriptionfonds
Admin history/BiographyWesterton Garden Suburb Co-operative Society was formed in 1915 when the village shop in Westerton Garden Suburb was left vacant. Neither an existing co-operative society nor a private buyer could be found to take over the shop, so the local residents opted to form their own co-operative. The shop proved profitable and in time the co-operative expanded into ground maintenance, cutting verges and hedges, ploughing the allotments and maintaining the tennis court. In 1917 a horse and cart was purchased to deliver milk and coal and to uplift refuse. A putting green was later constructed on the recreation ground beside the shop, and in summer the co-op provided an outdoor tea garden. By 1933 a savings bank had been established and the shop began acting as a sub-post office.
The expansion of the shop functions meant that it had by now outgrown its original building, and in 1935 the foundation stone was laid on a new store which was built on the putting green. The new store opened in 1936 and the old shop was leased to the Bank of Scotland. As the co-operative continued to expand the old shop later became a bakers and then drapers, both run by the co-op.
By the latter part of the 20th century the co-operative struggled to compete with the new supermarkets and it was bought by the Clydebank Co-operative Society. The business continued to decrease, however, until the shop in Westerton closed in 1984.
The expansion of the shop functions meant that it had by now outgrown its original building, and in 1935 the foundation stone was laid on a new store which was built on the putting green. The new store opened in 1936 and the old shop was leased to the Bank of Scotland. As the co-operative continued to expand the old shop later became a bakers and then drapers, both run by the co-op.
By the latter part of the 20th century the co-operative struggled to compete with the new supermarkets and it was bought by the Clydebank Co-operative Society. The business continued to decrease, however, until the shop in Westerton closed in 1984.
Repository nameEast Dunbartonshire Archives - Bearsden