Co-operative Wholesale Society Tobacco Factory Photographs

The collection consists of photographs of the Co-operative Wholesale Society tobacco factory and its employees in Manchester.

The CWS tobacco factory was established in 1898 on Sharp Street, Manchester after much debate amongst anti-tobacco activists within the Committee. Within the first 12 years of its operation the factory had doubled its profits, and during the First World War supplied 50 million ‘smokes for troops’. The factory was known for its high welfare standards including higher than minimum wage pay, an eight hour day, a library and a welfare attendant.

The collection is open to any accredited reader, subject to the requirements of the Data Protection Act 2018.

Some files in this collection are subject to Data Protection legislation as they contain sensitive information and material under 30 years old is closed to access. It is advised that you contact the Archivist before visiting.

Donated to the National Co-operative Archive .

List available.

None expected.