The Co-operative Union Limited the Co-operative Union is a federation of co-operative societies in the United Kingdom for the purpose of propagandist and defensive action. Its Objects Are 1. To establish & organise co-operative societies. 2. To diffuse a knowledge of the principles of co-operation by advice and instruction - literary, legal and commercial. This building was erected by the voluntary contributions of 794 co-operative societies members of the union to perpetuate the memory of the late George Jacob Holyoake one of the pioneers of co-operation, who for nearly 70 years was a strenuous worker for liberty and reform. Born 1817, Died 1906