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The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History

BUSINESS HOUSES  |  PLYMOUTH MUTUAL CO-OPERATIVE AND INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY Ltd

LAUNDRY

The Plymouth Mutual Co-operative and Industrial Society Ltd opened a laundry in Langstone Road, Beacon Park, in 1911.  [1]

It was almost destroyed by fire on the evening of Saturday August 1st 1959.  The alarm was raised by 11-years-old Master Malcolm Stewart, who spotted the fire from his Grandmother's house near the laundry.  He the assisted Mr J Bond, of 284 Beacon Park Road, push ten vehicles out of the blazing garage so as to avoid their petrol tanks catching alight and exploding.  [2]

In April 1965 plans were announced to transform the laundry site into a petrol filling station.  [3]

The Co-op laundry closed on June 6th 1981.  [4]

Sources:

[1]  Briscoe, Robert, "Centenary History: A Hundred Years of Co-operation in Plymouth", Co-operative Press Ltd, Manchester, 1960.

[2]  "Plymouth Blaze", Western Morning News/Western Evening Herald, Plymouth, Special Joint Edition, August 3rd 1959.

[3]  Planning application dated April 6th 1965, held at the Plymouth & West Devon Record Office, Plymouth, accession number PCC60/1/8416.

[4]  Barton, Victor Rowland, "Plymouth & South West Co-operative Society Ltd: History: 1960-1990: Regionalisation", typescript, Plymouth & West Devon Record Office, Plymouth, accession number 3503/G223/3.

©  Brian Moseley, Plymouth, UK

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