Oldham Equitable Co Operative Society Buildings

The Oldham Equitable Co-operative Society Buildings are co-operative society structures built in 1900 by Thomas Taylor of Oldham. The buildings feature an ashlar façade over brick and a Welsh slate roof. They rise three principal storeys and are divided into three main sections, with a large gable flanked by two blocks of two and five bays. The left-hand range has a gable that is oriented at right angles to the street and features a modified ground floor, along with two wide segmentally-arched windows on the first floor that are separated by polygonal pilasters, which extend across the second storey and the parapet. The upper storey is arcaded and consists of five bays, with noticeable entasis on the piers. A similar design is repeated in the five bays to the left of the gable, which are roofed parallel to the street.

The central block features a high gable that is also at right angles to the street, with a modified ground floor, five windows with bracketed sills and entablatures on the first floor, and a large semi-circular window with round-headed mullioned lights above. There is scalloped decoration both above and below this window, and the gable is coped with terminal pinnacles on each side. The name "Oldham Equitable Co-Operative Society" is displayed in decorative low relief above the first-floor windows. The ground floor has late 20th-century fascias, but the original polished granite columns remain, although mostly encased.

Originally, the building extended further and included a courtyard at the rear, with the existing rear walls faced in white glazed brick. It was designed to accommodate various departments, including drapery, gentlemen's outfitting, furnishing, boot and shoe, butchering, and grocery, along with offices, committee and board rooms. Additionally, it included an educational department featuring a newsroom, library, and conversation room, as well as two large public halls.