The Society Rooms

These premises previously housed a 'Co-op Late Shop', which had replaced three shops owned by the Co-operative Society. Its forerunner - the Stalybridge Good Intent Co-operative Society - once had 30 shops in the town.

At the start of the 20th century, the cotton industry was still strong in Stalybridge, and the population of the town reached its peak at 27,623. After years of decline, the population eventually increased to 22,295 in 1991.