The Fenwick Weavers' Society was a professional association created in the village of Fenwick, East Ayrshire

Fenwick, East Ayrshire

Fenwick is a village in East Ayrshire, Scotland, UK. As of 2001, its population was 863.Fenwick is the terminus of the M77 following its extension which was opened in April 2005, at the beginning of the Kilmarnock bypass....

, Scotland in 1761.
In 1769, the society formed a consumer co-operative for the benefit of members in 1769.
The original purpose of the society was to foster high standards in the weaving

Weaving

Weaving is a method of fabric production in which two distinct sets of yarns or threads are interlaced at right angles to form a fabric or cloth. The other methods are knitting, lace making and felting. The longitudinal threads are called the warp and the lateral threads are the weft or filling...

 craft, but activities later expanded to include collective purchasing of bulk food items and books.
The latter resulted in the creation of the Fenwick Library in 1808.

This practice of collective purchasing for the benefit of members has led many to consider Fenwick Weavers' Society the first co-operative.

The Society was reconvened in March 2008 and has been reconstituted as a co-operative, in legal form as an Industrial and Provident Society

Industrial and Provident Society

An industrial and provident society is a legal entity for a trading business or voluntary organisation in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, and New Zealand...

, in order to record, collect and commemorate the heritage of the Fenwick Weavers.