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The Society was formed in September 1920 by the amalgamation of the Stratford Co-operative Society and the Edmonton Co-operative Society, two of the largest societies in the [[London]] Metropolitan area. In 1921, the LCS was also joined by the [[West London Society]], the Kingston Society and the Co-operative Brotherhood Trust. In addition, the Society also took over two branches of the Staines [[Co-operative Party]]. The consolidation of co-operative societies in the Greater London area continued until 1938, with the absorption of Hendon Co-operative Society in 1925, the North West London Co-operative Society in 1928, the Epping Co-operative Society in 1929, the Yiewsley Co-operative Society in 1931, the Willesden Junction Railway Society in 1935 and the Radlett Co-operative Society in 1938. Hence, the LCS was able to extend its area of the counties of [[Middlesex]], [[Essex]], [[Hertfordshire]] and [[Surrey]].
The LCS played a large part in the national [[co-operative]] movement and was a member of the national and regional organisations, chief of which being the [[Co-operative Union]] to which the LCS subscribed. The LCS was also a shareholding member of the English [[The Co-operative Group|Co-operative Wholesale Society]], generally known as the CWS, a federal wholesaling organisation for co-operative societies in [[England]] and [[Wales]]. By 1952, the LCS and its associated co-operative organisations, the major being the London Co-operative Chemists Limited, had over 550 establishments of sales and services, varying from large department stores to small grocery shops. These establishments consisted of grocers, butchers, fruit, vegetable and [[flower seller]]s, coal depots, furniture sellers, drapers, tailors, footwear sellers, chemists, laundries, estate agencies, funeral services and even guesthouses.
[[File:Puxton dairy.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Former London Co-operative Society [[creamery]] and railhead for [[British Railway Milk Tank Wagon|milk trains]] at [[Puxton and Worle railway station|Puxton]], [[Somerset]] on the [[Bristol to Exeter Main Line]]]]
The London Society also administered many manufacturing and processing establishments. It had [[creamery]]s located at various places in the [[West Country]], including [[Puxton]], which served via [[British Railway Milk Tank Wagon|milk trains]] the main London distribution point.
The Society was amalgamated with Co-operative Retail Services in 1981.
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