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Failsworth's main landmark is the Pole. It can be
found along side Oldham Road at its junction with
Pole Lane and Main Street. The site where the pole
stands has seen a total of 5 poles, each one marking
the centre of Failsworth.
Many say the site has had a Pole before 1793, and
popular belief suggest this was a Maypole.
The timeline below starts at 1973 when the first
'Political' was built to 'overawe the Jacobins, and
to demonstrate the loyalty of the township...'
The people of Failsworth commemorated the 200 year
anniversary in 1993 and to mark the occasion a new
stone seat was unveiled by the Mayor of Oldham,
Brian Mather.
More recently the Pole was honoured with a £400,000
makeover which saw the clock tower refurbished and a
new garden created at its base.
This was tied into the presentation of the Ben
Brierley Statue to the people of Failsworth in June
2006.
This is just an overview, for a more detailed
history see the other pages in the Failsworth
Interest Index.
Be sure to check out the huge stockpile of
Failsworth Pole photos in the Photo Archive. |
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Timeline History of the Pole
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1793-1849
1st January 1793 saw the erection of the first
Failsworth Pole. The Pole was made from a carved oak
tree which was painted and inscribed in gold with
the words ' This our Loyal Standard of Failsworth
was erected on the 1st January 1793 to the King,
Church, and present glorious Constitution'.
This, the first Pole was blown down in 1849. |
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1850-1889
The second Pole was a ship's mast which measured
78ft tall. It was taken down in 1889 due as it was
found to be unsafe. |
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1889-1924
The third Pole was erected on 24th August, thousands
were said to of seen the inaugural ceremony on 22nd
October 1889. The Pole was paid for by public
subscription and cost £100, thirteen shillings and
two pence. A major donor at the time was Lewis's
store in Manchester. It measured 98ft and weighed 4
tonnes. The pole also had a copper weather cock -
which cost £2 and five shillings. |
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1924-1950
This was the final wooden pole which was imported
from Louisiana, America at a cost of £300 which was
paid for by public subscription. This Pole was 82ft
tall.
The Pole was blown down on Easter Monday 1950. |
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1958- Present
It was not until 15th May 1958 that the final
Failsworth Pole was built, this time from Concrete
and Brick. At the time Failsworth District Council
held a competition to design a Pole - although the
winning design by John Sutcliffe was not used. The
height of this structure is 54ft, which although
shadowed by previous Poles, should withstand a
storm! |
The Failsworth Pole
Written and composed by John McKenna, Before the 1924 Pole.
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I'm going to sing a song to you, it isn't very long,
It isn't very sensible, it isn't very strong,
I've never been contented since they shifted the Failsworth
Pole,
I'm feeling quite unsettled, yes I am, upon my soul,
They say as you get older that you've got to live and learn,
Just listen and I'll tell you when your lucks a-going to
take a turn,
Chorus
Wait while we get another Pole,
Wait while we get another Pole,
All the mills will be working overtime,
Right from Failsworth to Ashton-under-Lyne,
It'll give 'em all a knock,
With a cock upon the top!
No more going upon the dole,
We'll be just like the Boys from the Old Brigade, When we
get another Pole!
Old Bill Johnson went to Wembley for the day,
In the Exhibition he was feeling rather gay;
Went upon the tiddley, till a gallant man in blue took him
to the station saying 'I'll look after you'
Next morning at the police court, they said, 'when can you
pay'
Billy quickly answered, as he turned to walk away- Wait
while we get another Pole,
Chorus
Wait while we get another Pole,
Wait while we get another Pole,
All the mills will be working overtime,
Right from Failsworth to Ashton-under-lyne,
It'll give 'em all a knock,
With a cock upon the top!
No more going upon the dole,
We'll be just like the Boys from the Old Brigade, When we
get another Pole!
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