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.

Timeline History of the Pole
 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!