Public Monument and Sculpture Association National Recording Project
FAILSWORTH POLE Photograph
Region ID | MR | |
Work ID | 308 | |
Manual Reference | MR/OLD18 | |
Type | Clock Tower | |
Title | FAILSWORTH POLE | |
Designer | Turner, E. D. | |
Date of design | ||
Year of unveiling | 1958 | |
Unveiling details | 15 May 1958 | |
Road | Oldham Road | |
Precise Location | Junction of Oldham Road , Pole Lane and Main Street | |
A to Z Ref | p. 83 F8 | |
OS Ref | SD897016 | |
Postcode | ||
Work is | Extant | |
Listing Status | Don't know | |
Duty of Care | Failsworth BC | |
Commissioned by | ||
Notes | ||
Tapering brick clock tower surmounted by steel pole with weathercock at top. Clock on four faces, set on stepped base in ornamental gardens. | ||
The Failsworth Pole stands at the junction of Main Street and Pole Lane and the Oldham Road, an important local landmark. It is generally accepted that a pole of some sort, probably a maypole, stood on or near this site for hundreds of years. The first documented pole was a political symbol, erected as part of an elaborate demonstration organised by local 'Church and King' loyalists in which an effigy of the radical Tom Paine was paraded, executed and burned. Following on from these events, a pole - an oak tree encased in timber boards - was erected opposite the gallows. Placed on top of the pole was a crown, beneath which in gold letters was the inscription: 'This Standard of Loyalty was erected by the inhabitants of Failsworth on the 1st day of January 1793, to the King - the Church - and the Constitution.' Although these years saw many public expressions and celebrations of patriotism from the 'Church and King' party in the Manchester region, the erection of a pole was unusual. The pole survived for over fifty years, a period of unprecedented social tensions and protest, during which its political genesis was not entirely forgotten. It was blown down in a gale on 7 October 1849. A new pole, made from a ship's mainmast, was erected on 24 August 1850, during the Wakes holiday. It was almost 80 feet high and 20 inches in diameter. On its top was mounted an ornate weather-vane which included a crown and the letters V. R., and a copper weathercock. The cost of £100 was met by public subscription. It eventually fell into decay and was replaced in 1889. The third pole was erected on 24 August 1889 at a cost of around £100 which again was raised by public subscription. This 92-foot pole was brought from Liverpool to Manchester by train and then to Failsworth by road. It was sunk over 11 feet into the ground which left a visible pole of over 88 feet, the additional height being due the ornamental ironwork including a copper weathercock. [in metres??] The fourth and last wooden pole was erected on 24 August 1924. It stood 82 feet high and cost £300, again this money was raised by public subscription. This pole was blown down on Easter Monday, 10 April 1950. After long discussions it was decided to replace the pole with a more substantial and permanent monument at the heart of the town. The result was a tapering brown-brick clock tower on the top of which was placed a replica of the pole. It was inaugurated in May, 1958. Parts of the previous two wooden poles have been kept in the nearby Robert Sidlow Library | ||
Former market cross type marker, first "political" pole erected by Loyalists in 1790s. | ||
circa | ||
raw year | 1958 | |
Condition | Fair | |
At risk | No known risk | |
Inscriptions | A number of plaques with inscriptions were attached to the new clock tower providing details of the earlier poles and the new structure. Set in the ground in front of clock tower is an earlier bronze plaque inscribed: THIS OUR LOYAL STANDARD OF FAILSWORTH / WAS ERECTED ON THE 1ST OF JANUARY 1793 / TO THE KING CHURCH AND PRESENT GLORIOUS CONSTITUTION / JOHN MOFFATT WROTE THE FOLLOWING LINES IN 1830 / THIS STANDARD? STANDS UNDER A COCK AND A CROWN / THREE BOARDS FOR THREE ROADS ARE FIXT ON'T LOWER DOWN / HANDS WITH LONG FORE- FINGERS ARE PAINTED ON THEM / TO POINT UNTO A(SHTON) UNTO O(LDHAM) UNTO M(ANCHESTER) / N.E.W.S. ARE FOUR LETTERS WHICH SHEW / THAT NEWSPAPERS COME FROM FOUR QUARTERS. WINDS BLOW / LO! UNDER THE CROWN ARE TWO G's AND TWO R's / WHICH HAVE BEEN RENEW'D SINCE THE END OF THE WARS / A PATRIOT KING IS A NATION'S DELIGHT / HIS YOKE IS IT EASY HIS BURDEN IS LIGHT / NOT LIKE THE FRENCH COCK TURN'D BY EVERY WIND / OF FAVOURITES FLATTERERS AND SUCH LIKE KIND / PRESENTED BY FRED DAY (FAILSWORTH AND THORNTON). / TO PERPETUATE THE MEMORY OF HIS MOTHER & FATHER clock tower, left hand side, metal plaque with Failsworth coat of arms: FAILSWORTH POLE / ON THIS SITE, THE CENTRE OF LOCAL LIFE / AND REPUTED FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL TO BE / THE SITE OF A MAYPOLE, WAS ERECTED A NEW / POLE WITH THE FOLLOWING INSCRIPTION:- / "THIS, OUR LOYAL STANDARD OF FAILSWORTH WAS / ERECTED ON THE 1ST. OF JANUARY, 1793, TO THE / KING, CHURCH & PRESENT GLORIOUS CONSTITUTION" / THE SECOND POLE WAS ERECTED ON THE 24TH. AUGUST. 1850 / AND A THIRD POLE ERECTED ON THE 24TH. AUGUST. 1889. / THE FOURTH POLE WAS ERECTED AND UNVEILED ON THE / 24TH.AUGUST.1923. BUT WAS DESTROYED IN A GALE ON / EASTER MONDAY THE 10TH.APRIL.1950. / clock tower, right hand side: FAILSWORTH CLOCK TOWER / THIS CLOCK TOWER WITH A REPLICA OF THE ORIGINAL / POLE WAS ERECTED TO REPLACE THE FORMER WOODEN POLES, / AS A PERMANENT FEATURE OF THE URBAN DISTRICT, AND / WAS INAUGURATED TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE ON THE / 15TH MAY 1958 / [followed by COUNCIL COAT OF ARMS and list of committee and local councillors] | |
Signatures | none visible | |
Elements
Element Details
Part of work | Material | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|
Clock tower | Brick | 1030cm high |
Pole | Steel | 630cm high |
Plaques | Brass | |
Assessment of Condition
Surface Character
Detail | Comment |
|---|---|
Bird guano | |
Vandalism
Vandalism | Comment |
|---|---|
Surface damage | |
