Failsworth

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Failsworth is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, Greater Manchester, North West England. It is generally seen as the area that directly links the town of Oldham to the city of Manchester.

Whilst now a populous urban and residential area, it was an area of unspoilt countryside until the boom of the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century.

Little more than 300 years ago its population was over just 1,000; today it is about 21,000. Farming was the main industry of the area with villagers supplementing their meagre incomes by hand-loom weaving until the advent of cotton and the Industrial Revolution.

People of the area still maintain a strong community spirit and their pride in Failsworth is fierce ^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}. A major landmark of the area is Failsworth Pole on Oldham Road. The first 'political pole' was erected in 1793 although a local historian suggests there were others before and that maypoles probably stood on the site for centuries ^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}. The pole that now stands on the site replaces one blown down in 1950. The pole and its gardens have recently undergone a £400,000 makeover which saw the clocktower brought back to its former glory.

Failsworth is famous for its hats. Manufacture began as a cottage industry before the firm of Failsworth Hats was set up in 1892 to manufacture silk hats. For a time the company operated from a factory near the former Failsworth Council offices and remains in the area to this day. Today, Failsworth's main areas of economic activities are in electrical goods manufacture through Pifco Limited, and plastic producers and distributors Hubron Limited. Many Failsworth residents work in Manchester, with many commuters choosing to live in the area because of its good transport links, including train services from Failsworth railway station on the Oldham Loop Line.

Despite being close to both Oldham town, and Manchester city centres, Failsworth has a hidden jewel in Daisy Nook Country Park, which provides a welcome break from the urban mass of the suburbs.

Failsworth is seeing regeneration in its town centre with the announcement of a new Tesco superstore which, it is claimed, will bring life back into the district. As part of the redevelopment a new £2.5 million community centre will be built, together with luxury apartments overlooking the Rochdale Canal. In addition one of the towns most famous sons, Benjamin Brierley, will be honoured with a stunning bronze statue at Failsworth Pole, the historic heart of the town.

Politics and Administration

Failsworth is locally administered by Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, and contains two of the twenty wards of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham; Failsworth East and Failsworth West.

Failsworth forms part of the parliamentary constituency of Ashton-under-Lyne and is represented in the House of Commons by David Heyes MP.

Notable people

Essayist Benjamin Brierley was born in Failsworth, near Oldham.

External links

http://www.failsworth.org/
http://www.failsworth.info/
http://www.carnival.failsworth.info/
http://www.woodhouses.failsworth.info/

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