Failsworth

Failsworth is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. Lying on undulating ground by the River Medlock and the Rochdale Canal, it is west-northwest of Ashton-under-Lyne, south-southwest of Oldham and to the east-northeast of Manchester City Centre. The orbital M60 motorway bisects the town diagonally from northwest to southeast. Failsworth had a total population of 20,555 in 2001.

Historically a part of Lancashire, until the 19th century Failworth was a small agricultural township linked, ecclesiastically, with the parish of Manchester. Farming was the main industry of this rural area, with locals supplementing their incomes by hand-loom weaving in the domestic system. The introduction of textile manufacture during the Industrial Revolution facilitated a process of unplanned urbanisation in the area, giving rise to Failsworth as a mill town, marked architecturally by several large redbrick cotton mills.

Failsworth's major landmark is the Failsworth Pole—a maypole which occupies the site of several former political poles. Daisy Nook is a country park at Failsworth's southern boundary with Droylsden. Notable residents of Failsworth have included the poet and writer Benjamin Brierley, who was born and raised by a weaving family.

History

Little more than 300 years ago its population was over just 1,000; today it is about 20,555. 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.

Failsworth is generally seen as the town linking Oldham to Manchester yet it was countryside until comparatively recent times and the boom of the Industrial Revolution. In 1745 Bonnie Prince Charlie stayed overnight at the Bulls Head Public House, Oldham Road.

In 1914 the regular Daisy Nook Easter Fair ceased due to the outbreak of war, but reopened in 1920.

In 2007 the new Tesco Extra superstore opened in the Town Centre

Governance

Since 1974, Failsworth has formed part of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham in Greater Manchester, having previously been an independent local government unit (Failsworth Urban District) in the administrative county of Lancashire. Failsworth contains two of the twenty wards of the Oldham Borough, Failsworth East and Failsworth West.

Failsworth formed part of the ancient ecclesiastical parish of Manchester.

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

Geography

The town is on the A62 road near the A663 junction, close to junction 22 of the M60 motorway. To the west is Newton Heath, and to the east is Hollinwood. The Rochdale Canal follows the A62 as does the Oldham Loop Line.

Economy

Failsworth was once a centre for the production of 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 (such as Russell Hobbs) by Salton Europe (formerly Pifco Ltd pre-2001), 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. There is a Morrisons on Poplar Street.

Landmarks

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. The pole that now stands on the site replaces one blown down in 1950.

Following a major restoration of the Pole, clock tower and gardens in 2006 a bronze statue of Benjamin Brierley was erected in the gardens. The Failsworth Pole is not the only landmark on the A62 Oldham Road. At its junction with Ashton Road West stands the cenotaph, built in 1923 in remembrance to over 200 Failsworth men who lost their lives in the First World War. Attendances at the cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday remain high, averaging around 1500 people. The annual Remembrance parade is led by the Territorial Army, also based on Oldham Road. In June 2007 the War Memorial was rededicated after at £136,000 makeover by the Failsworth War Memorial Steering group, lead by local councillor, Jim McMahon and officially opened by Colonel Sir John B Timmins.

Despite being close to both Oldham town, and Manchester city centres Failsworth is home to the Daisy Nook Country Park.

Education

Failsworth School on Brierley Avenue is for ages 11-16. St Mary's RC primary school is on Clive Road. South Failsworth primary school is on Paddock Lane and there is Mather Street primary school. Higher Failsworth primary school is located on Stansfield Road, and St John's C of E Junior School (ages 7-11) is located on James Street.

Future developments

Failsworth is seeing regeneration in its town centre with the construction of a new Tesco superstore which, it is claimed, will bring life back into the district. This opened at the end of Summer 2007. As part of the redevelopment a new £2.5 million community centre will be built, together with luxury apartments overlooking the Rochdale Canal.

Transport

Failsworth is easily accessed on the roads, with the A62 linking Manchester and Oldham, the A663 with Chadderton and Royton, and the M60 motorway.

There are frequent buses running through Failsworth towards Oldham and Manchester on First Manchester's 82 and 83 services. There is also frequent services running towards Oldham and Manchester with services 180 and 184. Other destinations which can be reached from Failsworth on the bus are Ashton-under-Lyne, Chadderton, Huddersfield, Rochdale, Royton, Saddleworth and Shaw and Crompton.

There is also a train station in Failsworth, which is part of the Oldham Loop line. Trains from Failsworth run towards Shaw and Crompton and Rochdale via Oldham and towards Manchester Victoria, Bolton and Wigan. There are plans to convert the train line into a Metrolink line, with conversion of the line to take place in the near future.

Twin Town

In 1974, Failsworth Urban District Council established formal twinning arrangements between Failsworth and Landsberg am Lech, in Bavaria, Germany.

Notable people

• Michael Atherton ex-England Cricket Captain.
• Benjamin Brierley Poet and Essayist.
• David Heyes MP for The Ashton under Lyne constituency.
• Gary Mounfield (Mani) of Stone Roses & Primal Scream.
• Dale Longworth of N-Trance.
• Agyness Deyn, model
• Sir Elkanah Armitage Nineteenth century industrialist and Liberal Politician

References

External links

• www.carnival.failsworth.info, Official website of the famous Failsworth Carnival.
• www.failsworth.org, The independent voice of Failsworth with lively forums.
• www.failsworth.info, Original Failsworth Website since 2003, run by the Labour Action Team
• www.failsworthfirst.co.uk, Website of the local Conservatives.
• www.failsworthcommunityband.com, Website of the Failsworth Community Band.