Failsworth, Greater Manchester | |
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Failsworth Pole |
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Failsworth, Greater Manchester shown within Greater Manchester | |
Population | 20,680 (2011 CensusWards) |
OS grid reference | SD895015 |
• London | 163 mi (262 km) SSE |
Metropolitan borough | |
Metropolitan county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | MANCHESTER |
Postcode district | M35 |
Dialling code | 0161 |
Police | Greater Manchester |
Fire | Greater Manchester |
Ambulance | North West |
EU Parliament | North West England |
UK Parliament | |
Failsworth is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. It is 3.7 miles (6.0 km) east-northeast of Manchester city centre and 2.9 miles (4.7 km) south-southwest of Oldham. Failsworth lies within the orbital M60 motorway, which skirts Failsworth's eastern boundary. The total population of the 2 Wards in Failsworth (East & West) at the 2011 census was 20,680.
Historically a part of Lancashire, until the 19th century Failsworth 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. The village of Woodhouses is situated along Failsworth's eastern boundary. Notable residents of Failsworth have included the poet and writer Benjamin Brierley, who was born and raised by a weaving family.