Appeal to help Yorkshire village find new 70ft maypole to keep British tradition alive

Now in one Yorkshire village an appeal is launched to see its own much-loved 150-year-old custom carry on. The 70-ft pole at Gawthorpe, near Wakefield, is showing signs of its age.

Benjamin Hitch-Bramley of the maypole committee, whose own grandfather hauled it into place some 40 years ago, said it has become a symbol of community spirit.

"A maypole isn't just an object, it underpins our village traditions,” he said. “And to us it's very much a defining symbol of the village's identity.

"Sadly maypoles don't last forever," he added. "We owe it to past, present and future generations that these traditions continue.”

The village may be best known as home to the World Coal Carrying Competition, but that world-famous spectacular is only the start of its festive traditions, with a great May Day parade and procession, dancing and feast.

Core to it all is the village's 70-ft maypole, which has stood in some form since around 1850. In 1875, it was crafted from a pine tree, while another was for the late Queen's Coronation. But by 1985 it was cut down, recommended for removal over safety concerns.

It was Hitch-Bramley's paternal grandfather Cecil Hitch, then president of the Maypole Committee, who launched the first appeal to find a new one.

With backing from the Yorkshire Electricity Board (YEB), donating a wooden pylon from the moors, the present maypole was installed on March 8, 1986.

It wasn't without its entertainment. Hitch, and a committee of volunteers, had to pull the pole several miles from Morley all the way to Chickenley to be treated and painted.

There were a few pub stops along the way, Mr Hitch-Bramley conceded.

His maternal grandfather Amos Clapham, one of the founders of the coal-carrying competition, had recently passed and there may have been a glass raised in his honour.

Now the new appeal has challenges of its own. It's hard to find a 70ft pole - and even if they could lay their hands on one it will need treating and transporting, painting and hauling.

The committee is now appealing for anyone who can help - with knowledge or skills, fundraising, or a spare ship's mast, fir tree or old telegraph pole.

"We are only the custodians of it," said Mr Hitch-Bramley "We owe it to those who have gone before us to ensure their hard work and commitment is honoured.

"But even if money wasn't an object, we still need to get our hands on a pole," he added. "And we are a community of volunteers. How do we make it look like a maypole?"

Visit gawthorpemaypole.org.