Write of passage for Benjamin?

STANDING tall: a bronze, 8ft sculpture of Benjamin Brierley (seen here in its early stages) was created by artist Denise Dutton and stands at Failsworth Pole.

OLDHAM Council is planning to put up statues to famous Oldhamers in Union Street for the arrival of Metrolink. Here’s the latest candidate.

BENJAMIN Brierley is a Failsworth-born weaver, poet and writer in Lancashire dialect.

At a young age Brierley was inspired to read Shakespeare and Shelley by his uncle, and when he started life in the mills he continued to read and educate himself.

Brierley’s first serious venture in literature was A Day Out which appeared in the Manchester Spectator. At 30 he began to contribute stories to local papers.

Mr Brierley took up journalism and literature in 1863 and in the same year published Chronicles of Waverlow, followed in 1864 by The Layrock of Langley Side. He specialised in dialect poetry - the language of the working men and women he hoped to inspire to read great works for themselves.

Brierley was a sub-editor for the Oldham Times newspaper and founded the Manchester Literary Club.

Brierley served as a local councillor from 1875-1881 and co-founded the Failsworth Mechanics’ institute.