Offenham Maypole

Image: © David Dixon Taken: 27 Jun 2017

The Offenham Maypole probably dates from around the time of the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660 when May Day celebrations were once-more allowed having earlier been declared illegal by the Puritans. In 1890 the Evesham Journal reported that ‘the village (Offenham) has had a Maypole since time immemorial. One old man in the parish can recollect four being erected’ (http://offenhamvillage.co.uk/offenham-wake/about/ Offenham Village.co.uk). The current pole is, however, more recent. In 1983 an eighty foot-long larch tree was given to the village by Lord Neidpath from his estate at Stanway. After some three years of natural seasoning it was trimmed, cut to suit the base and painted. This has since been replaced with a new pole, after some rot was found. The new pole is decorated in National colours of red, white and blue continuing a tradition started in 1893 with the pattern divided as it was originally on the previous pole. It is capped by a weather- vane with cardinal points and cockerel. The Maypole is Grade II-listed (Historic England List Entry Number: 1081528 http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Application.aspx?resourceID=5&index=1 Heritage Gateway).

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