© Richardyt / The Paganhill Maypole Society
Welcome To The Web Site of The Paganhill Maypole, Gloucestershire, England.
The Paganhill Maypole is maintained wholly from donations from local people and the fund raising activities of the committee of the Paganhill Maypole Society
1804 - Offley Maypole
Though it is reputed that Paganhill has had a maypole on and off for something like 400 years,
it is not until 1804 that there appears any written evidence as to its existence.
Paul Hawkins Fisher, a journalist at this time, kept detailed notes of events taking place in the neighbourhood of Stroud and these were published in 1871 shortly before his death. He recorded that a pole had stood at Paganhill since time immemorial and was probably the only one in the county or certainly for miles around. The residents erected the pole during their annual festival each Whit-Monday and having decorated it with fresh paint and garlands it was set up on the green which lay immediately to the west of Upfield House.
The account goes on:-
“In setting up one on the 20th May 1804, it fell down by the breaking of a stay-rope and killed two children.
This sad accident prevented all further proceeding intended for the day, as also the erection of any other
maypoles for several years. This gave Mr. Charles Offley, Gentleman and resident of Upfield, an
opportunity of providing a Well and Pump of water, much needed for the village. This was done at his own expense on the place where the maypole had stood in the hope that it would be a preferable substitute”
However so great was the attachment of the people of Paganhill to their maypole that after Mr. Offley’s died, the villagers set up another maypole as near as possible to the original site. This caused the Well and Pump to fall into decay until later restored by the Board of Health.
The 1880’s pole stood 84 feet high but the ageing village blacksmith and Nestor (wise old man) lamented, “The decay of old village institutions and rural recreations, predicting that this would be the last may-pole erected in Pakenhill “.
The local newspaper, The Stroud Journal, reported that most maypole celebrations were all too often spoilt by excesses in drinking. This was blamed on the maypole being close to the Stag and Hound public house.
Its demolition was subsequently ordered by Miss Emily Rose Stanton and her twin sister Rose Emily, later residents of Upfield House.
Mr Charles Offley’s House
Upfield Lodge,Paganhill