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Peel Monument, Ramsbottom

The Peel Monument at Ramsbottom, Greater Manchester, England, is one of two monuments in the area erected in memory of Prime Minister and founder of the police force Robert Peel, who was born in Bury. It is on Holcombe Moor near Ramsbottom, 1100 feet above sea level. and the monument is known locally as Holcombe Tower or Peel Tower.

Construction
After Peel's death in 1850 there was a campaign to erect a statue in Bury and a monument at the top of Harcles Hill. A monuments committee was convened and chaired by local industrialist William Grant. Grant insisted that, when viewed from his home at Nuttall Hall, the tower should be in line with St Andrews Church, which he had also built in 1832. The monument, standing 128 feet, was built at a cost of £1000 raised through public appeal. The gritstone used to construct the monument was quarried from the hill itself with the hole left by the excavation adjacent to the tower still visible. The name "Peel" is carved in large letters above the door of the large crenellated base section that supports the tower, which has four stages of mullioned windows and is also crenellated with battlements at the top. A report in the Manchester Guardian noted that, while the monument is not "a specimen of architectural beauty", it provides a conspicuous landmark and it also has a viewing platform from which to look across the surrounding countryside. The site of the tower belonged to the Duke of Buccleuch, whose permission had not been sought. He granted a lease on the site and allowed that the tower trustees could charge an entrance fee. == Opening ceremony ==
Opening ceremony
A statue of Peel by Edward Hodges Baily was unveiled in Bury town centre on 8 September 1852, and a separate ceremony was held to open the tower the following day. Speeches were made by Joshua Knowles, owner of the Tottington calico works, and by Peel's son Frederick Peel. Frederick was the guest of honour and commended the memorial both to the memory of his father and to free trade. Passengers who had travelled by excursion train from Salford arrived too late to witness the ceremony. == Renovation and access ==
Renovation and access
The tower was renovated in 1929 when the internal wooden staircase was replaced with iron. and soon after was closed to the public because of corrosion of the iron stairs and safety concerns. == Trivia ==
Trivia
There is a local tradition of egg rolling on Good Friday. The walk up the hill is said to symbolise Calvary where Jesus was crucified; the eggs are supposed to represent the stone being rolled away from his tomb. The longstanding tradition was suspended in 2020 and 2021 because of COVID restrictions, returning in 2022. ==References==
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