WHO REMEMBERS THE CRANKY PIN?

ADDED 18 FEBRUARY 2006

The Waterloo Monument or 'Cranky Pin' as it became known locally, was erected in September 1818 to celebrate the victory at Waterloo and the defeat of Napoleon in 1815.

Built out of brick and standing in the grounds of Edward Trueman, who was a partner in the bank of Leatham and Tew, now Barclays Bank, it was demolished about 1946 to make way for the then new Council housing estate built on the site of the original Monument Lane. Trueman, five times the Mayor of Pontefract, seems to have been the main subscriber and instigator of the monument in recognition of his sons death at the Battle of Waterloo.

Local folklore had it that the urn at the top was supposed to contain gold coins but when it eventually fell of in a storm just prior to the demolition of the monument it was found to be made of solid stone. Originally it had been gilded which may have given rise to the supposition that it contained gold. 

The Waterloo Monument

The monument was given the nickname of 'the Cranky Pin' by the local populace because of the curve it developed after it's construction. The urn was apparently presented to the town by the Pease family who owned the land originally belonging to Mr. Trueman and was supposed to be preserved at Monument House, the old people's home which was built on the Circle, Chequerfield. It would be interesting to know whether it still exists as a part of Pontefract's heritage.

Ted Brook
ted (at) ebrook.wanadoo.co.uk
18 February 2006

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