Did You Know?

Bury, locally also is a town in Greater Manchester, on the River Irwell 5.5 miles east of Bolton, 5.9 miles southwest of Rochdale and 7.9 miles northwest of Manchester.

Bury is known for its open-air Bury Market and the traditional local dish, black pudding. The Manchester Metrolink tram system has a terminus in the town.

Bury-born Sir Robert Peel was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and founded the Metropolitan Police and Conservative Party. The Peel Memorial stands outside the parish church and the Peel Monument on Holcombe Hill, Ramsbottom, overlooking the borough.

Bury was formed around the ancient market place but there is evidence of activity dating back to the period of Roman occupation. the Museum has a Roman urn containing a number of small bronze coins dated for AD 253–282 and found north of what is now the town centre.

The most imposing building in the early town would have been Bury Castle, a medieval manor house built in 1469. It sat in a good defensive position on high ground overlooking the Irwell Valley

Between 1801 and 1830, the population of the town more than doubled from 7,072 to 15,086. This was the time when the factories, mines and foundries, with their spinning machines and steam engines, began to dominate the landscape.

In 1791 a company called the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal Company was formed, and five years later coal was brought to the town by barges. The canal was used on Sundays and at fair time for very popular passenger trips to Bolton. It is still in existence, although now reduced in length

The name Bury is derived from the Anglo-Saxon burg or burh, meaning “stronghold,” and today the town is the natural centre of the borough. The woolen industry was established in the 14th century and, although still found in the area, was superseded in economic importance by cotton in the 18th century. 

From 1193 to 1219 Adam De Bury held the manor as "one knight's fee of ancient tenure". In the 14th century, Alice De Bury married Roger Pilkington, and the manor therefore passed into the possession of the Pilkington family until 1485 when the lands of Sir Thomas Pilkington were forfeited because of his allegiance to Richard III.

The band Elbow were formed and played their first gig in Bury. The band have won various music Awards including an NME Award for Outstanding Contribution To British Music in 2009.

Suzanne Shaw the ex-member of pop group Hear Say, now a star of West End shows and a television presenter was also born in Bury.