Bury

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude = 53.593
longitude = -2.298
official_name = Bury
metropolitan_county = Greater Manchester
population = 60,718
metropolitan_borough = Bury
region = North West England
constituency_westminster = Bury North
post_town = BURY
postcode_district = BL9 & BL8 & BL0
postcode_area = BL
dial_code = 0161 & 01706 & 01204
os_grid_reference = SD805105
london_distance =
static_

static_image_caption = Bury Town Hall

Bury is a town in Greater Manchester, England.cite web|author=Anon|format=http|url=http://www.gmcro.co.uk/guides/gazette/gazframe.htm|date=2003-07-31|title=A select gazetteer of local government areas, Greater Manchester County|publisher=Greater Manchester County Records Office|accessdate=2007-07-09] It lies on the River Irwell, convert|7.9|mi|km|1|lk=on north-northwest of the city of Manchester, convert|5.9|mi|km|1 west-southwest of Rochdale and convert|5.5|mi|km east of Bolton. It is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, of which Bury is the largest settlement and administrative centre. Bury has a total population of 60,718.

Historically a part of Lancashire, Bury emerged during the Industrial Revolution as a mill town centred on textile manufacture.

Bury is regionally notable for its open-air market - Bury Market - and its popularity has been increased since the introduction of the Manchester Metrolink tram system, which terminates in the town. The market is known for its supply of a local traditional dish - Black Pudding, served hot and eaten as a takeaway snack.

One of Bury's most famous residents was Sir Robert Peel, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and founder of the Metropolitan Police Service. A monument to Peel is outside Bury parish church and another, the austere Peel Monument, stands on a hill overlooking the locality.

History

Toponymy

The name Bury, (also earlier known as "Buri" and "Byri") comes from an Old English word, meaning "castle", "stronghold" or "fort", an early form of modern English "borough". [ [http://www.bury.gov.uk/VisitorGuidesAndMaps/History.htm Bury MBC Visitors' Guide] ] See List of generic forms in British place names.

Early history

Bury was formed around the ancient market place but even prior to this there is evidence of the Roman period. Bury 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 Reverend Arthur J Dobb DA(Manc), Vicar of Bircle (1970) '1846 Before and After - A Historical Guide to the Ancient Parish of Bury'] Under Agricola the road building programme included a route from the fort at Manchester (Mamucium) to the fort at Ribchester (Bremetennacum) that ran through Radcliffe and Affetside. The modern Watling Street, that serves the Seddons Farm estate on the west side of town, follows the approximate line of the route.

The most imposing early building in the town would have been Bury Castle, [ http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/tcsc/millennium2/Castle/Bury_Castle.htm Bury Castle] cite web |title=Bury Castle |url=http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=45189 |publisher=Pastscape.org.uk |accessdate=2008-01-04] a medieval fortified manor house. The castle was built in 1469 by Sir Thomas Pilkington, lord of the manors of Pilkington and Bury and a powerful member of Lancashire's gentry. It sat in a good defensive position on high ground over looking the Irwell Valley. At that time the Pilkingtons had been lords of Bury for nearly a century, having inherited the manor from a family named de Bury.

The Pilkington family suffered badly in the Wars of the Roses when, despite the geography they supported the House of York. When Richard III was killed in the Battle of Bosworth, in 1485, Thomas Pilkington was captured and later executed. The outcome of the battle was that the Duke of Richmond, representing the House of Lancaster was crowned Henry VII by Sir William Stanley. As a reward for the support of his family Thomas Stanley was created Earl of Derby and amongst other land the confiscated Pilkington estate in Bury was presented to him. [The Reverend Arthur J Dobb DA(Manc), Vicar of Bircle (1970) '1846 Before and After - A Historical Guide to the Ancient Parish of Bury']

The ancestral home of the Earls of Derby is Knowsley Hall on the outskirts of Liverpool. The family maintain a connection with Bury in various ways - the Derby High School is named after them. When the school opened in 1959 the Earl of Derby was patron and the school's badge is based on the Earl's coat of arms.

For many years the castle remains were buried beneath the streets outside the Castle Armoury. From time to time it was the subject of archaeological excavations. These established that there was an earlier manor house on the site. In 2000 the castle site was properly excavated as a focal point in the town centre. The remains of the old walls are now displayed in Castle Square.

Between 1801 and 1830 the population of the town more than doubled from 7072 to 15086. This was the time when the factories, mines and foundries began to dominate the landscape with their spinning machines and steam engines.

Industrial Revolution

Probate evidence from the 17th century and the remains of 18th century weavers' cottages in Elton, on the west side of Bury, indicate that domestic textile production was an important factor of the local economy at a time when Bury's textile industry was dominated by woollens and based upon the domestic production of yarn and cloth as well as water-powered fulling mills. [ http://www.spinningtheweb.org.uk/m_display.php?irn=50&sub=nwcotton&theme=places&crumb=Bury Spinning the Web] [ R. Mc Neil and M. Nevell (2000) A Guide to the Industrial Archaeology of Manchester]

Development was swift in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The establishment of Brooksbottom Mill, in Summerseat north of the town, as a calico printing works in 1773 by the family of Sir Robert Peel marked the beginning of the cotton industry in Bury. By the early 19th century cotton was the predominant textile industry with the River Roch and River Irwell providing power for spinning mills and processing water for the finishing trades. Development was further promoted when the town was linked to the national canal network by the Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal, fully opened in 1808. The canal is provided with water from Elton Reservoir, fed by aqueducts from a weir on the River Irwell, north of what is now the Burrs Country Park. The Burrs is also the site of another mill developed by the Peel family, first founded in 1790. The remains are displayed for the public. There were seven cotton mills in Bury by 1818 and the population grew from 9,152 in 1801 to 58,029 in 1901.

Following this, railways opened, linking the town from Bury Bolton Street railway station to Manchester, Radcliffe, Rawtenstall and Accrington, and from the old Knowsley Street railway station to the neighbouring mill towns of Bolton, Heywood and Rochdale. As well as the many cotton mills other industries which thrived included paper–making, calico printing and some light engineering. The town expanded to incorporate the former townships of Elton, Walmersley and Heap and rows of terraced housing encircled the town centre by the turn of the 19th century. Districts such as Freetown, Fishpool and Pimhole were transformed from farmers' fields to rows of terraced housing, beside the factories and mills.

The houses were of the most limited kind without basic facilities, sewers or proper streets. The result was the rapid spread of disease and high mortality rates in crowded areas. In 1838 out of 1058 working class houses in Bury investigated by the Manchester Statistical Society 733 had 3-4 people in each bed, 207 had 4-5 and 76 had 5-6. [ Jean Bannister (1974) From Parish to Metro - Two Centuries of Local Government in a Lancashire Town] Social reformers locally and nationally were concerned about such issues, including Edwin Chadwick. One report that prepared the ground for the reform of public health matters, commissioned by Sir Robert Peel, Prime Minister, asked local doctors for information. King Street, Bury was highlighted. It had 10 houses, each with one bedroom, and a population of 69. The average age of death in Bury was 13.8 years. Towns like Bury were likened to 'camps' [ K B Smellie (1946) History of Local government] where newcomers sought work in mill, mine or forge. Many, often from Ireland found shelter in lodging houses. 38 in Bury were surveyed. [Health of Towns Commission] 73% had men and women sharing beds indiscriminately, 81% were filthy and the average was 5.5 persons to a bed.

Although Bury had few of the classic late 19th century spinning mills that were such a feature of other Lancashire towns a group, known as Peel Mills, are still in use at Castlecroft Road, immediately north of the town centre, their name another reminder of the link with the Peel family.

Lancashire Fusiliers

A history of Bury is not complete without reference to its role as regimental town of the Lancashire Fusiliers. [ Geoffrey Moorhouse (1992) Hell's Foundations - A Town, Its Myths and Gallipoli - ISBN 0-340-43044-3]

In 1688 Prince William of Orange (later King William III) landed at Brixham. He was met by a number of noblemen who were then commissioned to raise Regiments to help him oppose James II. Colonel Sir Robert Peyton raised a Regiment containing six independent companies in the Exeter area. In 1782 the title was changed to the XX or East Devon Regiment of Foot and from 1 July 1881 became the XX The Lancashire Fusiliers. The link with Bury and the Fusiliers started at this time when, following successful recruiting in Lancashire a Regimental Depot was established in Bury, Wellington Barracks, in 1881. Wellington Barracks became XX The Lancashire Fusiliers Regimental Headquarters in 1961.

The Regiment has been involved in many campaigns and peace keeping duties including the Jacobite uprising, the American War of Independence, the Napoleonic Wars, the Indian Mutiny and both World Wars. Since moving to Bury the Lancashire Fusiliers were part, in 1898, of the force that relieved Khartoum and fought in the Battle of Omdurman and in 1899 - 1902 during the Boer War took part in the battles of Spion Kop and the Relief of Ladysmith.

In 1914 the regiment was 4th Battalion of the British Expeditionary Force, the first force to enter France against the Germans. On 24 April 1915 the taking of W beach at Gallipoli six men were awarded the Victoria Cross. The six were chosen by their comrades for the 'action before Breakfast’.

The losses in the Dardanelles had a sharp impact on the town. They were all the more pronounced because many of those killed and wounded were from the regiments Territorial Battalion based in the town. Like the Pals battalions, it recruited from a small area. It also comprised largely of part-time soldiers who had volunteered for regular service at the outbreak of war and who therefore had strong community ties. They were literally, the local butcher, baker and candlestick maker - who had wives and children resident in the town.

As a consequence, for many years afterwards Gallipoli Day was as much a part of the town's mourning for the Great War dead as Armistice Day or latterly Remembrance Sunday.

During World war II the regiment fought at the Battle of Monte Cassino, where Fusilier Jefferson won a VC in July 1943. They were also involved in the D-Day landings, with a successful attack on Villers-Bocage in July 1944. Subsequently they were involved in Burma, at the Suez canal and Kenya at the time of the Mau Mau rebellion.

In 1968 four regiments, the Lancashire, Northumberland and Warwick Fusiliers and the Royal Fusiliers were amalgamated to create the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. The bringing together of the various regiments saw the demise of the Lancashire regiment's distinctive primrose hackle - the yellow feathers worn above the cap badge. In its place all the battalions adopted the red and white emblem of the Northumberland Fusiliers who were the senior (oldest) regiment to be absorbed into the newly created Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.

After the end of national service, with less need to recruit and train soldiers most of Wellington Barracks was redeveloped for housing and playing fields. Parts of the perimeter wall are still visible but the only part of the site still in military use is the Regimental Headquarters, museum building and social club.

There is a memorial to the Lancashire Fusiliers who died in the First World War at the front of the former Barracks. Designed by Lutyens, architect of the Whitehall cenotaph, the memorial is a grade 2 listed monument. Because his father and great uncle had been officers in the regiment Lutyens declined a fee for his work. The monument, 5.88 m high and built of Portland stone, was unveiled in April 1922. [Terry Wyke (2004) Public Sculpture of Greater Manchester- ISBN 0853235678]

Sited in Elton on the west side of Bury the barracks fronted Bolton Road, the A58 at the corner with Haig Road. This and other local streets in the estate opposite, including Kitchener, Connaught, White, Buller and Powell Streets were named after prominent Army figures. Work is currently underway to relocate the Regimental Museum to a town centre location.

There is already a connection between the regiment and the town centre. In 1859, the 8th Lancashire (Bury) Rifle Volunteer Corps was formed and a new Drill Hall was proposed. In 1868 the Drill Hall, or Castle Armoury, was built on the historical site of Bury Castle. To reflect the 'castle' the Drill Hall has a fortified style with castellations, gargoyles, turrets, towers, arrow slits and other Norman architectural features on the façade. Above the main gate, with a large semi-circular arch, is a large Coat of Arms incorporating the Lancashire Fusiliers badge and motto “Omnia Audax”, translating to “Dare Anything”. Three plaques on the East wall of the Drill Hall commemorate those who fell in two World Wars and the Boer War.

A platoon of Fusiliers still resides at Castle Armoury. It is also HQ East Lancashire Wing of the Air Training Corps and the Bury Detachment of the Manchester Army Cadet Force and accommodates G Squadron of 207 (Manchester) Field Hospital (Volunteers).

Recent history

In the post-war period, there was a major decline in the cotton industry, and in common with many neighbouring towns, Bury's skyline was soon very different, with countless factory chimneys being pulled down and the associated mills closing their doors forever. The old shopping area around Princess Street and Union Square was demolished in the late 1960s, and a concrete precinct emerged to replace it. This charmless development was mercifully replaced by the Millgate Centre in the late 1990s.

However, outside of the Millgate is a large shopping area known as The Rock, populated mainly by pound shops and charity shops. Work is now underway to redevelop these areas into a modern shopping centre with plans for completion in 2009. They will bring a large department store and a multi screen cinema to the town centre, together with other facilities including a large new medical centre. Other areas of the town centre, near the Town Hall and Interchange are also to be developed. Overall, the town centre will become a more attractive proposition to visit and competitive as a destination with Bolton and Rochdale. A recent decision by Marks and Spencer to vacate their present store and move into a large new one in The Rock scheme emphasises the changes that are on their way. The owners of Millgate have objected to this latest development and it remains to be seen how their malls will fare against the competition on The Rock.

The town centre is still famous for its traditional market, with its "world famous" Black Pudding stalls. Bury Market was also once famous for its tripe, although this has declined in the past few decades.The last 30 years has seen the town developing into an important commuter town for neighbouring Manchester. Large scale housing development has taken place around Unsworth, Redvales, Sunnybank, Brandlesholme, Limefield, Chesham and Elton. The old railway line to Manchester Victoria closed in 1990, and was replaced by the light rapid transit system Metrolink in 1992. The town was also linked to the M66 motorway network, opening in 1978, accessed from the east side of the town.

Governance

In terms of local administration the town was originally a parish, then a Select Vestry, first with a Board of Guardians for the Poor. Improvement Commissioners were added before full Borough status was granted. The Borough Charter was received in 1876 and by 1889 this was raised to that of a County Borough.

The Coat of Arms was granted in 1877 and the symbols represent local industry. In the quarters are representations of the Anvil, for forging, the Golden Fleece, for wool, a pair of Crossed Shuttles, for the cotton industry and a Papyrus plant for the paper trade. Above them is a closed visor capped by a mayfly and two red roses. The Motto 'Vincit Omnia Industria' means 'Work conquers all'.

With the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, Bury merged with the neighbouring municipal boroughs of Radcliffe and Prestwich, together with the urban districts of Whitefield, Tottington and Ramsbottom to become the Metropolitan Borough of Bury in 1974. This borough is part of the Metropolitan county of Greater Manchester.On the 3rd of July 2008 there was a referendum in Bury MBC to decide whether the borough should be ruled by a directly elected Mayor. The proposal was rejected by the voters [ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/7489025.stm BBC News report re Vote on Mayor] .

Geography

Bury is located in the foothills of the western Pennines in North West England in the northern part of the Greater Manchester Urban Area. The River Irwell flows through the town and this position has proved important in its history and development. Flowing from north to south the river effectively divides the town into two parts on the east and west sides of the valley respectively. The town centre sits close to and above the river on the east side. Bury Bridge is a key bridging point linking the east side of town and the town centre to the western suburbs and Bolton beyond. Other bridges across the river are limited - there is one at Radcliffe Road to the south and at Summerseat to the north. There is also a bridge at the Burrs but this serves a cul-de-sac and does not allow full east–west access. To the south the main tributary, the River Roch, flowing from the east, joins the Irwell close to another significant bridging point, Blackford bridge. This carries the main route south, now the A56, towards Manchester.

The market town was first mentioned as a parish in AD 962. For purposes of the Office for National Statistics, Bury is part of the Greater Manchester Urban Area.

Present day

port

Bury has a football club, Bury F.C., which plays at Gigg Lane. The club was formed in 1885 and in 1889 they finished runners up in the inaugural season of the Lancashire League. They were elected to the Football League Second Division in 1894, at the same time as Manchester City. They were promoted to Division One at the end of their first season, beating Liverpool in a play-off. [Peter Cullen 'Bury F.C. 1885-1999 The Official History', ISBN 1 874427 28 3] More success came in 1900 when they won the FA Cup followed by a further win in 1903. On the second occasion they beat Derby County 6-0 - a record victory for a Cup Final that still stands. The most recent run of success was in 1996 and 1997 when they won promotion from Football League Division Three and Football League Division Two, being Champions in that Division, in successive seasons.

The club plays in League Two, with a thriving Youth and Centre of Excellence department [ [http://www.buryfcyouth.co.uk/ Bury F.C. Youth and Centre of Excellence Official Web Site] ] which has recently produced players such as David Nugent, Simon Whaley and Colin Kazim-Richards. Current players such as Andy Bishop and Richie Baker [ [http://www.buryfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10422,00.html Bury F.C. official web site] ] have all been catching the eye of the press as well as other larger teams and all look to have a bright future.Former legends include free scoring Craig Madden, old timers Norman Bullock and Henry Cockburn, Neville Southall, Dean Kiely, Lee Dixon, Colin Bell, Terry McDermott, Alec Lindsay, John McGinlay, Trevor Ross and John McGrath.

Gigg Lane is also used by FC United Of Manchester of the Unibond Northern Premier Division. FC United is a breakaway group of former Manchester United fans adhering to the anti Malcolm Glazer movement and outright commercialism in modern football. [ [http://www.buryfc.co.uk/ Bury F.C. Official Web Site] ] F.C. United's attendances are extremely competitive with those of Bury F.C. themselves. Until 2002 Manchester United Reserves were also hosted by Gigg Lane in Bury.

Arts

The Met arts centre, based in the Derby Hall on Market Street, is a small performing arts venue promoting a programme of theatre, music and comedy events. The Met has hosted famous comedy acts such as Steve Coogan and Eddie Izzard in their days before fame. [ [http://www.themet.biz/ The Met arts centre] ]

Bury Art Gallery and Museum on Moss Street is home to a fine collection of Victorian and 20th century art, including works by Turner, Constable, Landseer and Lowry. In 2005 a £1.2 million refurbishment was carried out, designed to provide a brand new museum, art gallery and library all under one roof. This includes a combined Museum & Archives Centre which, based on a radical re-think, uses artefacts, documentation and art to tell the story of the town. [ [http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/nwh_gfx_en/ART28187.html 24 Hour Museum] ] The most recent renovation includes modern artefacts such as iPods and electric iRobit hoovers. [ [http://www.bury.gov.uk/leisureandculture/museumsandgalleries/default.asp Bury Art Gallery and Museum] ]

The council decided in 2006 to sell Lowry's "The Riverbank" at auction in order to fund part of its Social Services budget shortfall. This has resulted in the government's Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) removing Bury Council's accredited museum status. The authority will now have limited funding options and will be ineligible for some grants. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/6183547.stm BBC News Story] ] The Lowry sale raised more than anticipated and some of the money will be used to develop of a new town centre museum for the Lancashire Fusiliers. This will move into the old School of Arts and Crafts on Broad Street opposite the town's Museum, Art Gallery and Library, from the existing, inadequate building on Bolton Road. [ [http://www.fusiliersmuseum-lancashire.org.uk/appeal.html Lancashire Fusiliers, Museum Appeal] ] .

Bury is also at the heart of the largest public art scheme in the UK -the Irwell Sculpture Trail. Works in Bury include ones by Ulrich Ruckriem, at Radcliffe and Edward Allington, at Ramsbottom with his "Tilted Vase". Ulrich Ruckriem [ [http://www.namenderkunst.com/e/ulrich-ruckriem/index.shtml Ulrich Ruckriem] ] is one of Germany's most eminent artists best known for his monumental stone sculptures. His sculpture in Radcliffe, on the site of the former Outwood Colliery, is one of his largest stone settings to date. Edward Allington's Tilted Vase sits in the Market Place in the centre of Ramsbottom and has become a distinctive feature of interest.

Education

;Colleges
* Bury College, formerly Bury Technical College and Peel Sixth Form College.
* Bury Grammar School has existed since the 16th century. [ [http://www.burygrammarschoolboys.co.uk/ Bury Grammar School Website] ]
* Holy Cross College, formerly Bury Convent Grammar School. In 2007 it was named 7th in the country.

;High schools located in the town include:

*Broad Oak High School
*Elton High School
*St Gabriel's High School
*Bury Church of England High School
*Parrenthorn High School
*St Monica's High School
*Bury Grammar School (Independent)
*Philips High School, Stand, Whitefield
*Tottington High School
*Castlebrook High School
*Prestwich Arts College
*Woodhey High School
*Derby High School
*Radcliffe Riverside High School

Places of interest

Attractions in Bury include:.
* The East Lancashire Railway, a heritage railway which runs from the town to Heywood, Ramsbottom and Rawtenstall. Based at Bury Bolton Street railway station.
* Bury Museum and Art Gallery, containing the Wrigley collection of paintings including works by Turner, Cox, and De Wint.
* Bury Castle is a fortified manor house built in the mid 13th century by Sir Thomas Pilkington and is now protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument; the foundations have been excavated and have been open to the public since 2000.cite web |title=Bury Castle |url=http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=45189 |publisher=Pastscape.org.uk |accessdate=2008-01-04] [cite web |title=Bury Castle |url=http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/tcsc/millennium2/Castle/Bury_Castle.htm |publisher=Eduweb.co.uk |accessdate=2008-01-04]
* Bury's 'World Famous' Market, which has been on the same site for nearly 600 years; the original licence for a market was granted in 1444. In 2006, out of 1150 markets in the UK, Bury Market was voted the best 'British Market of the Year' by the National Association of British Market Authorities.
* The Regimental Museum of the Lancashire Fusiliers. [ [http://www.fusiliersmuseum-lancashire.org.uk/ Fusilier's Museum, Lancashire] ]
* Peel Tower, Harcles Hill, [ [http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newsearch.srf?x=377500&y=417500&z=3&ar=Y&isp=200&ism=1000 Ordnance Survey Map showing Harcles Hill and Bull Hill on Holcombe Moor to the north-east] ] above Holcombe village, Ramsbottom. The Peel Tower was built in remembrance of Sir Robert Peel, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and founder of the police force, who was born in Bury. Hundreds of people climb to the tower each year on Good Friday. Historically this gathering had a principally religious purpose since the hill is said to be strikingly similar to the hill that Jesus is said to have climbed before he was crucified on Good Friday (Calvary).
* Bury Parish Church [ [http://www.buryparishchurch.com/ Bury Parish Church] ] on the Market Place in the centre of the town.
* Silver Street and environs contain many examples of mid-Victorian architecture, using York stone, from the pre-Gothic revival period.

Cuisine

Bury is known for its black puddings [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/articles/2006/02/02/020206_bury_market_award_feature.shtml BBC News Report, Bury Black Pudding & Bury's World Famous Market] ] so much so, that it is not uncommon to see it as "Bury Black Pudding" on a menu. Bury simnel cake is also a variant of the cake originating in Bury. Bury is also notable for tripe, though there is little demand for this in modern times.

Notable people

Pre 20th century

* Henry Dunster, born in Bury, at Bolholt, in 1609 and became the first President of Harvard University, USA. He based his development of the university on the British model e.g. Cambridge, where he had studied at Magdalene College.
* John Kay, the inventor of the Flying Shuttle, one of the key inventions of the Industrial Revolution. He was born to a yeoman farming family at Park, a tiny hamlet just North of Bury, on June 17, 1704. A memorial to John Kay stands in the heart of Bury - in Kay Gardens. [Terry Wyke (2004) Public Sculpture of Greater Manchester- ISBN 0853235678] He also features as one of twelve subjects portrayed in the epic Manchester Murals, by Ford Madox Brown, that decorate the Great Hall, Manchester Town Hall and depict the history of the city. The piece shows John Kay being smuggled to safety as rioters, who feared their jobs were in danger, sought to destroy looms whose invention he had made possible. This was a key moment in the struggle between labour and new technology. He eventually fled to France and died in poverty.
* James Wood, Dean of Ely Cathedral and Master of St John's College, Oxford was born Bury in 1760. A pupil at Bury Grammar School, he won an exhibition to St John's College and was a College tutor from 1789 to 1814. During this time he published the 'Principles of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy'. He was appointed Dean of Ely in 1820. He served as Master of St John's from 1815 and left his library to the College upon his death in 1839. [http://janus.lib.cam.ac.uk/db/node.xsp?id=EAD%2FGBR%2F0275%2FWood Papers of Dr James Wood]
* Mary Reibey, a transported convict who became a prominent entrepreneur and shipowner in Sydney, New South Wales, and whose likeness appears on the obverse of the Australian 20 dollar banknote was born in Bury in 1777.
* Sir Robert Peel (1788-1850), the 19th century British Prime Minister best known today for the repeal of the Corn Laws and his introduction of the modern police force (hence the terms "Bobbies" and "Peelers"), was born in Bury. He is also notable for forming the famous British Police division, 'Scotland Yard' in London. A monument, Peel Tower, now exists to his memory. As this is situated nearly 1,000 feet above sea level, it is easily recognisable for miles around. The tower itself was not built for Sir Robert, but to provide work for local workers and was later dedicated to him. A statue of Sir Robert Peel stands in Market Place, outside the Robert Peel public house.

20th century

* Lord Hewart of Bury, born Gordon Hewart in Bury in 1870, died 1943. A Liberal MP, then Attorney General and Cabinet member and eventually Lord Chief Justice from 1922 to 1940. Author of the phrase 'It is not merely of some importance but is of fundamental importance that justice should not only be done, but should manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done'.

* Professor Sir John Charnley, born, son of a Bury pharmacist, in Bury in 1911. [http://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/41/7/824 Professor Sir John Charnley (1911–1982)] He wrote 'The Closed Treatment of Common Fractures', first published in 1950 which became a standard text for the subject. His subsequent achievement in developing hip replacement surgery, in 1962, is acknowledged as a ground breaking development that changed the approach to orthopaedic surgery. The John Charnley Research Institute, Wrightington Hospital, near Wigan was named in his honour. This is where he worked when developing hip replacement surgery. He was knighted for his work in 1977.

* Cherie Blair, known professionally as Cherie Booth QC, is an English barrister born in Bury on 23 September 1954. She is married to Tony Blair, the former British Prime Minister. She studied law at the London School of Economics, became a barrister in 1976 and was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1995. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2053193.stm "Profile: Cherie Blair"] , BBC, 19 June 2002] In 1999, she was appointed a Recorder in the County Court and Crown Court. She was Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University from 1999-2006 and is also Governor of the London School of Economics.

20th & 21st centuries: Sports personalities

Football
* Bentley, David, professional football player for Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Lives in Bury.
* Goram, Andy, professional football player for numerous teams including Manchester United F.C.
* Holland, Matt, professional football player for Charlton Athletic F.C.
* Neville, Gary, professional football player for Manchester United F.C.
* Neville, Philip, professional football player for Everton F.C.
* Neville, Neville, father to Gary, Philip and Tracey,
* Thornley, Ben, former professional football player for Manchester United F.C.Other Sports
* Harris, Reg, world cycling champion was born in Birtle, near Bury in 1920. He won two silver medals at the 1948 Summer Olympics, held in London, and also won a British title at the age of 54.
* Kelly, Barrie, sprinter who competed in the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, the 1966 and 1970 Commonwealth Games in Jamaica and Edinburgh and two European championships, Budapest in 1966 and Athens in 1969. He was British Champion, indoors and outdoors at 60 m and 100 m several times during this period.
* Neville, Tracey, twin sister to Phil Neville and professional netball player for England.
* Parry, Gareth (Gaz), Rock Climbing. One of Britain's most successful rock climbers. A former British champion in 1996 and 2002. Competed for Great Britain at the highest level for many years. Current British bouldering team coach.
* Smith, Lawrie, yachtsman, arguably Britain's most successful racing sailor. Learnt to sail at Elton Sailing Club, Bury. Won bronze medal at Barcelona Olympics in 1992, and the Fastnet Race. Skippered British Challenger in America's Cup and finished fourth in Whitbread Round the World Race in 1989/90.

20th & 21st centuries: Music, television and the media

* Atkinson, Gemma, actress and glamour model was born in Bury. Attended Castlebrook High School
* Boyle, Danny, film producer and director was born in Radcliffe, near Bury.
* Cotton, Antony, born Antony Dunn in Bury. Actor and regular in Coronation Street (Sean Tully). Pupil at Woodhey High School, Holcombe Brook.
* Crompton, Richmal, author was born on Manchester Road, Bury (A plaque marks the house).
* Myra Nun, Prudes Like Us, Fair Warning, born in Bury
* Elbow, contemporary/alternative rock band was formed in Bury. Winners of the Mercury Prize for best UK album 2008 [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/entertainment/7606963.stm Elbow win Mercury prize BBC, 2008] .
* Jack, Donald, Canadian-based author born in Radcliffe, near Bury.
* Little, Ralf, actor was born in Bury.
* Littler, Matt, Hollyoaks actor was born in Bury. Attended The Elton High School (1992-1998)
* Marsh, Connor, child actor was born in and lives in Bury.
* McCluskey Andy bass guitar Purple effect
* Noble, guitarist from British Sea Power is from Bury.
* Riley, Lisa, actress and TV presenter was born in Burnley but raised in Bury, attending St Gabriel's R.C. High School.
* Sanderson, Nikki, actress, singer and glamour model was born in Bury.
* Shaw, Suzanne pop singer, formerly of Hear'Say, was born in Bury and attended St Gabriel's R.C. High School.
* Skellern, Peter, musician, was born in Bury. Attended Derby High School.
* Sugden, Rhian, glamour model, born in Bury.
* Wallace, Ian, drummer with various groups including King Crimson. Born in Bury, pupil at Bury Grammar School.
* Williams, Layton, actor and dancer.
* Wood, Victoria, comedienne and actress, was born in Prestwich and attended Bury Grammar School For Girls.
* Charlie Webb, Webb Charlie Actress, Debbie Dingle, Emmerdale born in whitefield, attended Philips High School
* Jamie Lomas, Lomas Jamie
* Allen, Fiona, comedienne and actress, lives in Bury.
* Muir, Ken, renowned synalist, and creator of the Synalytics movement, came from Bury.

Members of Parliament

* Burt, Alistair, Member of Parliament for Bedfordshire North East was born in Bury and was head boy at Bury Grammar School
* Chaytor, David, Member of Parliament for Bury North was born in Bury. Educated at Bury Grammar School.
* Crausby, David, Member of Parliament for Bolton North East was born in Bury. Educated at the Derby High School.

Twin towns

*flagicon|France Angoulême, a town and commune in south-western France
*flagicon|France Tulle, a small town in the Correze Department. Originally twinned with Prestwich.
*flagicon|Germany Schorndorf, a medieval market town to the east of Stuttgart, capital of Baden-Wurttemberg.
*flagicon|USA Woodbury, New Jersey, USA.
*flagicon|China Datong, a town in China.

References

External links

* [http://www.east-lancs-rly.co.uk/ East Lancashire Railway]
* [http://www.bury.gov.uk/ Bury Metropolitan Borough Council]
* [http://www.bury.gov.uk/LeisureAndCulture/MuseumsAndGalleries/default.htm Bury Art Gallery and Museum]
* [http://www.burychurch.bury.sch.uk Bury Church of England High School]
* [http://www.bury.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/4B91B45C-4C94-4B8D-962F-E57B02203A05/0/ListedBuildingsAZ.pdf Listed buildings in Bury]
* [http://summerseat.blog.co.uk/ Summerseat Views] is a resident's blog which aims to provide a photographic diary of life and the seasons in the village and the surrounding area.