Town in Greater Manchester, England
Bury
Home of the black pudding, the man who gave us 'bobbies', and an FA Cup final win that no club has ever beaten.
Key information
- County
- Greater Manchester
- Nation
- England
- Known for
- Black pudding, Bury Market, Robert Peel, the 1903 FA Cup final
- Famous people
- Robert Peel, John Kay, Gary Neville, Victoria Wood
About Bury
The black pudding capital of the north
Ask anyone in Britain what Bury is famous for and the answer is usually the same: black pudding. The town's version, made with pearl barley and plenty of seasoning, is what many people picture when they think of the classic Lancashire breakfast. The best place to buy it is Bury Market, where stalls sell puddings by the pound, often still warm. Bury's market has been going for centuries, and the outdoor stalls, the Fish and Game Hall and the busy aisles have won it a reputation well beyond Greater Manchester. People come from across the north-west for a bag of puddings and a day's bargain-hunting. Bury has a sweeter claim too. The Bury simnel is a local take on the fruit cake traditionally baked in the weeks around Easter, and bakers in the town still make it.
The Shakers and a record that still stands
Bury's football club, nicknamed the Shakers, played at Gigg Lane from 1885. In 1900 they won the FA Cup by beating Southampton 4-0. Three years later they went back to Wembley's predecessor, Crystal Palace, and thrashed Derby County 6-0. That 6-0 is still the biggest winning margin in an FA Cup final. Across the two finals Bury scored ten goals and conceded none, which is a neat piece of pub-quiz ammunition. The modern chapter was far gloomier. In August 2019, after financial collapse, Bury were expelled from the Football League, ending 125 years of membership, a loss that hit the town hard. Supporters rallied round to keep football in Bury alive, and Gigg Lane remains a symbol of that loyalty.
The boy from Bury who gave us the 'bobby'
Robert Peel was born in Bury in 1788, the son of a wealthy cotton manufacturer. He went on to be Prime Minister, twice, and as Home Secretary in 1829 he created the Metropolitan Police. That is why police officers were nicknamed 'bobbies' and 'peelers'. He also repealed the Corn Laws in 1846, a decision that split his own party but cut the price of bread. Bury remembers him with a statue in the Market Place and, on the moors above the town, the Peel Tower on Holcombe Hill, built in 1852 as a memorial. It's a popular walk, and the view over the Pennines and towards Manchester rewards the climb.
Mills, shuttles and a town built on cloth
Bury sits on the River Irwell and grew up on wool and then cotton. Another famous son, John Kay, was born near the town in 1704. He invented the flying shuttle, which made weaving much faster and helped set off the Industrial Revolution. His invention was so disruptive that Kay struggled to profit from it, and his life was marked by disputes with weavers who feared for their livelihoods. The mills have mostly gone, but the red-brick legacy shaped the town. Textiles, paper and engineering all kept Bury busy, and the Irwell valley's old mill buildings are still part of the skyline.
Six VCs before breakfast
Bury is the home of the Lancashire Fusiliers, and the Fusilier Museum tells the regiment's story. Its best-known moment came at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915, when the Fusiliers landed under heavy fire at W Beach. Six Victoria Crosses were won that morning, a feat described ever since as 'six VCs before breakfast'. The museum is one of the town's most important landmarks, and it keeps the memory of the regiment alive for local families whose relatives served. For art, the Bury Art Museum holds a fine collection of paintings, including works by J.M.W. Turner and John Constable, which is not what you might expect in a market town.
Steam trains, trams and famous locals
Heritage steam trains run on the East Lancashire Railway from Bury's Bolton Street station, and Metrolink trams have linked the town to Manchester since the line opened in 1992. Bury has produced its share of well-known names. Gary Neville was born here and went on to play for Manchester United and England, and his brother Phil also played for both. Comedian Victoria Wood, who studied at Bury Grammar School, became one of Britain's most-loved performers. From puddings to prime ministers, Bury has long punched above its weight.