| CHANGES IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT |
| From 1750 to 1846, many alterations in local government had taken place.
Gradually the power which had once been wielded by the Courtleet and its officers had decayed ;
and in its place Committees named " vestries " had arisen. These generally consisted of the
clergy of the town or township, the churchwardens, the constables, and the overseers of the
poor. The vestry in Bury commenced several works and institutions still in being. It
administered relief to the poor, appointed a governor and matron for the workhouse, and
other social things.
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| The first workhouse was somewhere in the Bolton Street (Bury Lane) area,
but a new one was built in 1775-6 at Redvales. This is the building which stands back from
Manchester Road, below St. Peter's School, and used as a leather works by Mr. G. Howe. This
Union institution did duty until the present one at Jericho was built and opened January 21st, 1857.
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| In 1829, a public meeting was held in Bury to consider the advisability
of establishing a dispensary to give medical assistance to needy persons. Many gentlemen attended,
and a Dispensary Committee was formed to carry on the voluntary work. The first Dispensary was
established on March 6th 1829, in Bury Lane. The Revd. G. Hornby was the first president, and
the Rev. H. C. Boutflower, head-master of the Grammar School, and afterwards vicar of S. John's,
became the Secretary. The Dispensary, at the corner of Knowsley Street and Moss Lane, now used
as Local Education Offices, was opened in August 1841, and thus began in a small way, the grand
work of the relief of the sick and the suffering and led ultimately to the fine Dispensary
Hospital in Walmersley Road, still governed by a voluntary committee.
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| In 1818, a Mr. Benjamin Bassett commenced to make gas at his works, near
the Shakespere Inn, Rochdale Road, and this was conveyed to other users in leaden pipes, as
iron pipes were not then in use. Ten years later, the Bury Gas Company was formed, and we
learn that the chief streets were first lighted by gas on September 4th, 1836.
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| Many events of local importance in the town's development occur now very
frequently. A Savings Bank had been opened in 1822, and in 1832 the Manchester and Liverpool
District Bank opened a branch, and this was supplemented by the formation of the Bury Banking
Co., in 1836.
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| The Bury and Radcliffe Waterworks were originated in 1838, taken over by
the Improvement Commissioners, and -gain later by the Town Council Subsequently the control
of the Water Supply was handed over to the Joint Water Board, in 1900, and its work is described
elsewhere.
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| In December, 1839, Bury Market was opened. This was the old triangular market
which stood on the present Kay Gardens site. The site and cost of erection was given by Lord Derby,
but the building was of ugly design, and uncovered, and local traders would not use it. In the
summer of 1867 it was closed, and a roof of iron girders and glass was put on at a cost of £5,000.
The new and present market presents a far more pleasing appearance, both inside and out. It was
erected in 1901 and cost £21,135 ; the old one being demolished in 1906.
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| Another proof of the steady advance of the town was the establishment of a
County Constabulary office and station, in Agur Street, in 1839, and policemen in uniform appeared
in Bury in 1840. The work of the County Court was carried on at 10, Union Street, in the building
occupied by the late Mr. R. B. Wallis, solicitor; and the Court House, with its Petty Sessions,
presided over by County Magistrates, was situated at one time at the Old Red Lion Hotel, and
afterwards at the Hare and Hounds Hotel, Bolton Street. In 1842, the Sessions Court was transferred
to Commercial Buildings, in Spring Street, and police proceedings: were carried on there until
September, 1850, when the present station and court house were opened. Commercial Buildings are
now used as the workshop and warehouse of Mr. Cornall, plumber and hardware merchant.
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