| HISTORY OF BURY. |
| Of the antiquity of Bury there can be no question. Of its early
origin all traces appear to have been lost ; but several discoveries made in the
neighbourhood tell the tale that the district has had a "long past." In our local
Museum in Moss Lane there is a Cinerary Urn, believed by antiquarians to belong to
the Bronze Age, a period nearly 3,000 years ago. There is also a stone hammer-head,
and part of an ancient "quern," both found at Woolfold. Do you know what a quern is ?
It is a primitive stone, of very hard rock, and was used for pounding corn into flour,
before people knew how to grind it. These are probably of Roman times, as the Romans
taught the Britons how to clear and cultivate the land. |
| About sixty years ago, the discovery of a Roman urn took place at
Throstle Hill, Walmersley, a place about half-a-mile east of Grant's Tower. James Nuttall,
a poor farmer and hand-loom weaver, unearthed the urn which had been buried in an
embankment on his land. The urn contained some five to seven hundred small bronze coins,
some silver bracelets, armlets, and finger rings. The heads of various Roman Emperors
were to be seen quite distinctly on the coins, which were all dated between A.D. 253 and 282.
The Roman road from Manchester, through Affetside, over Holcombe Moor to Edgworth, Blackburn
and Ribchester also proves that Roman citizens lived in the vicinity. It is surmised that
the urn with its treasure was buried in a time of danger; probably danger caused by Saxon
or Danish invasion. |
| Coming to the 5th or 6th century, when the Saxons had defeated, and
become amalgamated, more or less, with the native people, it is assumed that the name
Bury, Buri, or Byri, was adopted, and has continued ever since. The name is derived from
the Anglo-Saxon, and means " at the town." The next definite fact is that at the time of
the Norman Conquest there was a Church here, with a Rector in charge. The Doomsday Book
says nothing about the farms or buildings, probably because these had been destroyed by
the rapacious Norman Barons. It does, however, state that the patron of the Church was
Roger de Poictou. The manor of Bury afterwards became part of the estates of the De Lacy
family, who were overlords of Tottington. Bury was held as " one knight's fee," the tenant
knight of the estate from 1193 to 1219 being named Adam de Bury. Either by sale of the
manors, or by intermarriage, the town and church patronage are next found in the possession
of the Lord of Pilkington, who lived in the adjoining parish of Prestwich. John de Pilkyngton
was Rector of Bury in 1367. |
| Many changes had taken place in the 14th century. Edward III. had
undertaken a great war with France, since known as the first part of the Hundred years'
War. This was followed by the disease known as the "Black Death." These two events led
to a great shortage of labourers on the land the ploughing and tilling of which fell into
decay. . From agriculture, large tracts of land were turned into pasture, and sheep were
reared in flocks for the sake of the wool. It was at this time that Bury appears to have
become a centre for both wool and woollen cloth. The 15th century saw the concluding
portion of the Hundred Years' War, and the end of English hopes of dominions in France.
This was quickly followed by the clash of arms in our own land. The bitter struggle of
the Wars of the Roses occurred. Sir Thomas Pilkington was at this period Lord of Bury,
Bolton and Pilkington. He was High Sheriff of Lancashire in the 3rd, 5th, 13th and 22nd
years of Edward IV's reign. He fought on the side of Richard III., at Bosworth ; and for
this, was attainted for treason, and executed. His estates were confiscated, and given to
Thomas, Lord Stanley, who, for his services to Henry Tudor, was created Earl of Derby.
From 1485, the Stanley family have been the Lords of the Manor of Bury. |
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