| CHURCH LAND |
| Much of the land to the north and east of the Parish Church was
glebe land, or agricultural land belonging to the church. Sometimes the Rector farmed
the land for himself, and sometimes he let it to others who paid him in tithe, and the
living of the clergy was obtained in this way. The town was increasing quickly about
the middle of the 18th century, and the then Rector, the Revd. Hon. John Stanley,
obtained parliamentary powers allowing him to grant leases of land for building purposes ;
the ground rents received in this way benefitting the stipend of the benefice. There
were many large fields near the church divided up and leased. The chief ones were :-
(a) Churchfield, (b) Mossfield, (c) Smithyfield, (d) Listerfield, and (e) the Chipfield.
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| The Churchfield extended from the Market Place to Clough Street,
extending back in depth to King and Princess Streets.
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| The Mossfield was situated east of the Churchfield, and covered
the land from Moss Lane, the present Market Ground, the Mosses to Spring and Heywood Streets.
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| The Smithfield commenced near the Rectory garden, and covered
what is now Paradise Street, Tithebarn Street, Rock Street, to Eden Street.
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| The Chipfield reached from Eden Street, Hornby Street, to Walmersley
Road, and back via Stanley to Eden Street.
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| The Listerfield covered the land from Butcher Lane, to Earl and Barlow
Street and in depth nearly to Barnbrook.
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| Having obtained power to grant leases of land, the Honourable Rector
proceeded to let leases for his own and the church's benefit. Streets were formed, and
houses were built. Stanley Street and John Street are undoubtedly named after this cleric ;
who also gave a piece of land for the site of St. John's Church, cut out of the Listerfield.
Rock Street would appear to be an abbreviation of Rochdale Street.
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| The town was now spreading in every direction from its centre ; the
busy works of Messrs. Peel and Yates, covering Bury Ground and over to the Tentersfield ;
and from this time Bury's progress was rapid. In 1773, the population was 2,070, but in
1801 had risen to 7,072. This meant the pulling down of much which was old and putting
up much which was thought to be modern, but which has since given place to decent property
at least. The next Rector was Sir William Henry Clerke, Bart., who continued the letting
out of plots and parcels on short leases. Clerke Street, William Street, and Henry Street
were laid out; so also were the Union Square and Street. When the houses round the Square
had been built, they were looked upon as almost palatial mansions, and many of the most
influential townspeople lived in the Square. In 1818 the Rev. Geoffrey Hornby was Rector.
Hornby Street received its name from this divine, and out of the Mossfield, streets such as
Edward, George, Frederick, and Wyndham came into existence. As Rector Hornby had four sons
with these names, the nomenclature is clearly arrived at. And so the list grew as the building
went on.
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| In 1791 a company called the Manchester, Bolton, and Bury Canal Co.
was formed, and five years later coal was brought to the town by barges, an event hailed
with much rejoicing. This construction of the canal brought with it a new form of enjoyment.
On Sundays and at fair time, the Canal Company arranged trips to Bolton by boat, and these
proved very popular until one of the boats was overturned through the rowdy conduct of some
of the passengers, and several persons were drowned.
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