Nostalgic memories of Bury's local history

Share your own memories of Bury and read what others have said

For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.

Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.

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Displaying Memories 11 - 16 of 16 in total

My great-grandfather, David Arthur Hardman, was the architect for the Textile Hall in Bury. His son, my grandfather, William Percy Hardman, was also an architect, who emigrated to Boston, then New York in 1911.
Bury market was famous and its modern version, though not as interesting, still is. We used to go to the market and buy one of Thompson's black puddings, piping hot in a grease-proof paper, The man would split it and put plenty of mustard on. There was the roast potato man, vegetable stalls, fish stalls and the famous Cheap Jack. He used to gather crowds round his stall with his patter and his household ...see more
Walmersley Road Recreation ground was later renamed Clarence Park. This is the bandstand where on summer Sunday afternoons there would be a band concert and deck chairs (strictly for the older generation of course). The house in the distance was the park keeper's residence, and woe betide any child who was caught walking on the flower beds. There was a large rock near the park entrance which carried a metal plaque. The ...see more
Kay Gardens was the terminus for all bus services from surrounding districts and towns. On this photograph, the large building at the back of the picture was the Co-op, which was at that time a department store, but also housed a restaurant on the first floor, widely used by office workers at lunch times, and of course for funeral parties. At the far right of the picture is the dome for the old indoor market. Kay Gardens ...see more
The awnings on the left of this picture show the location of Woolworths, whilst Marks and Spencers was a little further up on the right hand side. The building immediately before Woolworths was a bank and over the top was Joseph, Thompson and Marsdens Acountants.
By the 1940s the Grammar School had been rebuilt in Tenterden Street. The building in the photograph became The Wylde Clinic which was the centre for mothers and babies and of course housed the 'dreaded' school dentist. My younger brother went to the Wylde Clinic for 'sunray treatment' where all the children had to wear goggles to protect their eyes. The Wylde Clinic was still operating in the 1960s for mothers and babies, ante-natal care and school health referrals.