Bury Market was literally at the heart of the town for hundreds of years, but in the last 150 years it's moved steadily. A question to consider: when and where will the next move be? Land prices on the east of the city centre seem to be soaring, and you never know. As a warning to Bury's market-lovers, consider what happened in Blackburn, and be very afraid.
The area now covered by the Metrolink was used as a dedicated part-time fairground. It was next to the abbatoirs (lovely!) so must have whiffed at the best of times. I'm also thinking about the circus animals picking up the smell of blood and death....
Perhaps that's why the only circus reference I've come across is for a menagerie that visited, but pitched itself at Radcliffe Bridge. The newspaper advert (1869) waxed lyrical and covered most of a column - and when you remember this was printed in about point 8 size, you get the idea - a huge amount of front page coverage. I've enlarged it and given you the lot....plus an interesting photo......
Perhaps that's why the only circus reference I've come across is for a menagerie that visited, but pitched itself at Radcliffe Bridge. The newspaper advert (1869) waxed lyrical and covered most of a column - and when you remember this was printed in about point 8 size, you get the idea - a huge amount of front page coverage. I've enlarged it and given you the lot....plus an interesting photo......
If you google Martini Maccomo, and Manders Grand National Star Menagerie, you'll get some great links that show exactly what kind of caravans and showgrounds this outfit was taking round the country. Thanks to Tyne and Wear Museums and Archives for putting materials online, and a continued yah boo to the Bury bureaucrats who continue to date to prevent researchers from displaying 'their' images, freely given into their trust by generations of interested and motivated local history lovers. (written 12/02/2016)
For YOU, the lover of local history, try trawling the local papers' archives for yet more of these glorious snippets. You can do this for free on microfilm in the library - beware seasickness, a known side effect of microfilm usage - or by simply paying the British Library your hard earned cash you can browse the British Newspaper Archive online. Look for their offers - they sometimes do 50% off deals, which has got to be a good thing.
For YOU, the lover of local history, try trawling the local papers' archives for yet more of these glorious snippets. You can do this for free on microfilm in the library - beware seasickness, a known side effect of microfilm usage - or by simply paying the British Library your hard earned cash you can browse the British Newspaper Archive online. Look for their offers - they sometimes do 50% off deals, which has got to be a good thing.