Austin Visits Bury

A Great Day Out to the Famous Black Pudding Town. July 2018

A glorious Friday morning, sun shining, blue sky and a slight breeze, perfect, checked the wallet for the Senior Citizens Travel Cards (I know I don’t look old enough) and off we went as quiet as possible so as not to wake the old Opel sleeping in its house.

Stretford Station

The Tram Arrives

On Board

Manchester climbing to the Skies

G.Mex (Old Central Station)

Bridgewater Hall

Central Library

Piccadilly

Made It

Poetry Sign ??

First part of the trip was by bus which soon arrived taking us to the Stretford Metrolink Tram Station, once there the electronic signs keep you well informed, it is really a great way to travel if you are lucky enough to have a station not too far away from where you live. Four minutes and one arrived from Altrincham, destination Bury, flashed the card at the electronic reader and off we went, two nice seats just sit back and relax. The trip takes about forty minutes and is really interesting, it passes the ground where that other team play, then Old Trafford the home of Lancashire Cricket Club, next is an interchange for trams to Media City, Lowery Centre, Eccles (home of the cakes) and the Airport, before too long you go down on to the streets of central Manchester, passing G Mex (the old Central Station) now known under the posh name of the Manchester Central Convention Centre used for Political Party meetings among other things as well as programmes such as Ninja Warrior not much difference really. Next you pass the Bridgewater Hall home of the wonderful Halle Orchestra and many concerts of all types, this year including, Sir Cliff and Duane Eddy, yes Duane Eddy “Because They’re Young” Rebel Rouser” I must be getting old. You soon arrive at the centre of the city Piccadilly before passing down Market Street and right towards Victoria Station and the sad entrance to the Manchester Arena which I’m sure we all remember only too well. From the City its off out into the country, Heaton Park, Prestwich, Besses o’ th Barn, Whitefield, Radcliffe and Bingo you’ve arrived at the Bury Interchange.

Station Opening Plaque

Town Centre Map

Welcome to Bury

Mill Gate

General View

Fish n Chips

General View

Stalls

To say this shopping area is massive is an understatement, every kind of product you can imagine, the Market just goes on forever, passageway after passageway, fresh foods of every description, lots of cafe’s indoor and outdoor catering for all tastes, wonderful cake stalls, bread stalls, everything including of course the Famous Original Bury Black Puddings, one stall Chadwick’s is manned by, yes you’ve guessed a Merry Mason, they have been making them since 1865, not him personally of course, the other top class stand close by is the Black Pudding Company. There is a Fresh Fish and Meat Hall, and all the usual shops to be found like the type you will find in towns all over the country, I could go on forever but I think it would be best to let the pictures do the talking, besides all the stalls it is full of local character and characters, I found one such person when I sat at a very up market cafe which seated at least 20 people for a lovely bacon barm, he apparently goes there every day for the same sandwich, yes everyday!!

Fish n Meat

The Stalls go on Forever

Fresh Flowers

Find A Film

754. Ditto

Stalls

More Stalls It goes on Forever

Don’t be put off by the size of this wonderful Bury Centre it never feels congested or over crowded even though it attracts 250,000 visitors every week and has won market of the year several times, one stall which I enjoyed is called “Find a Film”, old movies, long forgotten TV series, live music performances etc, they either have it on site or if not they will tell you within a couple of minutes if it can still be got hold of and if you would like it when it will arrive, amazing.

Bury Black Puddings

Cooked Meats

Best Food Market

Stalls 100’s of Em

The pudding Sign

Hog Roast

The Bacon Barm

Pre Packed Foods

Sign

Before setting off back to Urmston enjoyed a nice pint in Ye Olde World Pub, it really is well worth a trip for you and yours, go on mention it and get going.

Indoors

Bury Roast

Other Black Puds

Black Pudding Stall

A Merry Mason

Many Shops Inside

Shopping Map

Feel Like Knitting

Here’s looking forward to the coming Mark Mason season and Many Thanks to all who were present at Grand Lodge in June when I was presented with a Grand Steward’s Chain, Keith our PGM, all the Provincial Executive, my Area Special Rep, my newly made friend Graham who was also made a Grand Steward and members from West Lancs who made me feel very special, the best day of my Masonic career so far, here’s to the next meeting to see old friends and those I have yet to meet.