Compiled by.....M.Birtwistle.

The sporting instincts of the people of Bury have been revealed in many fields but in the early years no greater successes were achieved than those of the cricket team.

In 1845 the Bury Cricket Club was established and started matches on a field at Townside. Unfortunately, however, their stay was short owing to the arrival of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company whose goods yard was built over most of the fields around that area.

The club then moved to Foundary Street but once again new development caught up with them when Lord Street was opened up and the building of Barlow's mill, afterwards referred to as "Th' Cricket Field Mill." This was in 1852 and at last the club was able to establish permanent quarters at Buckley Wells where it was undisturbed until 1922.

In its long lifetime the club has numbered amongst its members a host of outstanding sportsmen whose achievements could fill a book, but the mid-nineteenth century exploits of the team, recorded long ago by "Senex." a chronicler of the time  provide a fascinating insight into the early days of cricket in the town.

By all accounts they had some great players and once went through four seasons without defeat. In the 1860's they once beat a United England Eleven- but Bury had twenty-two players. In those days many sides were unmatched and a system of 'handicapping' was resorted to, the stronger teams agreeing to leave out certain of their best men. The 'experts' were in great demand for three-a-side single wicket matches which were a feature of the game during that period.

After seventy years of cricket at Buckley Wells the club moved over to the Sports Club and Bury Grammar School substituted football on the old ground, on which appeared the Chinese pagoda.

The pagoda began life at the queen Victoria Golden Jubilee Exhibition in Manchester in 1887 and was then purchased by Bury Cricket Club and erected at Buckley Wells. In the 1920's it became a football dressing room and its oriental splendour, perhaps somewhat tarnished, continued for many years until it was demolished in 1972. 

In 1995 the Cricket Club celebrated its 150th year and saw the inauguration of an under 11 team to compliment the under 13 and under 15 teams already in existence.  This year (1999) the set is almost complete with an under 14 team getting underway.  The club now boasts one of the strongest junior sections in the area which includes under 11's, 12's, 13's,14's.15's and 18's.

Thanks to the Bury Times for the information.