Walmersley - History

History

The name Walmersley is said to be derived from Old English, and translates as Waldmer's wood, or clearing.

Once a rural village in the wilds of Lancashire, in recent decades, it has become a northern suburb of Bury. Old stone cottages remain in the area, but much of the district's housing is of post-war construction.

The A56 (Walmersley Road) links Walmersley with Bury to the south and Shuttleworth, Ramsbottom and Edenfield to the north. Before this 'new' road was built the road north from Bury followed the line of Walmersley Old Road. The old 'coach road' went through Baldingstone and Nangreaves and onto Hardern Moor and beyond to Shuttleworth and Edenfield. Junctions led to the then thriving mills in Deeply Vale and Birtle Dene. Deeply Vale has more contemporary fame as the location of the Deeply Vale Festivals. The old road was one of the many roads in East Lancashire constructed by John Metcalf, perhaps better known as Blind Jack Metcalf, a civil engineer from Knaresborough.

The Walmersley conservation area was designated in November 2003. It covers Christ Church, its churchyard, the former school and school master's house, together with the adjacent Spur Petroleum site which contains the former Walmersley Brewery buildings. The whole site is an excellent record of a small but important part of Walmersley, and illustrates generally well preserved elements of stone built ecclesiastical and industrial architecture from the mid to late 19th century. Some of these buildings were severely damaged in a fire, suspected to have been deliberate by one party or another...this is disputed especially by those wanting to develop the land. New residential buildings have now been erected on the Spur site with the retention and reuse of some of the older buildings.

The main industry and largest employer in Walmersley is Tetrosyl, the largest manufacturer and supplier of car care products in the United Kingdom. Based in Bevis Green Works, the company is privately owned with an annual turnover of over £80 million, producing oils and lubricants, refinishing, and DIY products.