Bury Art Museum

About the museum

Bury Art Museum began with a gift. To mark Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897, the family of the local mill owner Thomas Wrigley offered the town the collection of paintings, watercolours, sculpture and decorative pieces he had put together, on condition that a building was provided to house it. The town council accepted, took steps to fund a combined library and art gallery, and the building was constructed between 1897 and 1901. It was opened by Lord Derby in October 1901.

A museum of local history was opened in the basement soon afterwards. Its early collections included natural history, geology and objects from around the world given by local collectors. From the 1960s the museum began to collect mainly local and social history, and after the creation of the Metropolitan Borough of Bury in 1974 it widened its scope to the whole borough, and took in the surviving collections of the former Radcliffe Museum.

Today the Grade II listed building houses the art museum, a sculpture centre linked to the Irwell Sculpture Trail, the museum, the local archives and Bury Library. The permanent collection is led by the Wrigley paintings, above all J. M. W. Turner's Calais Sands at Low Water, and the museum also cares for a Pilkington's pottery collection and a text art archive. Entry is free.

Highlights

• J. M. W. Turner's Calais Sands at Low Water
• Wrigley collection of Victorian paintings
• Museum of Bury local and social history in the basement
• Sculpture Centre linked to the Irwell Sculpture Trail
• Pilkington's pottery and text art collections

Permanent exhibitions

• Wrigley collection of paintings – Victorian paintings given to the town by the Wrigley family, including J. M. W. Turner's Calais Sands at Low Water and works by Landseer. Some pieces are in store during the roof works.
• Museum of Bury – Local and social history displays in the basement, including toys, archaeology and everyday life in the borough.

Founded

1901

Operated by

Bury Council

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry to the museum and its exhibitions is free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum says the building is fully wheelchair accessible, with a ramp beside the Moss Street entrance and a lift to all floors. Chairs are available in the galleries, large print exhibition information is on request, and an assisted toilet and baby changing area are provided. An autism-friendly welcome guide is in preparation.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations: not available
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities

Families are welcome and all floors can be reached by lift. Family workshops and holiday activities are announced on the What's On page. The exhibitions are not usually interactive. Baby changing is in the basement.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Lockers: not available

Bury Art Shop sells art, crafts, prints, jewellery and books, and a comic shop is in the foyer. The museum has no locker facilities.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Up to 200 guests.

Hire of the Sculpture Centre (up to 200 guests), Gallery B (up to 75) and Gallery D (up to 150). Events are for guests aged 18 and over; technical support is available.

Plan your visit