Adam Ridings (1820-1894) of Bury Lancashire

[RuslanPashayev]

Barbara,brilliant find,appreciate a lot,which year is that map, 1849 you said, huh so it still existed at that time ?,heres what I see,could you please confirm the location,I marked it with red color square...thanks again.

[RuslanPashayev]

The Map

[Barbara.H]

Yes, that's the one. It's definitely Lancashire something isn't it?

Could try this map site as well which is free to use
http://maps.nls.uk/
but I couldn't see this 1849 map on their collection, unless I missed it.

  Barbara

[RuslanPashayev]

yeah it looks like it says - Lancashire Wrestler...which street it would be on the current maps??? you mentioned - somewhere underneath the Walmersley Road roundabout.

[RuslanPashayev]

I wonder how it was possible to place 3,000 people to spectate championship in 1846 at Littlewood Cross near Bury.  any ideas??? wooden stand with seats??? they didnt have stadiums and arenas back then, it should have been something very simple.

[Maiden Stone]

Little Wood Cross. Road running north from Bury, " passing Chesham, Little Wood Cross and Limefield to Walmersley and Haslingden."
From British History Online: Townships: Bury  (Victoria County History series)
www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol5/pp128-133

[Maiden Stone]

Adam married Martha in 1842,all mentions of his beer-selling business follow that event...I didnt know Adam was married prior to his marriage with Martha...unmarried,wow...he was like 22 when he married Martha,I wonder how long lasted his first marriage.

Where did you get the information that Adam's marriage to Martha was a 2nd marriage?
"Adam Ridings, collier, bachelor"  ( marriage to Martha transcribed on LAN OPC.)

1841 census:
 Adam and John Ridings,  colliers, were at Fernhill, apparently lodging with John Lord & family. No female Ridings with them. John Lord + sons were also colliers. An older Adam Ridings b. c1796 was with a woman in Tottington. Possibly a relative of the younger Adam?

[RuslanPashayev]

Oh OK I see now, there was another Older Adam Ridings who was unmarried...yeah looks like our Adam Champion Wrestler was married only once to Martha Lomax. I wonder if theres a chance to find any additional materials on his sporting career,in 1844 he was runner-up at Nudger Sports (Bagslate Races) and in 1847 he won Championship at Manchester Easter Wrestling for Lancashire Men (12 miles around Manchester.

[RuslanPashayev]

I was thinking about local Bury newspapers in the 40s, both famous Bury papers, Times and Free Press came into existence in the mid 50's... I wonder if they had any major newspaper in the 40s.
Ridings was sporting celebrity number one...Champion Wrestler, I recall article which literally called him the best wrestler of Greater Manchester areas (Salford Hundred).