River Lark/Town Centre

6.00pm 5.7 miles approx in 47.49. Year to date 662 miles, July mileage 127 miles.

Weather: warmer thoughnot particularly sunny.

The Course : Out on the Cullum Road through the water meadows head along the River Lark and return over the 1st bridge along the other side of the river. Head back into Town through the cemetary past the Angel Hotel up Abbeygate Street through town centre and home.

The ivy leafed building above is the Angel Hotel which dates back to the 12th century. It has a prominent position on possibly the prettiest georgian square in the country. I used to work here when I was about 16 in the kitchens. Charles Dickens was a regular visitor to Bury and in Pickwick Papers he calls the town a handsome little place of thriving and cleanly appearance. Dickens stayed at The Angel Hotel, where the Dickens Suite is still available to stay in.

The Athenaeum building pictured above was built in 1714 as Assembley Rooms. It has had many uses as a ball room, exhibition centre and during the 2nd world war was used as a canteen for British and Amerian troops. When the Athenaeum closed as a canteen in 1945 it had served a million and a half servicemen and women.