origin of name

what is the origin of the placename The Rock?

Up to 1935 The Rock as it is now known was four streets; Fleet Street, Rock Street, Stanley Street and Water Street in order from the Parish Church to Moorgate. In that year Bury Borough Council decided that the whole length should be named The Rock. It is not easy finding the reason why the word Rock was used, but the town centre of Bury is built on a sandstone rock which overlooked the River Irwell behind the Parish Church and extended south until it became marshland on the area known as The Mosses. It is probably very likely that Rock Street (which was the length between Tithebarn Street and Rochdale Road) was named after this rocky precipice and subsequently The Rock continued to use this connection in its name.