The Snake Pit is the gym founded by British wrestler Billy Riley, at the time when he decided to teach catch-as-catch-can
wrestling. It stood on a small plot of land that he bought in Wigan, in Lancashire in the 1950''s. The place gradually gained wide recognition; women and children are not allowed, and amenities such are toilets are absent. Riley himself became proverbial for his tough and rigid training. It is said that his mottoes are: "Billy Riley is always right" and "you can never train too hard" Champions such as Karl Gotch and Billy Robinson were among those who trained there. But the growing popularity of "show"
wrestling contributed to the gym''s decline, and the Snake Pit soon fell into disrepair. Later, a former student named Roy Wood took over, prompted by his young son''s desire to learn catch wrestling, and reopened the gym, with Riley as its overseer and adviser. This time children are allowed to be taught in its premises. Wood continued to coach and run the place even after Riley''s death in 1977.In the mid-80''s a local TV network made a documentary focusing on the apparent lack of training
resources for British wrestlers. Through that the Snake Pit caught the attention of the Sports Council, who offered to rebuild the place. The gym soon relocated to its present location in Aspull, where it was reorganized as the Aspull Olympic Wrestling Club.