Examining Preston’s Fossilised Past

It’s difficult even with help of study and older relatives to imagine the days when Britain was a leader in domestic manufacturing. Factories, mines, and shipping have largely been superseded by gleaming office blocks, shopping centres and colourful high streets. Massive outsourcing of labour, coinciding with a rapid period of decolonisation introduced commerce to the fact that both labour and resources were plentiful abroad; and both could be gathered cheaper than in Britain where, as a developed nation, wages and prices of goods are higher. read article »

Things to do near Preston: Rufford Old Hall

The Great Hall at Rufford Old Hall

Located a 20-minute drive down the A59, Rufford Old Hall is a National Trust property and a good afternoon out if you fancy some history and culture. read article »

OLD PUBS OF PRESTON – A BRIEF INTRODUCTION

Inns, taverns and beer houses in Preston in the early to mid-1800’s were largely different from what we might imagine.
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Give your views on Preston’s city status

The thoughts of Preston’s people are to be captured in a ‘participatory documentary’ this weekend, as the ‘Going Up Town’ booth makes its way around the city. read article »

Old photos discovered of Avenham & Miller Parks

Photos have been discovered of Avenham & Miller Park during the Victorian era. read article »

Mapping Preston’s old and current pubs

The number of pubs is rapidly in decline in Preston and thanks to data found via the Preston Lancs forum I’ve been mapping Preston’s pubs.

The majority of them on this map are closed down but some are still going. Now I need your help to improve it and increase the list, apparently there were up to 350 pubs in Preston at one point during the 1900s. read article »

What makes Preston’s history special?

Ahead of the 2012 Preston Guild, the Harris Museum is asking what makes Preston’s history special for a new exhibition. read article »

Preston dock crane driver Richard Taylor

After the posting of photos and videos of Preston Docks on the web, I wanted to speak to someone who had worked there during its heyday – and one man appeared in many of the photos, Richard Taylor. read article »

St Joseph’s Orphanage

Down Theatre Street in Preston (near the Post Office) is the former St Joseph’s Orphanage or Mount Street Hospital as it became know. read article »

Glimpse of Preston’s old docks

Photos and videos posted on the web have revealed what Preston’s old working docks were like in their heyday. read article »

Autumn walk at Preston Cemetery

You can take a special walk around Preston Cemetery in the final guided tour of the year. read article »

Preston Corn Exchange: The wrong statue?

It’s easy to dislike the statue in front of the corn exchange (what is now The Assembly pub). The sculpture uses a lumpen style which provokes people to like or dislike it. The statue cannot be easily dismissed for its artistic merit – or lack of  – per se, however. The sculptor, for example, clearly knew their Goya and their Manet. read article »