ALSTON HALL COLLEGE
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Alston Hall College is about 6 miles east of the border of Preston and holds residential and day courses mainly art, craft, pottery, music, nature, astronomy and local history sort of thing. It is set in a very attractive location overlooking the Ribble Valley and is quite isolated from traffic although not far from Junction 31a of the M6. It's a very homely place, at peace with the world except that it seems to be eternally worried about where its finance is coming from. It was originally a Victorian house but was purchased by Preston Council and became a teachers training college for a while. It then became a College of Further Education. There is a sad story related to its first Principal who was killed in a road accident near the college only a few months after marrying in 1966, his wife, who was deputy became the next Principal and was, it seems, revered and has just died herself a had a large obituary (September 2007). A day course there is a very pleasant experience especially if the weather is kind and you can wander round the gardens and enjoy the view. There are always a lot of good cakes and biscuits freely available at breaks. A special feature are the meals which are very good. There is also a bar, and bedrooms for residential courses. We went on an astronomy course several years ago that was very interesting as there are large telescopes and a planetarium and it's very dark round there. A group called the Friends of Alston Hall put out a newsletter and have events, talks and working parties. There are courses 7 days a week and a regular programme. Alston Hall College |
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