Preston Guild

The next Preston Guild will be 2012. Same year as the London Olympics. Since 1179 a guild fair has been run in Preston and since 1542 approximately every 20 years except for 1942 which was moved to 1952, the year after the Festival of Britain in London.

The guild was originally to promote the traders of the town, a sort of business union, and was run by Burgesses as an official body. Now the guild is a celebration of the town, now city, businesses who set up tableaux on the back of large vehicles which parade through the city during Guild week.

The Guild has spawned many things, for example, the phrase 'every Preston Guild' meaning something that doesn't happen very often. There is a Fuschia called Preston Guild. A quick look on the internet will find guild medals dating to 1700's, there are also songs, beer and books. Prestons main Theatre and Concert Hall is in the Guild Hall.

 

Preston Guild 2012 Major Civic Timetable

Sun 2 September Guild Mayor's Civic Procession and Divine Service at Minster
Mon 3 September Opening of the Guild Court
Guild Inaugural Ball*
Wed 5 September Guild Mayoral Ball*
 Thur 6 September Mayoral reception for Oversees Visitors
Fri 7 September Guild Mayoress' Church Procession
Carnival Ball*
Sat 8 September Formal Adjournment of Guild Court
Grand Firework Display and Final Reception
Sun 9 September Guild Mayor's Church Procession to service of Thanksgiving

* Subject to Change

 

Link to Preston Council Website Guild 2012 Page.

link to the Preston Guild Facebook Group Link to the Preston Guild 2012 Facebook Group, official.

 

 

 
1 January, 2010 Contact the site author