Preston GuildThe 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. Although the theme is becoming less business and more socially oriented more recently. To be a Burgess entitled you to trade in the town. Outsiders couldn't trade. The entitlement of the Burgesses was established in a Royal Charter. The first one known being in 1179 from Henry II. 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
* Subject to Change
Previous Guilds1328 the first recorded Guild. Guild Mayor; Aubrey, Son of Robert. Interesting that the town was burnt by Robert the Bruce 1322. 1397 1415 1459 1500 1542 1562 1582 1602 1622 1642 1662 1682 1702 1722 1742 1762 1782 1802 1842 1862 1882 1902 1922 1952 1972 1992
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