Waterstones in Preston always has a section downstairs of Preston heritage books. Usually more upstairs.
There are a lot of other books although many appeal more to the nostalgia market, which is usually history in living memory and often based on photographs, than a full local history research. Some of the books below haven't been read by myself.
Alan Crosby, Carnegie Publishing
All you need to know and much more from one of Preston's top serious historians, alive anyway. A must have.
A well written and researched book about Preston Borough Police. Published in 2021.
Published in 2015 by Preston City Parish. An interesting and well researched book containing a general history of Preston with some emphasis on church matters..
The story of 50 buildings such as the Grade 1 listed Harris, combined with the Sessions House pictured on the cover makes for quite a classic scene in the heart of Preston.
The work life of a lorry driver on Preston Docks from the 1960s. Bought this on Kindle for less than the cost of a magazine and it's a good read. I knew the lorries were underpowered but didn't know they were overloaded and the load was insecure. Those were the days!
Hidden histories of Preston
These are only around £1 each, at the original time of writing,so there wasn't much to lose and found they're well written.
Topical subject the Preston War Memorial is now Grade 1 listed in this period of 100 years since the Great War.
St Walburge's spire and inside the church are magnificent. Grade 1 listed.
Throughout the 1960s, there was a feeling of prosperity and progress in Preston. A Lancashire town throwing off the shackles of the cotton trade, it took other industrial and commercial challenges on board. Better roads and transport............ See more at:
https://www.amberley-books.com/preston-in-the-1960s.html#sthash.DQoye1vU.dpuf
Keith Johnson has now written a lot of books many of which are in Waterstones on Fishergate.
The author served his two years National Service in the King's Own Royal Border Regiment reporting to Fulwood Barracks, Preston. For ten weeks, the drill instructors shaped the platoon from a rag tag outfit to smart soldiers. From Fulwood the platoon was sent to Barnard Castle, County Durham and later to the British Cameroons, West Africa for ten months.
This true story is mixed with amusing anecdotes of growing up in post War Britain through the swinging sixties.
A recent book, August 2012, about Leyland. Sounds interesting: utilises a collection of over 40 rare archive images from all corners of Leyland, comparing them with the same scenes of today. Leyland Then and Now by David Hunt and William Waring. History Press.