blogging about the area of Preston, Lancashire and there-abouts
Main theme and general stuff about Preston.
Spud Bros have been putting the banter into the baked potato with novel fillings from their stall in an old Tram on the Preston Flag Market. Backed up by a successful 3 million following on TikTok and a good range of banter. Their pop up stall in Soho, London, made national news in The Times 18th April.
The new larger Preston stall has long queues and a planning application has been submitted for a larger but temporary set up on the Flag Market.
Photograph on Friday 25th April below.
The big question is will Preston North End be relegated in May? After losing the last 3 games and not winning in recall of memory the chances are it’s possible but optimistically unlikely.
Preston’s goal difference makes it hard for Luton, Cardiff or Plymouth to overtake PNE. Although Luton could do it with a win and a draw if PNE get no more points. Luton play Coventry and WBA which would be quite tough games normally, Coventry in a play off position.
This Saturday against Plymouth appears a good opportunity for Preston but Plymouth have won a few games recently and PNE have developed a way of losing up to the last minute.
You wouldn’t swap places with Derby though.
PNE to stay up positioned 18th. Derby or Luton to go down with Cardiff and Plymouth.
Some stats, largely thanks to the BBC website.
Standings on Tuesday 22nd April 2025
All played 44 games, 2 to go.
Possible relegation candidates:
16th Portsmouth 52pts GD -13 Max pts 58
17th Stoke 50pts GD -15 Max pts 56
18th Preston 49pts GD -10 Max pts 55
19th Oxford 49pts GD -18 Max pts 55
20th Hull 48pts GD -9 Max pts 54
21st Derby 46pts GD –9 Max pts 52
Relegation Positions:
22nd Luton 46pts GD -23 Max pts 52
23rd Cardiff 43pts GD -23 Max pts 49
24th Plymouth 43pts GD -37 Max pts 49
Still to play each other:
Preston v Plymouth
Hull v Derby
Derby v Stoke
Hull v Portsmouth
Disclaimer: opinion in this post is largely influenced by hope.
It’s the first time we’d been in the Harris Museum and needed hard hats and hi-viz jackets, but it was Friday the 13th. Our tour was arranged for members of the Friends of the Harris as a preview of the building before they start bringing in the collections. We were generously guided by Programmes & Collections Manager, James, and by Fundraising & Development Officer, Robina.
The first room visited was the Family Library although temptingly we could see the Ground Floor Rotunda which would enable sight of the main feature of the building which is the view up 100feet and the new lantern roof.
The Harris Rotunda and the new lantern ceiling window from where the awe inducing Foucault Pendulum will swing, demonstrating our planet’s rotation.
The rooms look large without furniture and collections. This will be the entrance room from Lancaster Road, note the uncovered fireplaces:
Looking up the stairs:
The First Floor Discover Preston Gallery will have a light refresh but will be largely unchanged. The Harris Office has moved down into the basement creating a new gallery space and IT Hub, and the Reading Rooms will also host events.
The first floor with a view of the Miller Arcade upper floors. The museum format will be a ‘blended’ display where related items will be displayed together rather than divided by collection.
The Balcony Area on the upper floor. The tone of the wall paint is darker on higher floors where the light is brighter.
The frieze between floors:
Looking down: 
Looking up to the Egyptian Gallery:
A closer view of the lantern:
Down in the basement, the staff office and collections storage will take up some of the space:
Other areas seen were the modern toilet facilities in the area next to the Flag Market and the new location for the cafe on the ground floor. Also the new stairs at the Lancaster Road side.
The big question is; When will it re-open? You may ask but let’s say next year just in case.
It was a good tour mirroring the one we had after the building was emptied and before the work began in 2022.
Here’s our Harris webpage which has a short piece about our last visit on the 6th May 2022. Click here
Here’s a post dated 2022 on our blog about ‘the Harris your place’. The original proposal – Click here
Here’s a post on this blog about The Friends of the Harris visit to the Lancashire Conservation Studio. Click here
A special visit to the Lancashire Conservation Studio in Preston with the Friends of the Harris Museum and Art Gallery. We were advised not to photograph anything that had been sent from other organisations.
After an introduction by members of the studio team we were divided into 2 groups and taken to meet the conservators at work. It’s an interesting building, being an old church.
The first stop was the Bond Mini which was built in Preston and developed from 1949 to 1966. A three wheel car benefitting from lower tax as it had no reverse and was 3 wheels. This is an early model and is basically a motorcycle engine on a simple chassis with aluminium body. Tiny wheels and front wheel drive. Quite stylish.
The first piece of conservation is the bust of Clytie being cleaned before returning to the Harris at its re-opening. The cleaned section on upper cheek is distinct.
Another piece of work from the Harris are the Ceylon Tea containers depicting tea picking scenes.
There is an old sewing machine of a type not widely known. It looks like it might be a working tool of the studio.
We were also shown the painting restoration area and how a bridge had been made for the conservators to get above large paintings.
En-route to the Studio we walked along Church Street. It was a wet day. Many of the buildings are in dis-repair yet they have more character than many parts of central Preston. The Old Dog Inn being one:
Next to the Old Dog Inn is an old warehouse.
A bit further along we come to The Bluebell Inn and another interesting building. Behind is Cotton Court an old part of the area where the original Yellow Factory stood.
The Lamb is another pub with an interesting Georgian looking face.
A good day to walk around Moor Park, Preston. At first sight it doesn’t look significant but this park was on Preston Moor where a battle raged in the Civil War 1648 between the Roundheads and the Royalists. The park is also home to the former grammar school’s, Preston Boys Grammar, and Preston Park School for Girls. Both have interesting buildings although no longer grammar schools.
Preston’s first Observatory is on the park and it still operates although there is another new one near Longridge in a darker place operated by UCLAN, University of Central Lancashire.
Next door is Deepdale, home of Preston North End since 1878. The park is a large field surrounded by trees which is used for sport. The BBC Radio 2 Weekend in the Park was held here 6th to 8th September 2024. It was very popular although the whole country was caught in a storm.
Sir Tom Finney. Splash! A statue of the famous photograph taken at Stamford Bridge at Deepdale the home of Preston North End. Just behind Tom is the large mural of Dick Kerr’s Ladies Football Team. There is a photo on this blog.
The view of Deepdale from across Deepdale Road, in Moor Park.
Moor Park with the grass churned by the BBC Radio 2 in the Park.
The pond in Moor Park.
Beyond the pond is Blackpool Road with its avenue of trees. Prematurely taking a strong autumn tint very attractive in the sun.
Moor Park Observatory usually open on Heritage Open Days, September every year.
The fascinating Bricklayers display as paraded in the 1952 Preston Guild. Preston Guilds have been held for hundreds of years and continue every 20 years. Next one 2032.
Moor Park High School. Formerly Preston Boys Grammar.
Moor Park Primary School. Formerly Preston Park School Girls Grammar. 
This is a good stroll on a nice day.
Today it’s a walk in the area north of the Preston Covered Market. An area being renewed and retaining some of the old. As ever stirring some memories.
This impressive terrace is home to several small businesses and apartmetns. On the corner of Market Street and Orchard Street was once one of the most popular pubs in Preston for a time around 1970. The Jolly Farmer, a large, smart pub for the time, with three bars and a restaurant.
Just across Orchard Street is The Market Tavern, always a traditional style pub, can’t say I’ve ever been in.
On the far right of the photo of the Market Tavern sits this Blue Plaque. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism preached on this site 15th April 1790. Presented by the Methodist People of Preston 24th May 1988.
The scallop shell is the emblem of the Apostle James and his association with pilgrimage. The vertical veins representing the many journeys leading to one point, God. The shell would be carried by pilgrims as a form of passport.
Turning east we see the new cinema complex being built next to the Victorian Covered Market which is Grade II listed and one of the largest in the country.
The Animate Cinema and Leisure Centre will have 8 screens, 16 lanes of bowling, several eating places.
‘Preston is my Paris’. These were in a previous post when they were in Avenham. These Preston ladies modelling and the name first used in the 2012 Guild. Very good.
The new Animate Cinema and Leisure Complex veiwed from the east.
On the right the Lancastria, a fine Art Deco Building, built as a showpiece for the Co-op in the 1930s but not listed by Historic England. Let’s hope a good use is found for it.
Many of the pillars supporting the Covered Market have a name on them. W Allsup, Preston 1875 is one, the Main Building Contractor. The two originally employed builders having backed out during a troubled beginning.
The ‘Black A Moor Head’ pub on Lancaster Road.
Right to Left: Duchy House, Palatine House, former Elizabeth House all DWP or formerly DWP. The latter now being Bishopgate Gardens when viewed better from the other side, see below. Which shows what can be done. In any event the below is imposing.
Bishopgate Gardens, quite a surprise coming round the corner and seeing this. Named after a narrow street along the side. This shows, even more, what can be done.
The Holiday Inn and on the right the bus station. The curving building still looks smart after all this time.
The back of the Palatine House offices shown above and in front a place recalled as ‘The Piper’ in the late 60s and 70s. A club with live cabaret style and disco. Plus chicken in a basket.
Preston Bus Station pedestrian area.
City Mosque Preston, a former church. Quite an attractive building. Built as a Wesleyan Methodist Church in 1838 and modified in 1885. Becoming a Pentecostal Church before becoming a Moscque in 2016.
On Lancaster Road, north of Ringway. Looking down Elizabeth Street. The isolated office building has been there a long time. Further down is All Saints Church with its impressive columns.
Still on Lancaster Road. Hard to believe this was once a popular pub, around 1970, ‘The Lancaster’. People would pile in here on music nights. There was a popular band, or group, led by a singer called Bob. After some deep thinking the name was The Bobcats, sort of fits in. They were very good with a full sound, probably the best in Preston. 
This building has a grand frontage. All Saints Parish Church in Elizabeth Street. Built in 1848 by subscriptions from cotton workers and with a minister who had formerly been teaching them the bible without a church. These were lean years and the amounts raised were impressive. The church was given the title ‘The Poor Man’s Church’. Ref the church website.
A lady is pruning the bushes in the photo. She said the congregation is keeping up well with many students.
The impressive Crown Court on Ringway, often seen on TV news. The Crown Court handles serious cases and those warranting more than 12 months in prison.
Preston Magistrates Court. Try to stay out of there.
The Foresters’ Hall. The shield on the chimney represents ‘The Ancient Order of Foresters’. In some form this has existed for hundreds of years but in the 19th Century became a Friendly Society, looking after the welfare of people from donations. The Foresters Heritage Trust has a museum in Stoke.
This building is under threat, not just from the tree growing on the roof. Apparently a large building proposal. What is heritage worth? This building’s facade represents a story from the past.
The area around The Foresters’ Hall is called Trinity. The student apartments in the photo below are on a site that was a school used by the Harris College when I went there. It was a very basic place with a few floors with long balcony passages. Most of the classes there seemed to be young teenagers sent on day release from work leading up to ULCI, C&G or ONC, HNC. I know, I did all that and went there.
These buildings have a bit of character.
The Playhouse Theatre in Preston. The shows look interesting but I’ve never been in.
It’s good to have a wide range of buildings.
A narrow road to Friargate. Double yellow lines on both side even though there’s only room for one car. That’s how some motorists are.
Friargate. What a difference pedestrianisation makes! A calming effect and space creating if you want to dance. 
Looking across Ringway from the Black Bull to the Harris Museum.
The Corn Exchange pub on the site of the Public Hall.
Getting closer to the Harris.
Preston Guild Hall. Currently holding the Lancashire Library that was in the Harris. Once sold for £1 and now with two empty or ‘dark’ as they say auditoriums. It’s best feature is the atrium inside and it once, a long time ago, contained a decent shopping centre.
The rear of the Harris. Work is still underway on the left stairway at the back of the building.
The Stanley Arms. An old pub and sporting a tree in the roof as a sign of the times.
The Old Bull with Harry’s Bar plus Hogarths, of mural fame. Slug and Lettuce on the right. Strange that the name was changed from The Bull & Royal which was Preston’s poshest pub for many a long year and features on a well known painting of the general election crowd, well lubricated, in the early 19th Century. 
Popworld on the site of the former Red Lion pub.
This small but prominent part of Preston isn’t the best. The former Odean Cinema which replaced the Gaumont. It’s directly across from the Miller Arcade which is one of Preston’s best buildings.
Nearby was the Ritz and across the road near the Red Lion was the Empire and Palladium. 
That’s another walk and writing this has been an education: Foresters’ Society, shell motifs, the poor people’s church.
Many years ago this week, 23rd July, would have been Preston Wakes Week, usually 2 weeks. The town closed down and everyone went to Blackpool. The factories and shops were closed and even the newspapers weren’t delivered.
Today was a sunny Tuesday and the streets were quiet at 9.30am. The objective was to reach the new Tom Finney mural on North Road taking in the urban scenery and UCLan on the way.
Starting at the Corn Exchange in Lune Street with it’s large brutal statue commemorating the put down of the workers protest nearly 200 years ago.
Then, noticing St George’s Church was open deciding to take look inside, a first, a very nice interior, probably the best in Preston, high-anglican judging by the catholic style statues. St George’s Ward where the shopping centre of the same name stands. The church was built in 1723 but modified several times, the exterior casing over the old church being 1848. I was reading that Real Madrid updated their ground by casing the old one, Preston set a good example.
Crossing Ringway there was a good view of the re-modelled surface of Friargate.
The Black Bull pub, further down than the Black Horse, both feature tiles. It was a Boddington’s pub last time I went in but that was a long time ago, in fact it’s frightening to think it was over 50yrs ago.
Halewood’s Book Shop for old books, there’s another further down Friargate.
The Dog & Partridge pub
The Sun Hotel
The mural of Pauline in the Yellow Dress, painted by Shawne Sharpe, on the side of the Northern Way. Pauline looks to have more attitude than the original.
It was an ambitious purchase of the painting by the Harris Art Gallery some 80yrs ago. Then early in this century buying the actual dress on the painting for the Harris dress collection. Those interested in art know that Pauline is Preston’s Mona Lisa.
Then it’s the last pub on Friargate. The Lamb & Packet
The Lamb & Packet Friargate Preston
Across the roundabout is UCLan and the Adelphi Pub. UCLan having two new buildings; the Innovation Centre and the Student Centre. To keep up with the flavour the Adelphi has been painted blue and a mural of flowers has been painted on the side.
The Adelphi’s mural. Colourful, floral.
The old Harris College Corporation Street building, now UCLan, still stands.
An old Harris building behind the UCLan Innovation block looks so 1960s, which is what it is. It’s unlikely they foresaw that this whole area of Preston would be re-built to accommodate the buildings and student living accommodation.
Behind here was the Engineering Block, about 4 stories high. It had asbestos problems.
An aside. In those days we used slide rules to do calculations, I still have three. In my last year I bought a Sinclair calculator with sines and tangents etc but the battery only lasted about half an hour. Then an awesome Texas TI51 or thereabouts.
Back across the roundabout and along Moor Lane. So called because Preston moor was along there, now Moor Park, believe it or not. But there was a battle on the Moor in the Civil War where Cromwell beat the Royalists. It was a telling victory. Preston’s seen quite a few battles, Jacobites.
The tall building was a telephone exchange.
The last windmill in Preston. There are a few round about, Clifton, north west of Preston, is probably the nearest. I always thought there was a windmill at the back of the Adelphi but perhaps it was an alcohol fuelled hallucination.
There was a pub called the Crossed Keys beyond the old telephone exchange that competed for pie and peas with the Adelphi. Now it’s all student apartments. Quite a shock to see the Urban Hub on the other side of Moor Lane. I wouldn’t have believed it was Preston.
The UCLan Vernon Building looks quaint among the modern architecture.
Next door to the Urban Hub is the building with the Tom Finney mural. Another created by Shawne Sharpe in June 2024. If Pauline is Preston’s Mona Lisa then Tom Finney is Preston’s Pele. He played over 400 times for Preston, and over 70 times for England, scoring 30 international goals.
Is this peak mural?
The former Unicorn Pub and the Moorbrook Pub on North Road
Looking north where Garstang Road begins
Walking back through UCLan. A bit surprising to find these old flats sitting so squat among the higher rise new buildings. They seem to be empty.
The Vinyl Tap pub and music ‘rock and roots’ venue with food. Adelphi Street. Looks good.
There used to be a pub near here called the Lancaster that had local bands, or groups as they were, several times a week. It was very popular and a bit off the normal drinking route. Having looked it up The Lancaster pub was quite a walk up Walker Street to Lancaster Road and looks like it’s a letting agency now.
The UCLan Library. Across the road has changed so much. Looking on Google Maps Street View this building was faced by terraced houses, if you view Streets it still has the old terraces viewing from the west, but not when viewed from the east. Quite pleasing terraces with arched front doorways. They’re a good feature in Preston, around Winckley Square. Now it’s faced by the modern Student Centre, dramatically different and pleasingly open.
The Student Centre that also faces onto the Adelphi Roundabout.
Nice to see that St Peter’s Church is kept as a UCLan building.
Onto Fylde Road showing more UCLan buidlings. This road leads to Preston Dock and the Fylde and Blackpool.
Fylde Road and another pub, Ships. Next to the UCLan Innovation Building.
The Student Centre
The view up Friargate from the Adelphi Roundabout.
The view up Friargate from Ringway, towards the Harris Museum and Art Gallery.
St Joseph’s Orphanage. A characterful building that set on fire awaiting renovation. It looks like the tower might remain.
Bistro Pierre took over the old Baptist Church on Fishergate and it now looks better than I ever recall.
Onto the Preston Railway Station or is it Train Station. A Pendolino bound for London, taking the longer route via Birmingham, sits at Platform 4.
It was a good walk.
A January walk from Ringway to Adelphi along Friargate to look at the almost complete update of the road. Past Roper Hall where I sat some Open University exams 50yrs ago.
Then right on Walker Street. Right again on Patten Street to see how what was Trinity School, which was used as a Building for the Harris College when I was there but is now gone and replaced by Student rooms.
Across the Car Park towards the Playhouse Theatre and back to the Harris Museum, Flag Market, and Waterstones.
Off Friargate are a number of old alleyways and sett cobbled streets. Walker’s Court sounds interesting,there is a Walker Street further down. Green door what’s that secret you’re keeping?
A car park and a shrine, to mark the site of the Church of St Mary, sits up this passageway.
The Humane Building, Friargate. Marking the Humane Assurance Company.
This looks a bit flash. Student lodgings off Friargate.
The view down Friargate towards the blue Adelphi pub and UClan.
The latest addition to UCLan.
The latest addition to UCLan and the Adelphi pub.
Another walk from near Preston Docks to the Bus Station for a bus to Leyland taking about 45 minutes. A walk to the British Commercial Vehicle Museum taking about 5 minutes. A quick trip round followed by a 10 minute walk to the railway station. Train back taking about 5 minutes. Next a walking return to the docks.
Preston Bus Station
The British Commercial Vehicle Museum at Leyland. A quick visit, see our other posts for more. 
At Leyland Station a zoom view of the magnificent St Walburge’s Spire about 5 miles away just past Preston Station.
An Avanti Pendolino surges through Leyland. There’s a yellow danger line but you’d be a prat to stand near it.
Arriving at Preston a freight waits while a Barrow to Manchester Airport train leaves platform 6. 
This is where the Ormskirk and Colne trains hide. Platform 3c. There is a platform 4c to its right. In case you want to know Platform 3a is the north end of Platform 3, while platform 3b is the south end. Platform 4 has a similar split.
A Trans-Pennine Express train bound for Oxenholme Lake District. Liverpool Eurovision 2023 markings. 
The death has been announced of Stephen Sartin who is well known in Preston heritage circles for his talks and books and worked at the Harris for many years. Born in 1938
There are tributes in Blog Preston, and the Preston Historical Society wrote a tribute on their Facebook page.
Our own experience is of attending several talks at Alston Hall where Stephen gave many of his inimitable talks. He’d turn up with enough slides to last 3 days and then in between his anecdotes would apologise that he was unlikely to show us all the slides he’d brought. Although in reality he didn’t need any slides as people were absorbed. What he had to say and his genial style gave him charisma.
He often said he was available at the Judge’s Lodgings in Lancaster. It’s an interesting building operated by Lancashire County Council and worth a visit.
Below is a photo of the front and rear cover of one of his books that we own, published in 1988 ‘The people and places of Historic Preston’ by Stephen Sartin, with drawings by Martyn Hanks.
Another book is Beattie’s Preston, published by the Harris in 1979.
A short walk in Preston with a few photos on the 9th January 2023.
A view from the train of part of the University of Central Lancashire, UCLan. Ever growing and now a major, perhaps the major, part of the centre of Preston.
After walking from the station along the main shopping street, Fishergate, you come to Crystal House, with its new cladding, opposite Waterstones. The almost new former cladding being replaced after Grenfell. A decent Waterstones with 2 large floors and dark coloured shelves to differentiate it from less serious branches with pine coloured shelves. This Waterstones was the main store of Booth’s the Grocers with it’s cafe of pinafore dressed waitresses, quite posh. Booths is now mainly large stores out of town.
We had coffee in a place called Rise!, in Miller Arcade, which was pretty good.
St Georges Anglican Church off Lune Street near the corner of Friargate. Built in 1725 and added to several times since. It’s said to be attractive inside and has regular services. One day we’ll go in.
The Corn Exchange on Lune Street. It started as a Corn Exchange, then became the Public Hall which was a music centre with a balcony all round. The Beatles played there twice. Now it’s a pub. Outside is the stonework commemorating troops firing on the Chartists.
The Central Methodist Church on Lune Street.
On Saturday 18th July 2020 the British Commercial Vehicle Museum (BCVM) in Leyland re-opened after its Covid-19 Closure.
We visited just a few days later. The first museum visit for several months. Things have been adjusted to protect everyone.
On arrival just after 10am there was space on the museum car park and plenty of space on the Park and Display Car Park next door. We were going to look round Leyland so paid just 80p for 3 hours parking.
At the door we were greeted by a happy gent wearing a visor who took our contact info for test and trace, if needed. Then we paid to enter, buying an annual pass. It makes it easier to decide where to go when you don’t need to pay extra.
In the cafe the tables are more spread out with a one way system, the serving staff wore visors. We had a coffee.
The museum has sanitation points all around to keep your hands clean. Especially on the touch displays, which you are advised to use a pencil provided to make selections. Plus the lorry simulator and other walk on displays.
A one way scheme is in operation for a circuit round the museum. There didn’t seem to be as many buses as usual. The Fishwick’s were there and the Ribble Tiger Cub coach, a classic. An interesting exhibit not seen before is the Petrol Tanker, a large item. The TV Detector van stood out. How could anyone not see that outside your house.
We browsed in the shop and bought a BCVM shopping bag, you never know when you’ll need it.
After the museum we walked to the Railway Station to look at some trains, about a 10 minute walk. Quite a bit of rail traffic with the Pendolino ‘City of Preston’ passing at speed on a Glasgow to London train.
With our annual pass there’ll be more visits.
The Harris Museum, Art Gallery and Library is proposing a major facelift. So far £3.7 million is in place and support and development funding from National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England. The next stage is a £4.5 million application in November 2020. A further £2.3 million will come from donations.
The plan includes making better space for local artists and events and families. Creating ‘blended’ art, museum, book exhibitions. Changing the library. Moving the cafe and shop and opening new doors for access to the building. A lift will be installed in the south east corner.
Find out more at the bottom of the page.
To read more, view plans and videos about the scheme please view the The Harris website page on this link.
There is also a survey and a Zoom consultation on the page. Note that the survey will close in early July.
Between 14th December 2019 and into the new decade 26th January 2020 is the Open Art Exhibition at the Harris in Preston city centre for artists living in the PR post code.
Three big rooms of local art. Not to forget the 3 other big rooms of Fine Art and the landings full of art, pottery and glassware, and Discover Preston and more.
This year has another big turn out of interesting work in the materials of paint, thread, cloth, wood, pot, metal, and more, a good catch all phrase ‘and more’.
Most of it is on sale, some are NFS or Not For Sale. Each purchase includes an amount to help The Harris.
The Last Iceberg:
NFS
This looks like a photo but it’s a drawing, brilliant, something to crow about:
Another great sketch:
Community Work:
An interesting display between 21st September and 24th November 2019 to mark the 50th year of Preston’s Bus Station and it’s car park. Controversial because of its brutal style and that it was accessible to passengers only through subways and an overpass.
For many years it was the largest bus station in Europe. Now only one side is in use.
The Harris display laid out plans and models of the architect ideas. Plus some items from the bus station like the barber’s chair.
To match the grey concrete most of the display was in grey with only a couple of coloured items which stood out.
Saturday 27th April 2019 parked in the large car park and bought a ticket to ride and visit the Ribble Steam Railway museum and workshop on Preston Docks. Starting in the cafe and then taking a ride before going through the museum and asking if I could see the Furness Railway Workshop next door. They have a couple of very interesting engines in work although one of them was well dismantled. After that went round the RSR Workshop which has been tidied up quite a bit since my last visit. If you walk inside and turn left there are locos in storage and being worked on.
Here’s a video of the day:
The Friends of the Harris, a registered charity, are working with The Harris to revitalise and do critical repairs to the building and its presentation.
They have held several public discussions and learnt what the public want – such as Preston’s hidden collections on show, new spaces to enjoy, more opportunities to be inspired, and for the Harris to be your place. And here for the others who need it too – forever.
Now, there is a one in 100 year opportunity to make the Harris uniquely special again – for everyone.
Every donation will help show how much support there is and so generate money from larger funders.
https://secure.thebiggive.org.uk/projects/view/30982
Big Donators are:
Preston City Council
Lancashire County Council
Preston, South Ribble & Lancashire City Deal
Contributions from local people
Arts Council England
The Harris Trust
Trusts and Foundations: Conditional
Heritage Lottery Fund: Conditional
We will reinvigorate the Harris, combining the library, museum and art gallery to create exciting new facilities:
Blended library, museum and gallery in a beautifully refurbished heritage space with many more collections on show
Using Preston people’s stories to draw visitors through the Harris and our collections, creating a richer experience
New central ground floor hub for events, meetings and activities
New rear entrance on Lancaster Road with welcome area, stairs/lift, retail and cafe
A better welcome for more people, including young people and those hardest to reach in Preston
» We will open up the Harris, creating new entrances on on Harris Street, Jacson Street, and on Lancaster Road facing Preston Guild Hall
» We will create a new welcome area along with additional lift, stairs, buggy storage, toilets, changing places toilet and lockers
» We will deliver a range of community-led activities to help everyone enjoy, create, learn and make as well as better opportunities for artists
We will welcome 100,000 more people each year; 460,000 annually.
We will use audience research and postcode data to record visits by young people and hard to reach communities
To create the UK’s first blended museum, art gallery and library in a beautifully refurbished space:
» Community-led displays of Harris collections from historic books to contemporary art, encouraging learning and interaction for all ages
» More objects from our collections on show, including those which have rarely been displayed before such as the historic book collection
» We will provide opportunities for local and community creativity to be enjoyed and celebrated alongside artwork of national significance.
» We will refurbish the building with critical repairs to the roof, windows, stonework and rainwater systems to make the building safe for the future
Displays will include objects from our history and art collections, with many not displayed for many years, including historic books
The Harris will be revitalised and busy.
Creating an inspirational, animated central hub:
» The existing ground floor café area in the rotunda will become the heart of the building – a dynamic hive of activity and events for all ages
» Surrounding the rotunda will be exciting new displays blending books, art and heritage along with an extended café and retail space
» Also on the ground floor will be improved digital access and a multi-use space for meetings, conferences and entertainment.
» Our improved spaces, cafe, retail and meeting rooms for hire will help to generate more income to make the Harris sustainable for the long term
The hub will be filled with a regular programme of activity, aimed at a wide range of audiences.
The cafe, retail and meeting room will attract new users and generate income
Using Preston’s wonderful history and stories to create a richer visitor experience for all ages:
» Local stories will inspire routes around the Harris and our collections, themed on playing, exploring, questioning, creating and connecting
» The themes will inspire local people and provide a safe, welcoming, trusted and accessible place for everyone to enjoy and learn from the collections
» Displays will be community-led, involving young people, those hardest to reach and communities most in need in Preston
Thematic displays will provide a better ‘way in’ to our collections for people, who will comment positively
Community-led displays will mean a longer dwell-time in the galleries
The heritage of the Grade I Harris building will be preserved and protected
The Harris will welcome 100,000 extra visitors each year through our improved displays, facilities and events, including local people and tourists
More young people and more people/communities who are harder to reach and found the Harris inaccessible in the past will visit
The Harris will be more financially sustainable through increased income from better services and contribute to Preston city centre regeneration
The project leaders have considered a wide range of risks relating to the building work and to other factors such as planning delays, staff changes, budget changes and partner relationships. A comprehensive risk register has been developed which assesses the level and likelihood of risk in each case and outlines the mitigation which has been put in place and who is responsible. We would be delighted to provide a copy of this document on request – please email harrisfriends@preston.gov.uk
We are very grateful to everyone who contributes to this project. Donors who wish to be kept informed will be added to an email mailing list to receive updates several times a year and will be invited to appropriate events such as the re-opening of the Harris building and other celebrations.
Budget – Project Cost: £10,796,693 comprising:
£7,399,348 Building works Repairs to roof, stonework, windows, electrical services. Construction of new spaces.
£705,750 Public activities Collections displays, exhibitions, interpretation, events and community activities for the public
£32,500 Marketing Promoting through press, website, social media, print and other means to local and tourist visitors
£65,990 Staffing Extra staff to help us deliver the project effectively
£460,000 Professional Fees Cost of architects, designers, technical and construction staffing etc
£1,090,000 Contingency Allowance for unforeseen expenses if required
£1,043,105 Inflation Allowance for anticipated inflation
Source Amount
Preston City Council £1,000,000 Guaranteed
Lancashire County Council £1,000,000 Guaranteed
Preston, South Ribble & Lancashire City Deal £1,000,000 Guaranteed
Contributions from local people £335,000 Guaranteed
Arts Council England £277,000 Guaranteed
The Harris Trust £100,000 Guaranteed
Trusts and Foundations £250,000 Conditional
Heritage Lottery Fund (applied for – result expected Dec 2018) £4,700,000 Conditional
The Harris is Grade I listed, with collections of British art, history and books and a vibrant events programme.
7 of Preston’s 22 wards are among the UK’s 10% most deprived and it has very high rates of young people not in education or training, of suicide and depression.
With a travel to work population of 420,000, the city centre is on the up, with new bars, cafes, a hotel and a re-energised theatre/concert hall. Now is the time to revitalise our greatest cultural and heritage asset too.
Following great progress in increasing the Harris’ audiences recently and using Harris audience research and Preston’s Equality Data Hub, we have identified the following people who will benefit most:
Families visiting with children
Young people including students
Local people who currently have low engagement with the Harris – often experiencing deprivation
Disabled people
BAME community
Cultural Tourists – from the 60 minute drivetime to Preston area
The Friends of the Harris were founded in 1972 and we are a registered charity.
Our role is to support all aspects of the Harris Museum, Art Gallery & Library which is owned and managed by Preston City Council and Lancashire County Council who will deliver the project.
We have supported multiple projects at the Harris over many years, aimed at a wide range of communities. These have included capital projects, most recently the creation of the £1.8million Discover Preston gallery in 2012.
Rachel Mulhearn
Head of Culture, Preston City Council, who has extensive experience in leading capital projects in museums and galleries.
Hilary Machell
Harris Capital Fundraising Manager, who has led the Harris’ fundraising for 20 years, including the £1.8 million Discover Preston gallery in 2012.
Greta Krypczyk-Oddy
Chair, Friends of the Harris, who has led the Friends since 2008 and supported the organisation to fundraise effectively for the Harris
https://secure.thebiggive.org.uk/projects/view/30982
The 26th October 2018 is the 125th birthday of the Harris Museum and Art Gallery in Preston. Congratulations!
Three exhibitions are on and these are Whittingham Hidden Lives, Windrush Generation and Preston Indoor Market. All end on 25th November 2018.
Whittingham Asylum was built in 1873, closed in the 1990s and demolished in 2016. This exhibition explores the lives of the patients and their treatment including the special railway line. Whittingham was at one time the biggest mental hospital in Britain.
To complement the national event celebrating the arrival of the SS Windrush 70 years ago bringing people from the Caribbean the Harris has ‘Windrush Generation’ about the lives of the black community in Preston. The exhibition has a 1960’s living room and experiences of the black community in Preston. Plus 6 artworks by Anita George.
The painting below is one of six by Anita George on display celebrating black British artists who broke through in the 1980s. The central portrait is Lubaina Himid, Professor of Contemporary Art at UCLan in Preston who in 2017 was the first black female artist to win the Turner Prize:
Preston Indoor Market Photographic Display by Joseph Gudgeon:
Preston Indoor Market was built in 1972 and closed in 2018. A new indoor market with a modern design has been built under the canopy of the outdoor Victorian Covered Market. In this exhibition Joseph Gudgeon recorded detailed and characterful features and people of the old indoor market before it closed.
August 1968 was the month of the last steam services. Preston was involved in these services. Also in August 2018 Alstom officially closed the Strand Road West Works were trams, trains and motors had been built for over a 100 years.
Below is an extract from our website, read the whole page on the link below.
http://www.madeinpreston.co.uk/Rail/railwayhist.html
‘In 1968 two trains left Preston on the last standard steam hauled services in the UK. The Lancashire Evening Post of 2nd August 2008 has an article about a book called ‘Steam – The Last Finale’ by Alan Castle. The article relates to the 8.50pm Preston to Blackpool hauled by 45212, and the 9.25pm Preston to Liverpool Exchange hauled by 45318. The latter gaining 80mph across the flat terrain of West Lancashire. Drivers of both trains came from Lostock Hall shed – Bob Barker and fireman Roy Duckworth on 45212 and Ernie Heyes and fireman Tony Smith on 45318. The following day August 4th plenty of special steam hauled trains were run on farewell trips.
The following weekend on August 11th 1968 45110 ran from Liverpool to Manchester and was then replaced by 70013 Oliver Cromwell from Manchester to Carlisle via Bolton, Blackburn and the Settle to Carlisle route. This was the last BR passenger train called the ‘fifteen guinea special’. The return journey was double headed by 44781 and 44871, with 45110 hauling from Manchester back to Liverpool according to Wikipedia. 70013 is said to have returned to its base in Norwich under its own steam.’
A second piece of history this month is the closure of the Alstom factory on Strand Road which was formerly English Electric Traction, Strand Road West Works, Dick Kerrs, where diesel locomotives including the Deltic Prototype were built. It also has a history of building diesel shunters, trams and electric motors.
Barton Grange Garden Centre has opened its big extension – The Flower Bowl Entertainment Centre. Curling, Cinemas, Bowling, Golf Simulator, Crazy Golf, Cafe, Chip Shop Restaurant. All done in the high class Barton Grange style.
We made a visit this morning and were wowed! The cinemas are something else. The curling arena is big, the bowling and golf simulators are the business. The crazy golf area as imaginative as you’d expect. The cafes open at 12 so we didn’t go in, Barton Grange already has the Willows Restaurant and Riverside Cafe open from early, that makes 4 on one site.
To visit take the A6 north towards Garstang and at the roundabout just past Bilsborrow turn in. It’s the grass roofed building about 8 miles north of Preston.
The Entrance:
One of the Cinemas:
The Curling Area: