A walk in Preston’s market area on 1st October 2024

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.

Tram Bridge has gone! Another walk in Preston 4th September 2024

Another good walk in Preston: Tram Bridge – Harris Institute – Edith Rigby House – St Wilfrids – Harris Museum – Upper Friargate plus bonus places

The word is on the street is the Old Tram Bridge is gone. Time to check it out.

The River Ribble in Preston after demolition of the Old Tram Road Bridge. A digger is creating work platforms in the river for working on the new bridge. — The River Ribble in Preston after demolition of the Old Tram Road Bridge. 4th September 2024

Heading into Avenham Park, up onto the former East Lancs Railway Bridge, now a footpath. Look left, a space where the Tram Bridge was. There’s a digger creating islands for the work on the new bridge. That’s something, a space, after 200 years.

Looking over the other side we see the West Coast Main Line on the North Union Bridge over the River Ribble.

Turning back we see the former Park Hotel ever threatening to be restored. Going straight along the path takes you to a barrier so we turn right and head back down into Avenham Park.

But what happens if we don’t turn back. Skip the next paragraph if you don’t want to know.

It’s good to walk on former railway lines. The track goes towards Bamber Bridge but doesn’t reach there as a footpath. On the way you can turn left to the Capital Centre, or right to Vernon’s Cricket Ground as in Freddie Flintoffs: Fields of Dreams Series 1. You can turn onto the Tram Road and walk back in a triangular track or go further on to Lostock Hall. The rail track passes what was a large gasworks but is now a housing estate before the line comes to Todd Lane. I doubt you can walk past there. It’s years since I walked along there.

Another option is to go down the other side of the bridge to Penwortham. Or go the other way to where the Tram Road bridge works are but can you get past? If you can get past it goes to the Capital Centre or Winery Lane, Walton Le Dale.

Back in the park we walk along the river bank enjoying views of bridges and trees. It’s nice in there.

This riverside avenue of trees looks good in all seasons.

The totem pole which contains a chain to denote the old trams and the steam driven chain that hauled them up the steep bank climbing around 100ft above the bridge. These horse drawn trams(trailers) could carry 2 tons of coal.

The message ‘Tram Bridge. Reviving history. Reconnecting Preston.

The tram bridge opens walks over the river and along the Tram Road. These trams being horse pulled carts on rails between the Leeds Liverpool Canal and the Lancaster Canal. An aqueduct and locks being too expensive. It was started in the 1790s and operated for about 30yrs dragging coal dug in Wigan sent by barge before being dragged by ‘tram’ to Preston for loading onto a barge for Lancaster and Kendal. This was before the railway came to take over the job. Things don’t stop evolving.

The Old Tram Road was a badly maintained dirt track in the 1960s, capable of taking a car if essential. Trains were still running from Blackburn(and further east) and Liverpool over the East Lancs Bridge and track. That route closed to passengers from Bamber Bridge to Preston in 1968 and Todd Lane Junction station closed.

The gasworks would be fired by coal and produced coke and gas. By the time the line closed it was fired by Fuel oil which was shipped by rail for many years until North Sea gas came along and closed the site. Every gas cooker in Britain had to be converted to burn North Sea gas instead of Town Gas. The gasworks lasted from around 1924 to 1970. I used to be able to see the gasometers going up and down across the fields from our back window. The giant gasometers are gone all over Britain.

Here’s a better shot of the former bridge stands in the river and at the far side the first of the workers islands. The new bridge is covered in a previous post on this blog.

Moving on, instead of going up the steep former tram road go a bit further on and see the cannons from Sebastopol on either side of the steps.

Then up to the promenade and the tower building, now flats, maybe apartments.

Halfway along the promenade some interesting looking houses down a side street to the right. Enjoy the architecture.

The Harris Institute. A fine building pending another proposal for use. At this point Avenham Lane changes to Ribblesdale Place a formerly affluent area, now mainly offices.

Ribblesdale Place. A road with some fine houses overlooking the park at the back.

The home of the Reverent Robert Harris and his son Edmund in Ribblesdale Place, Preston. The house overlooks Avenham Park at the rear. — The home of the Reverend Robert Harris and his son Edmund in Ribblesdale Place, Preston.

Ribblesdale Place. The house of the Rev Harris whose son was benefactor the Harris Museum.

The Blue Plaque for the Rev Robert Harris and his son Edmund on the building they lived in at the gates of Avenham Park. Edmund being the benefactor of the Harris buildings in Preston.

On to Winckley Square, Chapel Street. The house of Edith Rigby proposed for a museum to commemorate the Women’s Movement. See the Blue Plaque below.

Blue Plaque in Preston. Edith Rigby. Suffragette. Secretary of Preston Branch Women’s Social and Political Union.

This building looks good in the September sun. The next building is the site of the Preston Catholic College which was the Catholic Grammar School in the not too distant past.

St Wilfrid’s Church. Roman Catholic across the road from the former Catholic College. It’s interior is finer than its exterior. Going into churches in Preston wasn’t something I did but lately there’s been two firsts, both exceeding expectations.

On Winckley Square north side is the former house of Thomas Miller, mill owner and one of the benefactors of Miller Park. See the Blue Plaque below.

On the south side just beyond Winckley Square is another house of a Women’s Movement lady, Beatrice Todd. Blue Plaque below.

Read more about Winckley Square on our website. Click here

In Glovers Court leading to Fishergate is the Wellington pub. It looks better now than it did. Formerly it was very popular with teenagers in the 1960’s as the Beachcomber club was at the Fishergate end.

Booth’s clock bridge on Glovers Court. On the left upstairs used to be a high class fashion shop whose name escapes me. 1960/70’s.

A view along Fishergate the main shopping street in Preston. The banner is for BBC Radio 2 in theP ark. Held in Preston from Friday to Sunday 6th to 8th Septembe 2024. A successful event with big audiences on Moor Park, to the north, and good weather until Sunday when it rained, as it did all over the UK.

The Harris Museum awaiting re-opening in early 2025. The announcement this week that a major supplier of the update has gone into administration puts a chunk of funding at risk as well as the opening date. Although we can only wait to learn what the administrator and council does.

The best built view in Preston.

Read more about the Harris Museum, Art Gallery and Library on our website. Click here

Another project on hold is the old post office conversion. Plans for a hotel are on hold.

Continuing into Friargate just on the left is the former Boars Head pub looking tired. This was a popular pub.

The Black Horse pub has an interesting interior. It had an old chap with a moustache and a white jacket who waited on in the late 60s.

The Methodist Church on Lune Street. Venue for Preston Historical Society meetings.

The Old Vic across from the Railway Station. Next door is Rise a nice coffee place and sister to the one in the Miller Arcade which also offers food.

Preston Railway Station from Butler Street. It’s good that Preston kept the prestige of having a real fully covered railway station when all the other towns in Lancashire had their’s knocked down and replaced with large bus type shelters. Perhaps that helped give Preston city status. That and the astounding bus station.

That was a good walk, very enjoyable and thought and memory provoking. Preston has many layers of history and still moves on powered largely by UCLan and payments from students and their demands for youthful life. Keep that youthful life and keep walking.

Read more about the Railways around Preston and the Tram Road on our website. Click here.

A walk to UCLan Preston in summer 23rd July 2024

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.

The Corn Exchange pub Preston, The former Public Hall, dance and music venue.

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.

St George's Church, Preston — St George’s Church, Preston

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.

Two more murals spotted 28th June 2024

Two more murals in Preston. Both viewable for the delight of train travellers. Although one isn’t new.

This first one appears new and can be seen from a train inbound from Blackpool. Four o’clock low when you see the docks. Blanche Street, behind the Wheatsheaf pub, Water Lane.

This is almost on a par with the mural ‘Mother’ for skill and meaning and painted by the same artist, Shawn Sharpe.

As a first thought binding Preston’s cotton mill heritage to the workers at the mill and the hand that picked the cotton.

As another thought, a feminist feel perhaps. The dungaree wearing lady has a 1940s land girl style, representing the part women played in the mills and fields since industrialisation began. The mill is Tulketh Mill with it’s iconic chimney and tower, now a call centre. The lady could be Sally, pride of our Alley, hard working, tired and strong. PP, or Proud Preston, with a pink background, traditionally female pink?

The great thing about this are the multiple themes and interpretations. You could write a book.

The link to cotton - a mural in Blanche Street Preston — The link to cotton – a mural in Blanche Street Preston

The second mural has been there quite a while and faces the Railway Station Butler Street entrance on the side of the Station pub. It’s well painted with an urban feel. This one has been done before the recent trend for meaningful and locally themed murals.

On close inspection it’s very well painted with a lot of detail such as the marking on the cheeks and in the blue rim. Melting on the left and underneath. To try to interpret it brings us to fanciful words about the melting of society and global warming when perhaps it’s just an urban feeling. A night out.

This is the ramblings of an aged gent, open to thoughts.

A mural in Butler Street in Preston, facing the railway station.

A walk in Preston – to the Tram Road Bridge 21st May 2024

A Wednesday walk arriving in Avenham Park, Preston to visit the Pavilion, shown in the first photo. In there are some wallboards explaining the design and work for the new bridge design for the Tram Road Bridge which has flakey concrete. Work is due to start in May.

Passing the Japanese Garden that is on the right going down into the valley of the River Ribble.

Exhibition of the new Tram Bridge design. On display in the Avenham Park Pavilion.

Star of the show: the Tram Road Bridge. Soon to be demolished.

The sign at the Tram Road bridge showing the cycle routes. There are ways to get across as there is a cycle track up onto the East Lancs Bridge.

The East Lancashire railway bridge which you can climb up at each end and walk across it and there is a cycle track up onto the bridge. Once there you walk or cycle along the track bed towards Lostock Hall or The Capital Centre Shopping Centre at Walton Le Dale. To the latter you can cycle along the river bank on either side. The bridge behind being the West Coast Main Line.

The now enclosed shelter. The Belvedere.

The promenade into Avenham Park:

Ribblesdale Place between two of the entrances to Avenham Park.

After some wandering in shops we passed the Old Black Bull on Friargate, next to the Ring Road.

Carrying on towards the centre on Friargate we come to the Town Hall, Cenotaph and Harris Library, Museum and Art Gallery.

Next stop Waterstones, here are the Preston books.

Here are local transport related books. I made a spontaneous purchase afte my wife showed me the book ‘Quizmaster’ about a Burnley pub landlord who achieved some fame creating a pub quiz on line meaing it to be for locals but attracting worldwide teams. Just issued in Hardback.

A walk in Preston – Avenham way – April 2024

The 23rd April 2024, a nice day for a walk round Preston. This route goes along East Cliff, to Miller and Avenham Parks then along the River Ribble to the Tram Road Bridge. Then back up above the flood plain into Frenchwood before heading up towards the Preston Minster to Fishergate.

Heading down Fishergate from the station we come to East Cliff. An interesting road that has a very steep fall into the river valley behind the houses on the right hand side. It also contains some very large houses, probably once owned by wealthy people but now mainly businesses or divided into flats.

First we see the headquarters of the English Football League:

Further along on the left we have a large fairly elegant 3 storey terrace:

On the right one of the large buildingsThe left side:
On the right:

On the right behind the houses it overlooks the sports ground. Once English Electric Sports Ground

A walk under the West Coast Main Line in Miller Park

Along the River Ribble.

Miller Park, Preston
Avenham Park, riverside walk Avenham Park, Preston, 23rd April 2024

The Tram Road Bridge. This is now closed being structurally unsafe. A new bridge has been approved and work is due to start in May 2024. I might be wrong but the new design looks more obtrusive to the view. But it only has 2 supports in the river which allows fallen trees to pass in floods without damage to the more delicate structure.

Preston Tram Road Bridge April 2024

The Frenchwood bus depot of Stagecoach. Which older Prestonians would recall was Rbble Buses HQ and depot. The HQ being a more interesting Art Deco style building just off this walk.

Stagecoach Bus Depot, Frenchwood, Preston, 23rd April 2024

Cardinal Newman College. The Catholic College of Preston.
Cardinal Newman's College Preston 23rd April 2024

The high rises in Avenham look a lot smarter now.

Hight rise flats, Avenham, Preston 23rd April 2024

Arkwright House in Preston. An interesting house where inventor Arkwright started his spinning frame that created a lot of wealth. Although he had to flee to Cromford due to worker protests in Lancashire.

Arkwiright House, Preston

Preston Minster south side.

The favourite mural. One of many in Preston, mainly very good.

The Miller Arcade and behind it the Harris Museum, Art Gallery and Library which is now under renovation until 2025.

Miller Arcade. A nice shopping centre although mainly eateries now.

Fishergate, Preston’s main shopping street.

Avenham Park in June 2023

A short summer walk in Avenham Park, Preston.

Avenham Park, Preston. The riverside walk. — Avenham Park riverside walk, Preston, 19th June 2023

Avenham Park from the main entrance, Preston, 19th June 2023 — Avenham Park from the main entrance. Preston, 19th June 2023

Tram Road Bridge and the trees along Tram Road, Preston 19th June 2023

Avenham Park Pavilion and Preston sign, 19th June 2023

The Mayor of Preston Visits The Ribble Steam Railway 25th March 2023

On Saturday 25th March 2023 the Mayor of Preston, Councillor Neil Darby visited the Ribble Steam Railway on Preston Docks. Furness Railway Trust Loco No 20 was operating. A triumphant piece of work by the Trust to restore a fine looking locomotive and the oldest working standard gauge loco in Britain, 1863.

The Mayor of Preston, Neil Derby and Mayor's Consort Dan Leung, on Furness Trust loco 20. The oldest working loco in Britain. At the Ribble Steam Railway on 25th March 2023. — The Mayor of Preston, Neil Darby and the Mayor’s Consort Dan Leung, on Furness Trust loco 20. The oldest working standard gauge loco in Britain. At the Ribble Steam Railway on 25th March 2023.

Team Members relax before the next trip:

The Mayor Departs, as they say in the Red Arrows, ‘smoke on’.The Mayor of Preston, Neil Darby departs on board Furness Trust loco 20. The oldest working standard gauge loco in Britain. At the Ribble Steam Railway on 25th March 2023.

Young loco ‘Linda’ sidles up to double head with Furness Trust 20.

The Mayor and Consort return and generously pose for a photo.

Thirsty work hauling carriages both locos line up for water.

It’s goodbye to Furness Loco 20 as it moves to Didcot for a spell shortly.

Find out more at

Ribble Steam Railway

http://www.furnessrailwaytrust.org.uk/

Museum of the Moon at the Harris

This is an excellent exhibition at the Harris in Preston, The Museum of the Moon until 24th February 2019. The star exhibit being a 23ft diameter moon hanging over central atrium, at night it’s illuminated. While we were there dozens of school children were visiting and with half term coming up it’s bound to be a favourite and free entry.

Another excellent piece of work is a precise paper model of the Saturn V rocket that took the Apollo missions to the moon. This large model is around 20ft long and built to scale. From the model the rocket stages can be clearly viewed including a model of the Lunar Module that was transported in the rocket.

The actual rocket is a phenomenal size almost like blasting off Blackpool Tower, there is one at the Space Centre in Florida.

The Saturn V rocket that powered Apollo to the Moon. A large scale and precise model.

The Lunar Module and Crew Compartment of the Saturn V paper model.

The space suit of the Apollo astronauts is shown.

The space suit of the Apollo missions to the moon.

A piece of moon rock.

The model of the moon in context at the Harris Museum of the Moon, Preston.

There is also a computer from the space ship which being in the 1960s is less capable than a cheap calculator depending far more on human skills, as we saw in the movie Apollo 13 with Tom Hanks which required to be manually steered back to earth due to a malfunction.

The exhibition contains many moon oriented themes with poetry, maps, paintings and family activities. Don’t we love the man in the moon.

The Harris: The Renewal

The Harris, Museum, Art Gallery and Library. Preston.

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.

The Friends of the Harris have set up a donations page for the public at The Big Give as linked below:

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

The following are the objectives as shown on the donations page:

The Solution:

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

AIMS

Aim 1

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

What success will look like

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

Aim 2

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

What success will look like

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.

Aim 3

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

What success will look like

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

Aim 4

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

What success will look like

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 Harris, Preston, Reach for the Sky — The Harris, Preston. Reach for the Sky

IMPACT

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

Risk

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

Reporting

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

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

Current Funding / Pledges

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

BACKGROUND

Location

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.

Beneficiaries

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

WHY US?

Why Us?

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.

People

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

The Friends of the Harris have set up a donations page for the public at The Big Give as linked below

https://secure.thebiggive.org.uk/projects/view/30982

Barton Grange turns on the entertainment with style

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: