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.
