Preston memories
Here are memories of Preston and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Preston or a Preston photo.
Avenham Colonnade, Preston (1946-1964)
As a child (b1940) I lived at 3 Avenham Colonnade from 1946 until I married in 1964. The late Georgian terrace (built abt 1836) comprises 6 houses built on the slope alongside Avenham Walks ("The Top Walks") . The terrace survives virtually unchanged today, save for the early demolition of the eponymous single storey "Colonnade" in front of the houses which was demolished in the19th century to afford better light to the north-facing windows. During the 1939-45 war, two or three of the central line of trees on Avenham Walks were felled to make room for a steel lattice tower, supporting, I think, an EWS (Emergency Water Supply) tank. I remember watching this being demolished in about 1947-8 and one, or more new trees planted. I think the wrought iron raings separating Bushell Place from Avenham Wallks were removed in 1939-45 and never replaced. Notes: Strictly speaking the photograph should be titled "Avenham Walks" as it does not actually show the colonnaded terrace to the right. Other residents of Avenham Colonnade during this... Read more
PRESTON ROYAL INFIRMARY (maternity)
My mother was a midwife sister during the 1940s and early 1950s at the old PRI. She must have delivered lots of babies from the area during this time. There was once a photo of her in the LEP with 3 babies born on Christmas Day. She was also in charge of the Premature Baby Unit there. She went on to nurse at Mount Street Hospital. Her name was Nurse/Staff/Sister Savage. My own son was born there. I had a lengthy stay there myself in Alice Ward late 1960s and went on to Lostock Hall Continuation Hospital (now St Catherine's Hospice). I loved this old hospital - there always seemed to be loads of nurses on the wards, also ward cleaners. I was sad when it closed.
Preston Market
It was a great market gaff to stand on, what a buzz. I had the time of my life there. The majority of the stallholders were legend and the locals were spot on. Times were good then and so were markets, unfortunately times and business change, not all for the best, and markets have suffered. Preston Market is the best market I've ever stood at. R.I.P. Frank Councell and Mr Henshaw, and all the best to all past and present traders, you deserve a medal for standing in the row on a cold January morning,. I just hope they let you get your vans on early on Birley Street etc.
Happy Memories of The Harris Orphanage
I have happy memories of the Harris orphanage. My two brothers and I spent 18 months there. We livd in no 7 and our foster parents were Mr and Mrs Perkins, who was a first rate cook. The govenor was a retired police Superintendany by the name of Mr Howarth, ably assisted by his wife whom we called Matron. The teacher in my class (11 to 15 year olds)was a Mr Bridge(a very kind man)who was also the Producer of The Preston playhouse. He took us to see plays put on by him, and later showed us backstage to see how things worked. I wonder if anyone out there was at the Harris at that time and remembers me and my brothers, the Porters.
Preston,Fishergate. C.1965
I knew and worked with P.C. McGinty in Preston Borough Police from 1965 to 1968, when I worked there as an Inspector, before moving again on promotion. If this photograph was taken during that period it is not of P.C. 100 who at that time had, very sensibly, got himself a job in Headquarters (except during North End home matches (where he was a tower of strength in every way). If Mac is still with us - Hello! It would be great to hear from him - and,indeed any other ex-member of 'The Borough'. Bob Dale.
School Memories at Harris Orphanage
My oldest brother Jack, and my older sister Dorothy and myself all attended Harris Orphanage School in the 1940s. We lived in Greyfriars Crescent, Fulwood, and although our nearest school was at Cadley Causeway, because the war was on and because Cadley Causeway school was already full, we were sent to the Harris Orphanage School. I remember the teachers, the first class I was in was taught by Mrs Westry who was very nice. She lived on Blackbull Lane and had an Airedale dog. The next class was taught by Miss Moss, who was very strict, and I think most of us were slightly afraid of her. The headmistress was Mrs Taylor who lived in Castleton Road. She was the person you were sent to if you had misbehaved. She had a strap, but fortunately it was only the boys the got the strap, not the girls! I can remember the Christmas services we had in the lovely chapel at the Orphanage.
St Walburg''s
My great-grandfather Hugh Bell (born 1854) was the 13th child to be baptised at the then new church. He was later married there in 1874 to an Alice Gradwell from Preston. One of many children of William Gradwell (born 1818) and a descendant from the famous GRADWELL family. I, Brian Freeman, was a painter and decorator and served my apprenticeship with John Corbishley and Sons, 170 North Road, Preston from 1950/1956, and was not aware when Corbishleys decorated St Walburge's Church that my family had any connection with the said church.
Preston, Fishergate c1965
We are sure that the policeman standing in his box doing point duty was our dad, PC Mcginty or number 100. He was a policeman for forty years with Preston borough and we and a lot of Preston people have fond memories of him standing in that spot.
Waiting Room
In Spring 1948 I caught my finger in a folding chair at school and by the evening an abscess had formed. It was so painful that because our doctor's surgery was already closed my father took me to the Infirmary, but we landed in the maternity department, where we were really out of place! The next day we went again, and as there were no penicillin tablets in those days I had to have injections morning and evening and had to wait for them on a hard bench in the very crowded waiting room where there were all manner of patients, most of them far worse off than I. On Saturday mother took me to see the doctor in the Infirmary, and then the abscess was lanced. This treatment went on for 2 weeks, and at the end all was well again. In 1954 my younger sister was born in the Infirmary and I went to visit mother in the maternity department, where I'd been by mistake 6... Read more
Market Life
My parents had a baby Stall on Preston Market when I was 11 years old. Mum stood Mondays and Wednesdays, and we went as a family on Saturdays when we were on the Flag market (corner top left hand stall near the Harris Art Gallery). It was freezing cold on that corner !! Everyone who was on the markets helped one another, there was a wonderful cameraderie.
Bricks And Mortar
my fathers maternal grandfather was involved with the building of this building.
Anchor Court
Between two of the shops on this photo runs a small lane called Anchor Court. It is still there, but all the houses which formerly lined it have been demolished or altered beyond all recognition. In the court there was a shop selling farmers' supplies, and my brother and I used to like going there, just for the fun of it and looking around. I can't remember the name of this shop - perhaps someone else can?
Father Taught Here
From 1944 to 1956 my father Mr. G. Pember was head of the Electrical Engineering Department of the Technical School, which was also known as the Harris Institute. I can remember going there only once, at the time of the Preston Guild celebrations of 1952, when he let me watch some of the processions from the steps on the photo. Others I watched from one of the upstairs windows.
Docks Memory
Unfortunately, though this photo shows the timber quay, it doesn't show the timber! Sometimes Father took my brother and me to Preston docks, and this was always a wonderful outing. I can remember scrambling around on the huge tree trunks stacked up on this quay, and indeed have two photos to prove it. In 1953, Coronation year, the submarine "Amphion" paid a visit to the docks, and half Preston came to see it. The queue to go inside stretched right round the docks basin. I was one of those who clambered down inside and I can remember how narrow everything was and how uncomfortable it must have been!
Horrockes
My mother (90) is the daughter of Fred Goodier who was the chief cotton buyer for Horrockes between the wars.
Marriage of John Naughton & Ann Conroy
John Naughton (b.1842; Kings County, Ireland) & Ann Conroy (b.1851; Queens County, Ireland) were married in St Walburge's RC church, 3 April 1880.
John was known as a "peaceable" & quiet man who played the flute. They had 3 daughters, Mary Ann, Julia (known as Jessie) & Catherine, but sadly John died suddenly in 1886 before Catherine was born, leaving Ann 3 months pregnant to bring up the girls on her own. Their oldest daughter, Mary Ann, went on to marry Austin Shorney in Herons Ghyll, E Sussex in 1906.
Information About This Church
* St Walburge's is the tallest spired parish church and the third tallest church spire of any type in Britain.
* Preston was made a City for the millennium celebrations so it is likely that St Walburge's will be elevated to cathedral status in time.
* Completed in 1854.
St Joseph's Orphanage
On Prestonblog there is a harrowing post by 'Marie' about this place, of which she has only bad memories. It was run by the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy who were clearly misnamed. They had another orphanage in Pantasaph where children also endured cruelty (BBC Wales website refers). Did anyone else suffer at St Joseph's?
My Mother: Veronica Kenny (Vera) Preston Lancashire
My mom had a best friend, her name was Marie, who married Bill and my mother was their maid of honour. My family in Scotland still have the picture of the wedding day with Bill in his army uniform.
I was born in Preston in 1944. Mom married and moved to Scotland, friendships in Preston continued and around 1950 Mom brought her little family back to visit her friends Marie and Bill as well as a family whose last name was Cox, I think Jack Cox and Grandma Cox.
I would like to contact the lady I knew as Auntie Marie, I expect that she had children who may know of my mother.
If there are any members of the Cox family who may know of my mom from older relatives please contact me.
Mom was raised in Moorefield convent in Preston and at around 18 years old she went to work in a munitions factory in or near Preston. I would appreciate... Read more
Memories of Lancashire
The Harris Orphanage, Fulwood
Hi, is there anyone out there that remembers the Orphanage? I had some of the best years of my life there. It was run by a Mr Howarth and his wife, and there were seven houses for the boys and the same for the girls. I lived at no 7 and our house parents were Mr and Mrs Perkins. She was a fantastic cook and everyone wanted to be in her house. I can remember some of the names of the lads, Donald Parkinson, Jed Hamer, Brian Rawley, and the Graham Bros' who went to live in Aussie. If anyone remembers me and my two brothers, we are Fred, Terry, and Brian Porter, we'd like to hear from you. Regards. FRP.
Greenlands School
We moved to Ribbleton in 1979, we lived in Arnold Close. At the time there was a large building situated at the bottom of our road, to this day I'm not sure what building it was, I only know it was to be knocked down for new housing. It was a huge building, it was in the day when there was not health and safety measures - us kids would play on the knocked down bricks, diggers etc.. We also had a cemetry behind us too. We only lived there for about 18 months, I went to Greenlands Primary school and made plenty of friends, Louise Rigby being my best friend. I won the 1979 school sports girl of that year and recieved a trophy and medal, I was so made up! Would love to hear from anyone that perhaps went to that school. I was Heather Smith then.
Rodgett/Bashall
I'm only a soft southener, but my several times great-grandparents were from 'up north' in cotton, my great-grandmother married a vicar in Dorchester, in the 1890s, had 8 kids. Can anybody tell me anything about the Rodgetts or Bashalls? Thanks
Front Page News
My nannie was born in Higher Walton, Catherine Hawker. When she was 6 or 7 she was in the paper for stealing a shawl and pawning it to feed her brother as her father had to go to sea. I want to find out if there is any chance we can get that paper, can anyone help?
Quinneys
The original name of the place was Quinneys, not the Pig and Whistle as previous correspondents have noted. It was built between the wars by my grandfather Jack Swarbrick for my Grandmother (Elizabeth) to run. One of the features of the place (so I'm told) was a sprung dancefloor.
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