"PROUD PRESTON" Preston by BerniShand

Preston Travel Guide: 12 reviews and 24 photos

I`M A LONG WAY FROM HOME

Well not physically, its only about 160 miles from me, but mentally it could be on the moon

I lived in Preston from the age of 6 weeks until 21 years ago and the Preston I knew and loved was the Preston of my childhood when it was a smallish Lancashire town trying to cling on to the remnants of the cotton industry

The Harris museum and art gallery was my second home. Its a beautiful building in the town ...oops sorry Prestonians its a city now.......centre. Wet Saturdays were spent in there with the exhibits, my favourite was the victorian dolls house, where I gave all the old dolls names and used imagine it was mine. The statues too were all named, there were and I hope still are some wonderful marble ones, and the whole building was school, encyclopaedia and playground to me.

The Saul Street swimming baths, sadly demolished years ago, was a chilly victorian building from the days when the mill hands didnt have bathrooms, the slipper baths were testaments to the wierd and wonderful victorian plumbing systems. the changing rooms were antiquated with slippery floors and spotted mirrors, and the swimming pool itself was horrendously noisy and the chlorine so strong that our eyes streamed constantly. After swimming we would go upstairs to the `Caff` for steaming cups of OXO in hot water or if we were feeling particularly wealthy, Horlicks topped with froth

Preston has a wealth of parks, beautiful areas of green lovingly tended with ponds, birds, and quiet places. On Easter Sunday we would go to Avenham park and roll our Easter eggs down the grassy slopes, a northern tradition.

Every twenty years Preston holds the `Preston Guild` when for a week in July the town celebrates.... well celebrates being Preston.
People from the Prestons all over the world come and visit and there are fairs, music and exhibitions plus the pubs stay open all day. There are parades through the town and its probably the closest Lancashire gets to Mardi Gras [without the exotic dancers]

For REAL traditional Lancashire cheese we would go to the market and be given a lump of the tangy crumbly cheese to try before buying. My parents were very partial to tripe and pigs trotters, but dont ask me what they were like there was no way I would eat them

My old school Winkley Square Convent no longer exists, well not as a school, its main selling point was an exellent view from the 5th form window into the boy`s Catholic College changing rooms next door.

Now Prestons docks are gone and its wonderful textiles tradition a mere memory, my Preston went many years ago but one day I will go back and see what remains on a real visit not a wedding or funeral. I dont apologise for taking you travelling back as well as along, I was very proud of my Preston

Last visit to Preston: Sep 2000
Intro Updated Sep 24, 2005
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Reviews (4)

THE MOOR PARK Favorites (2)

Its just an ordinary pub, selling beer, bar meals and snacks but to me its very special, here is where I first saw a... more travel advice

MY FIRST HOME Favorites (2)

This was home its a tiny house, two rooms down and two rooms up, and no bathroom .... oddly I had forgotten it had the... more travel advice

THE HARRIS MUSEUM Things to Do (1)

This was my playground, I love this museum, though it feels much smaller now than it did when I was a child, my... more travel advice

A HIDDEN CHURCH Off The Beaten Path (1)

Hidden away down a country lane is the beautiful church of Brindle St Josephs, at first you wouldnt think it was a... more travel advice

Comments (7)

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intertraveler Oct 5, 2006 at 3:14 PM

Hi, St Josephs Brindle is a special church to me mainly as a few off my ancesters are buried there. When I visit the church it is like going back in time. Thank you for your nice comments on my Preston pages Michael
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mustertal Jul 28, 2006 at 2:54 PM

You met Camcorderman at the Moor Park !!!!!!!!!!!! Well theres hope for me yet lol.
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alza Jul 17, 2006 at 10:22 AM

Solid place makes for solid relations :)
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kymbanm Jul 17, 2006 at 9:20 AM

Awww, I love memories like yours. Hard to believe how much the world, and our old homes, have changed in the short course of our lifetimes, isn't it? {hugs}
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sourbugger Jul 16, 2006 at 8:57 AM

can't rate the terrace house yet as there is no text - wass it all abart then ?
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Maxus Jul 4, 2006 at 1:23 PM

Well done a good start to a decent Preston page (some thing I've been meaning to do for ages!)
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aaaarrgh Feb 1, 2006 at 9:27 AM

Ok I admit, I was denegrating Upwell for comic effect :-) One of my other great-something grandfathers owned two cotton mills near Preston, so I should feel a genetic affinity