Walkers :- Anthony, John W, Vic, Danny,
Martin, James, Mick K.
Sleep Walker :- Paddy (Eh ? You'll see.)
plus 300ft of the spire!
Like many towns in the North of England, Preston has a wealth of sometimes unheralded history. With winter now well advanced we are in what we term our "Urban" period of walks. Today - Preston,
We parked just across the road from Preston North End's ground where the famous "Splash" sculpture honouring Tom Finney is admired by thousands of fans both home and away.
We set off in search of History and Heritage. A short distance across the park and we stopped for Vic to tell us a little of the history of Preston Grammar School.
Vic regales us with a potted history of his Alma Mater.
We crossed the park hearing as we did a little bit of More recent history - Martins escapades on the football pitches. This also offered us a rare sighting Anthony on a football pitch.
We then came to the site of the open air swimming pool. Long gone of course. But it brought back shivering memories of icy cold water and rows of poolside dressing cubicles.
A stone and a thick growth of trees now occupy the pool's spot.
Ahead of us lay the "Serpentine" ……
….. and once again childhood memories of feeding the ducks and splashing in the paddling pool were excitedly swapped.
The paddling pool has been filled in but the shelter where once mums waited with snacks and towels and no doubt chatted with other mums is still there.
Breathes there a Prestonian of our generation who has not fed the ducks just here ?.... The bridge we once cycled across has gone though.
Next to this was a commemorative cross the purpose of which I must confess to have forgotten
Leaving the "Serpentine" behind we followed the Blackpool Rd. as it headed towards the A6 leaving it briefly to investigate a mysterious standing stone in the grass.
Martin told us of a stone called "The Seat" which had been the starting point of horse races in the distant past. This stone was not it but we did came across it just before we left the park to cross the A6.
Across the A6 and down Ripon St. heading for our first "Blue Plaque" on the wall of a pub in Fylde Rd. called the "Ferret" (ouch !)
There isn't time or space to go into detail about all of today's Blue Plaques but a visit to the website of the "Preston Historical Society will offer a wealth of information.
From here we made our way through the University Campus area towards St Walburge's Church.
Before reaching St Walburge's Church we came across this place.
"Cold Bath Street" is the title of a very "Spooky" best selling novel by A J Hartley. Frank Hartley his dad (now sadly deceased) was one of our original band of "Meanderthals" .
Featured heavily in this novel is the "Miley Tunnel" which took the railway under Preston town for nearly a ……………(?) on it's way to Longridge.
Here is, the now overgrown, approach to the Miley Tunnel.
And so on to St Walburge's. The third highest steeple in England after Salisbury and Norwich Cathedrals.
After checking at the presbytery we entered the church where we were shown the steps up to the gallery round the spire. J.W, Who needs Valium and an oxygen mask to climb his step ladders at home stayed at the bottom but went outside to photograph his more valiant companions.
There they are up there.
A Cheerful wave from James.
Down below John had encountered a warning of venturing in high places
After they descended, and we had chatted to the French "parish" priest, Canon Cristofoli, we were treated to a short tour of this incredible church by a young priest - Canon Tanner.
The old Weathercock. Taken down in 1932. Now on loan from the Harris Museum.
We left St Walburge's and walked towards the town centre. Once again going through the university area. We were looking for our next Blue plaque in Fox St. but before then we bumped into our "Sleep Walker". This Meanderthal was "Supposed " to be walking with us but when he was late at the meeting place we phoned him "You've woken me up" was his surprised answer. BUT.... here he is in Fox St. ----- PADDY !!!
Just across the road now was St Wilfrid's School and our Next Blue Plaque(s)
Over Fishergate, Preston's bustling High Street and down Winckley Street.
Our next plaque wasn't blue but rather Bronze "Francis Thompson"
We had now arrived at Winckley Square where Blue plaques seemed as numerous as falling leaves in the Autumn.
"It's up there on the wall Danny "
Many were the tales of triumphs and disasters that could be told of this place. The Alma mater of John W . Anthony, and Martin.
As we followed the edge of the park we discovered some quite different memorial plaques,
on the bottom left of this photo you will see one of several small plaques attached to the stonework. These seemed to indicate who lived in the grand houses opposite
One even remembered a caretaker. How nice.
So on into Avenham Park where we were well past lunch time and stopped to eat in the Swiss Chalet.
From here we walked down towards the river and the café stopping first at the Memorial to the first Mormon baptism in Britain,
This was in the "Japanese Garden" where we also found...…………… a BRIDGE !!
On down to the café to seek elderly gentlemen "facilities" and then following the river to the Sebastopol cannon(s)
From the cannons we climbed the steps up to the once highly prestigious area of the Avenham Colonnade.
At the end of the "Colonnade" we turned right down Avenham Lane and passed the Sculpture commemorating the "Simpsons Gold Thread works".
In to Syke street and turning left at "Arkwright House"
Now up towards the "Minster" passing on our way the final blue plaque of the day.
This commemorates not just the site of the Cock Fighting Pit but Joseph Livesey who founded the "Total Abstinence" movement.
The Minster, unfortunately, was closed so there was only now the decision to walk back to the cars or catch a bus. The bus proved too attractive.
As we waited for the bus there was once last reminder of the past and perhaps a comment on our group.
Good Heavens ! Are you still there reader ? Such a lot to report on . Your writer is exhausted ! Amazing what you can find in Preston when you scratch the surface. There were many things we saw and photographed that have not been included in this report. Thanks to all our companions who contributed as we walked along. All except Mick K. But he's a Yorkie living in Blackpool so he is forgiven.
THE END
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