Made in Preston, the website about Preston, Lancashire

Preston & District Diary 2024, Places to see and things to do

What's on in Preston and the surrounding area. Of course there is much more, particularly in entertainment, but these relate to things on this website.

 

Please confirm with the event holders that these dates are correct.

 

Heritage Open Days in Preston 7th to 15th Sept 2024

 

The Heritage Open Days 2024 Preston website link is:

https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/

 

Saturday 7th September 2024

Ashton Freehold - the route to a new suburb

Broughton in Amounderness Heritage Centre and Church Cottage Museum

Engineers, Emigrants and Entrepreneurs of Ashton, outside Ashton Methodist Church.

Jeremiah Horrocks Observatory, Moor Park

Preston Masonic Hall - 80 years on Saul Street.

SHOP Preston x New Wave 2024, 3 Sylke Street.

St Walburge's Church, with spire access

 

Sunday 8th September 2024

Ashton Freehold Networks - Sisters, Servants and Soap

Broughton in Amounderness Heritage Centre and Church Cottage Museum

Jeremiah Horrocks Observatory, Moor Park

Plau Gin and Beer House, 115 Friargate.

Preston Playhouse

St Walburge's Church, with spire access

 

Monday 9th September 2024

Plau Gin and Beer House

Wyre River Trust - Bat Waqlk, Bleasdale Lane

 

Tuesday 10th September 2024

Ashton Freehold Connecte - Sewers, Services and Supplies

University of Central Lancashire Library and Special Collections

University of Central Lancashire Tunnels to Rooftops Campus Tour

 

Wednesday 11th September 2024

500 years of Garstang - Heritage Trail

Engineers, Emigrants and Entrepreneurs of Ashton

Lancashire Conservation Studios and Museum Collection

 

Thursday 12th September 2024

University of Central Lancashire Library and Special Collections

University of Central Lancashire Tunnels to Rooftops Campus Tour

 

Friday 13th September 2024

Bleasdale - From the Past until the Present

 

Satuday 14th September 2024

County Hall talks and Christ Church chapel visits

Dobcroft Nature Reserve

Find out about Quakers - Garstang

Jeremiah Horrocks Observatory

Mere Brow Smithy

Preston Markets Heritage Walk

Preston Town Hall

Routes - Networks - Connections at Lancashire Archives & Local History

SHOP Preston x New Wave 2024

 

Sunday 15th September 2024

Haslam Park and Local Nature Reserve

Heritage Afternoon at Bleasdale Parish Hall

Jeremiah Horrocks Observatory

Lancashire Conservation Studios & Museum Collections

Preston Cleansing Department

 

 

 

Discover Preston at the Harris Museum

 

The Harris Museum and Art Gallery is closed for refurbishment until 2025.

 

The Harris Museum and Art Gallery is a Grade 1 listed building full of interest. Preston's main attraction.

http://www.harrismuseum.org.uk/

Throughout closure activity will continue in other venues in Preston keep a look out on their website.

 

The Harris, Preston. Fine Art Gallery 31st January 2020:

The Harris Fine Art Gallery, Preston 31st January 2020,  www.madeinpreston.co.uk

 

 

Ribble Steam Railway & Museum, Operating Days

 

Read more about it on our website click here

Ribble Steam Railway, Preston

The collection gets bigger each year. Mainly industrial locomotives and a few small tankers. Situated on Preston Docks, ride the train, see the museum, have a tour of the workshop, cafe, shop, plenty of parking, friendly staff. Great place.

In 2023 they frequently offer tours of the Furness Trust workshop next door. Some great work is done in there, including refurbishing the oldest operating steam loco Furness 20 which is back running at Ribble Steam in 2024.

 

 

British Commercial Vehicle Museum

A fabulous museum for lovers of commercial vehicles: buses, trucks, vans, fire engines.

Situated in the middle of Leyland in an old part of Leyland Motors, easy from the motorway, cafe, parking. Check opening dates. Re-opened in early 2019 after a refurbishment..

The museum has new owners for the on-site cafe which is open without going into the museum. The museum is open Thursday to Sunday in winter 2023/4.

Read more on our website:

 

 

 

 

Preston Historical Society

http://www.prestonhistoricalsociety.org.uk/

Preston Historical Society, founded in 1948

Monthly meetings are on the first Monday of each month. All meetings will be at the Central Methodist Church on Lune Street

Preston has an active and popular historical society who meet monthly with interesting guest speakers.

Preston Historical Society

 

Guided Walks round the Georgian Winckley Square

Friends of Winckley Square Gardens on Facebook

Winckley Square is a large sunken Georgian square in the middle of Preston. Surrounded by buildings of interest and recently smartened at great expense. Take a guided walk on certain days.

 

 

The Museum of Lancashire

Closed until further notice.

http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/

Closed in 2016 along with other fine museums in Lancashire, might re-open.

The museum of Lancashire in Stanley Road held regular events. Easy to find, next to the prison, cafe, good parking. Interesting content covering Lancashire, industry, military, seaside, entertainment.

 

A shame it was closed for cost saving. Operated by Lancashire County Council who re-opened their museums at Burnley and Helmshore which are both based on the Cotton industry.

Here's a view of the cafe from some 10 years ago.

Museum of Lancashire, Stanley Street, Preston

 

 

Lancashire Infantry Museum

The Lancashire Infantry Museum is in Fulwood Barracks (Grade II listed) the best preserved Chartist Barracks in the UK. Signing in is necessary, fortunately you don't need to join up.

http://www.lancashireinfantrymuseum.org.uk/fulwoodbarracks/

Lancashire Infantry Museum, Fulwood Barracks, Preston

 

Lancashire Records Office or Lancashire Archives and Friends

The location of an extensive library of local reference information for local historians or those tracing their family tree. Bow Lane near the Railway Station. Note membership is required to enter.

Click here for their website

See the Friends of the Lancashire Archives 2017 Activities on our webpage

 

Lancashire Local History Federation

Formed in 1973, we are the official co-ordinating body for local history in the County Palatine of Lancaster. Talks and courses. Next one 18th February at Preston Masonic Hall. Check their website for information.

Click here for their website

 

Samlesbury Hall on the A59 from M6 J31

3 miles east of Preston. Interesting old black and white building with decent cafe.

http://www.samlesburyhall.co.uk/

Samlesbury Hall

 

Hoghton Tower, Grade 1 listed baronial hall, on the A675 to Blackburn

Hoghton Tower, 1565, an old manor / castle in large grounds on a hill 6 miles east south east of Preston. The site of the annointing of Sir Loin, sirloin.

Link to Houghton Tower website

Hoghton Tower

 

Heritage Open Days in Preston

Plenty of buildings opening their secrets. See our page click here

 

 

Brockholes, Wildlife Trust Reserve

Brockholes is a nature reserve with a floating visitor centre right next to the M6 Junction 31 on the edge of Preston. Owned and managed by The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside.

There's lots to see and do. http://www.brockholes.org/

Brockholes Nature Reserve, Preston

 

Astley Hall, Chorley

A mile off the M62, nice grounds and cafe. Interesting exhibitions in the annex.

Astley Hall, Chorley

 

 

Ribble Vehicle Preservation Trust Events

http://www.rvpt.co.uk/

RVPT operate heritage Ribble Buses, of Preston, at various events around the north of England. See their website to join them or go to watch. Annual features are the Morecambe Bus Running Day and Lytham Hall Bus Running Day.

Ribble Vehicle Preservation Trust

 

Leyland Society Events

Celebrating Leyland trucks and buses. A national group who often gather in Leyland.

http://www.leylandsociety.co.uk/gathering.htm

 

Regular Steam Hauled Trains from Preston

'The Fellsman' departs Preston for Settle to Carlisle most week in summer with a steam hauled train. They're well booked so book quickly.

http://statesmanrail.com/

 

Garstang Walking Festival - Annually in May

Explore the lovely countryside north of Preston with a guide. Around 50 walks including gardens, cafes, for a wide variety of people.

 

Preston Built Trams operating at Blackpool

Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours

Read our tram page for details and timetables of the Made in Preston trams and others running along Blackpool promenade for summer, illuminations and Christmas seasons

 

 

The Fylde Transport Trust

http://www.fyldett.org.uk/

FTT operate a fleet of heritage buses from the Fylde area including Ribble buses. They also own a few trams. They attend events around the area.

 

Lytham Heritage Centre

Henry Street, Lytham. Open Tues-Sunday 10am to 4pm.

Displays by regional artists and local heritage items.

www.lythamheritage.co.uk

 

 

Preston Guild Wheel, open 24hrs, 7 days a week.

Good for cyclists and walkers a 21 mile circle of Preston largely on track but some sections on major roads. Can be done in stages. Nearest to Preston Centre is Avenham Park, walk to the Docks or Brockholes possible. Canal stretch could be interesting.

 

 


 

 

As often as Preston Guild. 2012 was the year of the London Olympics and Preston Guild. Looking forward to Preston Guild 2032.

Our own nostalgia trip. Preston Guild 2012 programmes.

Guild Programme and Vintage Weekend Programme link to the Official Guild website. Read all the details in these booklets.

Preston Guild 2012 - August 31st to September 9th

Guild Programme on the official Guild websiteVintage Weekend programme on the officila Guild website

Battle of Preston 1715, 300th Anniversary Events November 2015

A once every 300 years experience. Download the 2 page pdf leaflet click here.

17-Aug-2024 Contact the site author