A - Z of Preston --- Some Explanations

A - Avenham Park…. A large public park near the centre of Preston beside the River Ribble.

B - Bus Station… A listed building opened in 1969 with car park above.

C - Cenotaph… It stands in the centre of town and commemorates the soldiers of Preston who died in World Wars l and ll.

 D - Deepdale… Is the home of Preston North End Football team since 1875. They were one of the founding teams of the Football League.

E - E. H. Booth’s… Main office of Booth’s Stores founded 1847. A family run grocery chain of stores in NW England focusing on regional produce.

F - Friargate and Fishergate… The two main shopping streets in Preston.

G - The Guild… Preston was granted its Guild Merchant Charter in 1179 and Preston Guild is celebrated every 20 years.

H - The Harris Museum… The Harris is also an art gallery in the city centre.

I - Industrial Revolution… This was the transition to new manufacturing processes during the 19th Century, transforming Preston from a small market town to a much larger town of cotton textile production.

J - Jeremiah Horrocks… He was an English astronomer who was the first person to demonstrate that the moon moved around the earth in an elliptical orbit and predicted the Transit of Venus in 1639.

K - Dick Kerr Ladies… Dick Kerr Ladies was the first womens’ football team in Britain established in 1917 in Preston.

L - Lighthouse… Guided cargo ships into Preston Docks in its heyday. The area is now a marina for leisure boats.

M - Miller Arcade… Preston’s Victorian interior shopping centre built in 1899.

N - Nick Park… Was born in Preston. He is the Oscar winning animator of films starring his creations ‘Wallace & Gromit’ and ‘Shaun the Sheep’.

O - Observatory… The Jeremiah Horrocks observatory built in Moor Park in 1927.

P - Parched Peas… A traditional Preston speciality food.

Q - Queen’s Lancashire Regiment… An infantry regiment of the British Army, whose headquarters are at Fulwood Barracks.

R - Ribble Steam Railway… A restored steam railway running along the Preston Docks.

S - Samlesbury Hall… A historic house built in 1325 with a black and white timber exterior, situated about 6 miles east of Preston.

T - Sir Tom Finney… Preston’s most famous footballer who played 473 times for Preston North End and 76 times for England. Born 1922, died 2014.

U - UCLan… University of Central Lancashire.

V - Ribble Viaduct… A railway bridge carrying the West Coast main line across the River Ribble into Preston Station.

W - Guild Wheel… Is a 21 mile route around the city for walkers and cyclists and was built as a legacy of the 2012 Preston Guild.

X - Corn Exchange… The 1842 Building was a busy market centre in its day. It is now a pub, but outside is Preston Martyrs Memorial commemorating the killing of 4 mill workers who were demonstrating for better working conditions.

Y - Yarn… Preston was famous for producing high quality cotton yarns and textiles.

Z - Zara Glover… Born in Preston in 1982, she is one of England’s best 10 pin bowlers and has been World Champion.