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The Bombing of Ward Street in October 1940

The Bombing of Ward Street in October 1940 Of all the local history stories that I have discovered, learned about or have been told, this one is perhaps the closest to home.  I've known about the events that took place on Ward Street in Lostock Hall, part of the Preston Rural District at the time, since I was a small boy.  I spent some of my childhood at Ward Street.  My Grandparents had once resided at number 74 Ward Street and we often visited one of my Grandmother's close friends and former neighbours, Peggy, Arthur and their son John, who still lived on the street.  I can't honestly remember which house that was, but I have a recollection of it being the adjoining terraced house, so it would have been either 72 or 76.   Whilst we did talk about 'The Bombing of Ward Street' when we were there.  I can't remember much of the detail.  Perhaps none were discussed.  It was maybe just spoken about in general terms.  There was a small factor...
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The Walton le Dale Community Website

The Walton le Dale Community Website is back online Welcome back to the Walton le Dale area web site . This site was developed, originally in 2000, as a guide to facilities in the Walton le Dale area. It’s been offline for about six months, but has returned in July 2025. There are details on this site, or links to other sites, which provide access to useful public information relative to the area. There are also articles and pages that discuss the history and geography of Walton le Dale. Since contributing to a number local Facebook Groups over the last few years, generally with articles and photographs relating to local history, I thought it would be worthwhile resurrecting the site.  I can now include a lot of the social media content on the website.   On earlier incarnations of the site, which can all be found on the Internet Archive 'Wayback Machine' website, much of the historical content was 'borrowed' from other sources and slightly adapted.  The new cont...
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Thomas Blackburn and Sons Foundry in Preston

Thomas Blackburn and Sons When I am out and about, there aren't many things I don't survey with regard to trying to understand their historical context.  One of the things I am always looking for are old place signs.  I am keen to identify where they have originated and I'm particularly happy if I can trace them back to Preston.  It's not uncommon that I do. Many around Lancashire were made at Thomas Blackburn and Sons.  I have spotted them in lots of places, but the most recent one was in Langho.  If you have ever spotted them before, then you will probably recognise the design.  The casting that makes the pillar normally has the name on. A Road sign in Langho from a Foundry in Preston A Road sign in Langho from a Foundry in Preston A Road sign in Langho from Thomas Blackburn and Sons Foundry in Preston  ~ I haven't been able to find a great deal of information but, looking at 'Grace's Guide To British Industrial History', it appears that the Company ...
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Walton Lodge, The Seat of William Calrow Esquire in 1846

Walton Lodge, The Seat of William Calrow Esquire in 1846 Walton Lodge was large property and estate that was once situated at the top of what we now know as Chruch Brow, in Walton le Dale, which leads onto Cuerdale Lane. In some cases, it was referred to as Cuerdale Lodge. The property was originally created by Mr. Richard Calrow. It is said that the mansion of the Calrows at Walton Lodge was built partially of the bricks brought from the demolished Mosney works. An Illustration of Walton Lodge   CALROW OF WALTON LODGE Richard Calrow of Adlington, Co. Chester, was father of Richard Calrow of Bury, Co. Lancaster, who purchased the Walton Lodge estate in this township. The son, Richard Calrow, Esq., of Walton Lodge, had sons, William ; and Thomas Calrow, Esq., of Woodhill, near Bury. He died, aged 71, in 1830, and was buried at Walton Church. The Mosney firm of calico printers extended their works, and for some years prosecuted a flourishing business, and bore a high reputa...
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Preston Industrial Institution for the Employment and Education of the Blind

Preston Industrial Institution for the Employment and Education of the Blind Preston Industrial Institution for the Employment and Education of the Blind A History of Preston in Amounderness BY H. W. CLEMESHA, M.A. (Henry Wordsworth Clemesha) The most considerable benefaction that the town has yet received was obtained under the Will of Edmund Robert Harris , a local solicitor, and a son of the Revd. Robert Harris, headmaster of the Grammar School from 1788 to 1835 and incumbent of St. George's from 1797 to 1862. Edmund Robert Harris, a local solicitor from Preston Owing to the courtesy of Messrs. W. Banks & Co., of Preston, who were the solicitors to the trustees, I am able to give the following figures, which though not furnishing a complete list of his benefactions, show how largely Preston has benefited under Mr. Harris's Will: Preston Industrial Institution for the employment and education of the blind £500 Foundation of scholarships at the Preston Grammar School £3,00...
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The Most Blitzed Village in Preston District

The Most Blitzed Village in the Preston District I recently visited the Old Church of All Saints in Becconsall, which is now in West Lancashire, but used to be in the Preston Rural District.  I had gone there to take some photographs to upload to the Historic England Missing Pieces Project on their website.  The building is listed on the National Heritage List for England (NHLE).  The Old Church in Becconsall is listed on the National Heritage List for England   Whilst the church was on my list, the main reason for visiting the Old Church was to have a look at the gravestones. A trip like this would normally be to perhaps look at the graves of specific people with historical interest.  However, on this occasion, it was to examine the condition of the gravestones in the north west corner of the graveyard and explore their history.   Bomb damage to a number of the gravestones at the church Bomb damage to a number of the gravestones at the church Whilst r...
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