My Lancashire - My accounts of the local area

Some Old Gates that appear to have survived the War Gates Manufactured by W. Dryden of Preston I spotted these on Church Street in Preston on Sunday 1st December 2024.  I can't say that I have noticed them before.  I probably thought that they were just a fence.  They would have once acted as an entrance into the former Unitarian Chapel on Percy Street (perhaps formally on Church Street), and its Burial Ground. The Former Unitarian Chapel on an Old Ordnance Survey Map The map can be found on the National Library of Scotland website.  I have included it courtesy of them.  Many old maps can be viewed on the website.  This view shows the  Ordnance Survey   map from the mid nineteenth century that I  have used compared to a relatively modern satellite image.  It is geo-referenced, which mean the features on the map can be matched up and traced side by side with the satellite image. NLoS:    https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-...

An Account of the  Preston Railway Station Free Buffet  The Preston Railway Station Free Buffet MEMORIES by Doris Shaw It was a hot and sticky summer day in late August and I had just finished doing my shopping in Preston and decided that instead of taking the bus home as I was close to the railway station I would return home by the train. I purchased a ticket from the booking office and wandered through the entrance of the station to the platform to wait for my train. The station was hot and noisy and I decided to go into the Station Buffet, which I felt would be quieter and more comfortable than sitting on a bench on the platform whilst waiting for my train. I purchased a cup of coffee and a sandwich, sat at a table and relaxed, my mind travelled back to the war years when I had voluntarily worked in the Station Buffet. I was in my teens and worked for Askew's the booksellers in Preston, when war was declared like many civilians, I was conscripted by the Government for Natio...

The Moving Milestone Last year I came across a Milestone in Penwortham.  It was puzzling.  Whilst the black painted metal plate looked quite authentic, the brickwork pedestal was very unorthodox.  It was not on a main historical route and there was no evidence of it on old maps.  I saw whilst walking along Church Avenue in Penwortham, Lancashire.  Up until the early part of the 20th century, this spot was in the grounds of Penwortham Priory, which was demolished in 1925 to make way for housing. Last year I came across a Milestone in Penwortham - It was puzzling Penwortham Priory was first a Benedictine priory and, after the Dissolution of the Monasteries, a country house.  The house was demolished as the village expanded into a town and a housing estate has replaced the mansion house and its grounds of which no trace remain. Before 1086, William the Conqueror gave this area of Lancashire to his relative, Roger the Poitevin.  A small castle was bui...

Crosby Blitz Beach How did I get here?   In January 2023, I discovered the remains of an old building on the banks of the River Ribble in Penwortham.  I was intrigued.  It wasn't until December 2023 that I discovered what it was.  A member of the Preston Past and Present Facebook group posted some pictures with the description, "Preston Town Hall 1862-1947 R.I.P. built by George Gilbert Scott."  I found it fascinating, so I went back for another look in early 2024.  You can read about it here: The Remains of Preston's Third Town Hall - https://www.mylancs.uk/2024/02/the-remains-of-prestons-third-town-hall.html More recently, I was watching YouTube videos, and went on a journey through some recommendations (thanks to the YouTube algorithms).  On this particular evening, I started with a video about building developments around Liverpool City Centre.  It was created by a gentleman called Aidan, who goes by the handle of  AidanEyewitn...