The Mystery of Preston's Last Tram Stop
I can't remember how I first came to be looking at this roadside shelter structure. I have passed it on numerous occasions, which amounts to several hundred times, at least. However, I can't say that I have given it a second look, until recently. I'm not sure how it first came to my attention. I think that there was a picture of it on one of the local photographer's Flickr site.
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The Mystery of Preston's Last Tram Stop |
When I searched for information about it, the structure was purported to be an 'original historic cast-iron tram shelter'. To me that was odd thought, as it was positioned somewhere that was not on a historical tram route.
The Historic England Blog includes it in an article entitled, "The Stories Behind England’s Street Furniture". Whilst, The Beauty of Transport website also features it in their "Iron Ladies (cast iron tram/bus shelters of the British Isles)" article.
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The Stories Behind England’s Street Furniture |
The Historic England Blog has a picture with a caption saying, "An original historic cast-iron tram shelter, Preston, Lancashire, now used as bus stop."
Whilst within the "Iron Ladies" article the following is said:
"Next up is the northern town of Preston, Lancashire. It’s hard to reconcile with the recently listed Brutalist monster which is Preston Bus Station, but this delightful little former tram shelter can be found on Black Bull Lane at the junction with Lytham Road."
I am not saying that structure didn't once serve the purpose of a tram shelter. However, I am reasonably sure that it wasn't in its current spot.
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Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map Published 1912 - Lytham Road & Black Bull Lane |
The Tramway did get reasonably close to the southern end of Black Bull Lane. However, it appears to have got as far north as 'Withy Trees' and then progressed eastward along Watling Street Road. There isn't a branch on Lytham Road.
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Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map Published in 1912 - Withy Trees |
With regard to the shelter, it does look 'old fashioned', but in reality, is it just an early bus stop?
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The Mystery of Preston's Last Tram Stop - just an early bus stop? |
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The Mystery of Preston's Last Tram Stop - just an early bus stop? |
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The Mystery of Preston's Last Tram Stop - just an early bus stop? |
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The Mystery of Preston's Last Tram Stop - just an early bus stop? |
The Preston Digital Archive has an image of a sepia postcard RP-PPC (Real Photograph - Picture Postcard) by A.H. & S of Preston. This shows the area around the junction of Black Bull Lane and Lytham Road. There is no date, but I believe it to be from the very early twentieth century. The photograph confirms the information on the Ordnance Survey maps was correct with regard to there not being any tram tracks in the area.
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Black Bull Lane in Fulwood - Sepia postcard by A.H. & S, Preston |
In theory, if the shelter structure was present at the time of the photograph from the Preston Digital Archive being taken, it should be visible in this view. That would suggest that it was a later addition.
I posted my photographs, the maps an the a postcard image on the Preston History Facebook Group with the question, "could anybody offer a suggestion as to something purported to be an 'original historic cast-iron tram shelter' would be positioned somewhere that was not on a tram route?".
One of the Preston History Facebook Group members made the following comment, "The shelter location was never on a tram route. It was, however, the original terminus of Preston's first bus route which began in 1922 - so still in the era of the tramway system. Originally it operated via Plungington Road and returned along Brook Street. Within a short time, it was re- routed to use Plungington Road in both directions. The bus turned at the junction with Lytham road and Black Bull Lane with the shelter at the point where after performing it's U-turn manoeuvre, it stopped and waited its departure time. The rather grand shelter was provided by Preston Corporation Tramways for its new (perhaps prestigious) service."
He also stated that the information was taken from books by Mike Rhodes - "Preston's Trams and Buses" 1995 and "A Century of Preston Bus Routes" 2022.
That therefore confirms that my suspicions were correct, and the shelter was actually an early Bus Stop that dates back to about 1922.
If I'd have paid more attention, when I was looking at the late Tony Worrall's photograph, I would have realised that he had already correctly identified it as a 'Antique Bus Stop'. The bus stop's location is identified as 'The Plungington'. The Plungington Hotel was a public house nearby on Lytham Road.
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Further reading and sources of information
The Historic England Blog
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The Beauty of Transport
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Ordnance Survey 25 inch England and Wales
Lancashire LXI.5 - Revised: 1910, Published: 1912
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The Home for the Blind, Fulwood
Sepia postcard. RP-PPC by A.B. - Preston Digital Archive
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rpsmithbarney/5879591912/
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The Plungington 'Antique' Bus Stop on Google Street View
https://maps.app.goo.gl/viUNRysk4ZbkZVFX6
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