Issue 26

Preston Street Names

Preston Unemployed FC
Dominics Milk Bar

Penwortham

Supported &
Printed by:

A C A D E M Y

FREE

Welcome
Welcome to the 26th issue of The Preston Magazine, our free monthly magazine containing
snippets of lesser-known history articles relating to Preston.
A big thankyou to our advertisers, without them we could not produce this magazine. Please
support them whenever you can. If you would like to help us by advertising, please do
contact us.
Our thanks to Penwortham Priory Academy for their help and support in the production of
our magazine. A link on their websites community pages allows you to read all issues online,
as well as our sister magazines, The Penwortham Magazine and The Lostock Hall Magazine.
www.priory.lancs.sch.uk you can also access The Preston and Penwortham Magazines via
www.blogpreston.co.uk
Included this month are A Poem from Preston born Canadian poet Robert Service, from
his book of poems entitled Rhymes of a Red Cross Man, which was dedicated to his brother,
Albert, who was killed in action, in France in August 1916, Our ongoing serial A Preston Lad
by Arthur Eric Crook (1917-1997) is now onto Volume 2 which are memories from his early
working life and memories from the 1930/40s around Preston.
If anyone has any family memories, photographs or any items of trench art
relating to the First World War that could feature in our magazine please do get
in touch. Also if any of your family members are named on a Preston or South Ribble War
Memorial and you have any information about them we would love to hear from you.
Should you require a copy by post each month, please contact us. We can also email you a
pdf version of the magazine. If I have missed you lately please do let me know.
The Preston ag seen on the front of the magazine was designed by Philip Tibbets,
copyright has been waived to allow it to be used by anyone.
Take a look at the Preston groups on Flickr, there are thousands of images, old and new.
Preston Digital Archive is always on the look out for old photos of Preston and
surrounding area, please get in touch at the number below if you would like to contribute.
We can scan any images for you and give you a digital copy.
A copy of each issue of all the magazines will be kept at Lancashire Records Oce.
Front Cover Image Preston Flag Market by kind permission of Paul Melling.
Morris Dancing groups from across Britain came together in Preston to set a new
Guinness World Record for the greatest number of Morris Dancers performing one
dance. 145 dancers beat the previous record. www.paulmellingphotography.com

Contact Details - Heather 07733 321 911

121 Broad Oak Lane, Penwortham, Preston, PR1 0XA
Email: theprestonmagazine@gmail.com

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ADVERTISERS

The Preston Magazine accepts no responsibility for any transactions, goods or services,
entered into with or provided by advertisers within these pages. We wish to apologise if any
items cause oence, they relate to times gone by, and are not necessarily the views of the
editor.

Photographs from Preston Past

Preston Market Place 1893

Sepia cabinet photograph by George Reade, Market Place, Preston
Photo from Preston Digital Archive, kindly provided by Tarquin Scott from the
estate of the late Henry L. Kirby, courtesy of Paul Swarbrick.

Preston from Penwortham Hill c.1832

Image taken from The History of the Parish of Preston in Amounderness in the
County of Lancaster (1900) by Henry Fishwick

LUNE STREET
FISH & CHIPS
(Opposite The Corn Exchange)
34 LUNE STREET
ALL DAY SPECIALS
Mon Sat
Small Chips and gravy 1.00
Small Chips and curry 1.00
Take away only

01772 411228

Football Club For The Workless

Prestons lead to the Country. Aiding the men to keep t.
Superintendent Garths Scheme The rst football club for the unemployed in the
country has been formed at Preston. It has been admitted to the Preston Thursday
League. With more than 8,000 men to chose from there should be little diculty in
obtaining players, and possibly a footballer with the artistry of Kelly, the vigour of Harper,
or the skill of Crawford might be discovered. At all events, Preston Unemployed should
have no cause to grumble about lack of support if all their comrades attend matches.
It was hoped that the services of Mr Tom Roberts, the former North End international
centre forward, as team advisor, and Mr George Clay, the former Dick, Kerrs centre half,
will probably act as trainer. Clubs Aim. The man who has organised the formation of
the club, and the rst president and treasurer, is Superintendent Garth, of the Preston
Borough Police. Always a good friend to the unfortunate, the Superintendent talked
over the with one or two unemployed men three months ago, and this week, as a lead
to the rest of the country, the club has been formed. Inspector Rowcroft has also given
much of his time to the scheme, which is intended to help those unemployed interested
in sport to keep t without expense to themselves. Any unemployed man may join the
club, and if he later obtains work he may continue in membership. Practice Games.
The ground for the new team will be Ashton Park, the headquarters of Dick, Kerrs club.
Green jerseys and white knickers have been chosen for the teams. Due largely to the
appeal for playing kit recently published in the Daily Post, the team have now 13 shirts,
13 pairs of knickers and ve footballs. Fulwood Corinthians have oered to play the
unemployed in a friendly match and arrangements are in progress for a charity match
to be played on the North End ground. Ocials of the club would be glad to hear from
teams who are willing to meet the team in Saturday afternoon friendly matches. All
unemployed desirous of signing on for the club should report at 3 o clock any afternoon
on Castleton Moors, when practice games will be held. Compensation For The
Injured. Collections will be taken at the home matches. The club is aliated to the
League Football Association and accordingly players who are injured while playing will
receive adequate compensation. All players are expected to give a guarantee that they
will keep themselves physically t throughout the season. In the selection of players for
friendly matches preference will be
given to those who have not secured
a position in the Thursday League
team. All unemployed are invited to
attend a meeting of the club which will
be held in the Lyric Rooms, Avenhamstreet, tomorrow night. Ocials have
been appointed as follows President,
Supt. Garth; chairman, A Wiseman,
secretary, A Biggins, treasurer, Supt.,
Garth; nancial secretary, Inspector
Rowcroft; assistant secretary, Frank
Hodgkinson; team committee, J
Greenbank, T McWilliams and J Hall.
The Lancashire Daily Post 31st
August 1932

DESIGNING A LIVESEY MEMORIAL TABLET

Preston Artist engaged on
commemorative work
Preston has as yet, no memorial
to Joseph Livesey, the famous
advocate of total abstinence, but
in view of The Seven Men of
Preston celebration in the town
next month, it has been felt that
something should be done. A
happy idea, seeing that many
overseas and other visitors are
expected is the placing of tablets
on buildings with which Livesey
was associated. Mr WH Simm,
assistant curator of the Harris
Art Gallery and Museum, Preston, has been commissioned by the Livesey Memorial
Trustees to design a bronze mural tablet from which replicas, with suitably diering
superscriptions, will be placed on those buildings where Livesey lived and laboured
as the apostle of temperance and reform. The illustration shows the artist at work
on the rst rough draft of his design. In the central plaque of the upper half of the
tablet is a head of Livesey, set against a background symbolising his active work in
our public parks. The nished work may dier greatly from the sketch, but the bold
simplicity and dignity of this initial sketch is pleasingly eective and apt.
The Lancashire Daily Post August 1st 1932.
LIVESEY MEDALLIONS
15,000 Centenary mementos for Preston School Children
Preston School Children have been placed rst in the plans for celebrating the
Joseph Livesey Centenary. At each of the Day Schools a special lesson of the
historical signicance of the day will be given, and the story of the Seven Men
and their mission will be told. The actual form of the celebration will vary at each
school, in accordance with the plans of each headmaster or mistress. A neat
commemorative medallion of gilt metal has been struck, with a bust of Joseph
Livesey on one side and National Centenary Celebrations of The Temperance
Movement, 1832-1932 on the other. The Livesey Memorial Trust and the Eccles
Trust have oered 15,000 of these medallions to the school authorities for free
distribution to the scholars at each school as a memento of the centenary.
Arrangements have been made for supplies of the medallions to all headmasters
and mistresses applying for them. Coin like in design, only slightly larger than a
shilling, the medallions are of durable metal, and are tted with neat brooches for
convenient wear.
The Lancashire Daily Post August 31st, 1932

M/K MOBILITY AND CHAIR COMPANY

WE BUY AND SELL
Scooters Wheelchairs
Electric Rise & Recliner Chairs
NHS PROVIDER
Wheelchair Hire Open 7 Days
Part Exchange Welcome
1 Buller Ave (opposite the firestation)
Leyland Road, Penwortham

Tel. 01772 740296 or 741393

Mobile 07944 683 928

Walter Rocky Thompson 1918-2015

Walter was born in 1918 and
was an ex-Preston engine driver.
He began work on the railway
at Preston in 1933 and worked
there as a reman and then
driver until his retirement in
1981 (48 yrs service). He always
looked younger than his age. On
his retirement he only looked
about 35 years. Sadly Walter
at the age of 97 died on 16th
September, 2015. He leaves
behind his wife, Margaret,
daughter and two grandchildren.

Picture 1 shows Walter at the

controls of an inter city electric
locomotive

Picture 2 shows
him standing by
Diesel loco 47462
at Dock Street,
Preston on July
18th 1981. He is
phoning control to
tell them he has
parked up his loco
for the last time
before retirement.
Bob Gregson.
Photos courtesy of
Alec Mayor.

ACTING RSM Edward Nicholson

MC DCM

Edward Nicholson was born on the 2nd May 1891

at 1, Ormside Street, Preston. He later moved
to Great George Street, Preston and attended
St. Ignatius School. He worked as a weaver at
Moor Brook Mill until joining the army at Fulwood
Barracks in 1909 at the age of 18 yrs where he
was attached to 2nd Battalion, Prince of Wales
Volunteers ( South Lancashire Regiment.)
Edward acquired several education certicates
during 1909 /1910 and served in various places in
England and Ireland. He also received a number
of promotions before sailing to France from
Southampton in 1915. He was involved in heavy
ghting in Flanders and France and in June 1916
was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for
Constant Gallantry and Good Work throughout.
( featured in the Preston Guardian June 17th
1916.) Shortly after this Edward was promoted to
the rank of Acting Regimental Sergeant Major.
On 3rd September 1916 the Battalion suered many losses including the
Commanding Ocer and Acting RSM Nicholson displayed exceptional gallantry and
initiative in rallying the men when the Company Ocers had been put out of action.
He made three attempts to enter the enemys trenches although he had been badly
shaken by a shell burst early in the attack. For this action he received the Military
Cross.
The Battalion was involved in further heavy ghting during 1917 and they were
involved in an oensive at Railway Wood Ypres which began on 31st July. The night
after the battle commenced was particularly unpleasant for them as they were in full
view of the enemy. During that time Acting RSM Nicholson was hit in the neck by a
piece of shell and was killed instantly. He was 26yrs old, close to the front line and
in a trench just captured from the Germans.
Edwards body was never recovered but his death is recorded on the Ypres ( Menin
Gate) Memorial. He is also (I believe,) named on the WW1 Memorial in St. Ignatius
Church Preston.
By Barbara Dyer September 2015
The Story of Edward Nicholson is also on the Preston Remembers website
http://www.prestonremembers.org.uk/. It was shared with us by
Barbara Dyer, who is his distant relative.

Prestons New Milk Bar

Diet is playing no small part in the nations drive for physical tness. Without being
in the least faddist about food, the average person is taking a deeper and more
intelligent interest in his meals and those heartening things, snacks in the middle
of the working day. For this
reason the new milk bar, in
Church-street, Preston, which
was opened by Garland Wilson,
the famous broadcasting
pianist, who is appearing at
the Kings Palace this week,
will appeal to those who are
in need of a nourishing pickme-up, a drink, or an ice. The
owners are the rm of Pirolli,
who are well known in East
Lancashire, and the modern
dcor is arresting to the eyes.
From Church-street the bar has
a Coronation aspect. White
and blue form the background
for scarlet letters. The sign
Dominics Milk Bar is modern
in construction and purpose.
Inside the colour scheme of
ice blue has been repeated for
the walls of the bar, and above
three horizontal bars bands of
colour, icy mountains range to
the ceiling. Polar bears frolic by
Artic pools, fairy castles provide
a note of colour, and chalets
present a picture reminiscent
of Switzerland. But the most
interesting thing to be found at
the premises is the chromiumplated bar, which is constructed
on the most up-to-date lines.
An array of taps bear the names
of the dierent milkshakes
which it is possible to order.
Deep containers hold quantities
of ice cream, milk is stored in

concealed kits and drawn up by pumps, soda water is to hand, and mixing beakers
for malted milk stand along the top of the counter. At one end four porcelain
containers, contain nourishing milk soups, under which water is constantly boiling.
The latest types of urns ensure that freshly coee is of the right consistency.
Attractive though the premises are, their chief asset is the absolute cleanliness of
working arrangements, and whether standing at the bar, or seated on smart high
stools, sipping a milk cocktail or taking soup, customers know that they are buying
pure food spotlessly served. Many workmen were engaged day and night getting
the new premises ready for the Coronation Day rush, and within a short space
of time additional accommodation will be provided in an equally attractive room
under the present
bar, which will be
served by means
of a lift from the
main service. The
refrigerated milk
bar and its allied
equipment is
ultra modern in
design, hygienic,
and electrically
automatic in
operation. This,
we understand
is manufactured
by Messrs Leda
Electrical Ltd.,
supplied and
installed by Messrs
Holt and Kippax
Ltd, of Newtown,
Burnley, under
the personal
supervision of Mr
AE Kippax. The
indoor decorations
and furnishings
were carried out by
R Rawlinson and
Sons.
Lancashire Daily
Post May 13th 1937

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESTON CHRONICLE

Sir, I was much interested in reading your paper entitled Preston Forty Three Years
Ago and can fully conrm was how Preston was at the period referred to. My
recollection carries me back to the year 1796, when the father of the present Earl of
Derby was rst elected MP for the borough. At that time the Market-place with two
or three exceptions, was composed of places of business. These exceptions were
the residences of E Pedder, Esq., adjoining the Cross Keys Inn, and that of Alderman
Fisher, at the corner of New-street. The alderman was a retired watchmaker and
somewhat of a pedagogue in his way; his incorrect mode of pronouncing certain
words, especially America, which he called Ameri-ca, earned for him the cognomen
of Judge Fisher. The principle tradesman of the Market-place then was Mr Richard
Atherton (father-in-law of Sir Jas. Allan Parke) who bought the Greenbank estate,
and built thereon a neat residence, surrounded with gardens and shrubberies, which
he laid out in a tasteful manner. Spittals Moss was then a waste piece of ground.
Mr John Horrocks having, however, erected a cotton factory thereon, streets of
houses sprung up, and the spot became a colony for his workpeople. The building
of this factory was followed by others, in the same immediate locality, principally
by the same enterprising individual and by Messrs Ryley and Paley. There was also
a worsted factory built in the same neighbourhood by a Mr Barrow, who had for
his partner Mr Richard Raby; but the concern not answering it was given up, and
Mr Raby removed to Leicester, where he successfully conducted a similar business
for many years. About this time, too, the canal from Preston to Lancaster was
projected, and many acres of land, which in the recollection of the writer were green
elds, were converted into docks, and covered with water, warehouses and wharfs.
The Old House of Correction as it was called, was within a few hundred yards
of the same site, and the only building beyond it on the road to the Marsh, was
Nocks Folly, surrounded by some tall trees, from which the cawing of the crows
was no little source of interest to the juveniles, who were wont to pass that way to
the banks of the Ribble. Near Friargate, and not far from the houses now called
Mount Pleasant, was Lady well about which the superstitious old women used to
tell strange tales of Jenny Greenteeth who was said to be occasionally seen riding
on a broomstick, cutting wonderful capers. The opening from Friargate into Lunestreet, and thence into Fishergate, was a consequence of making the canal. The
ground over which the road now passes was then an orchard, and gardens, from
which (across the elds) a view of Fishergate bars, opposite the site of the Theatre
Tavern, might be had. The occupiers of the last house in that part of the street
were Mrs Redhead and her daughter, the latter of whom is still living. The present
theatre was erected about the year 1802, and was opened for the rst time during
the Guild held in that year. Mr Stanton was the manager, who spared no expense
in bringing to it the great dramatists of the day. The writer remembers Mrs Siddons
and her son Henry, Mrs Jordan, Miss Mellon (subsequently Duchess of St Albans)
George Frederick Cooke, John Bannister, Mundon, Young, Betterton, and most of
the other celebrities of the day, performing there. The admission was boxes, 6s.;
pit, 4s.; gallery, 2s.; and so anxious were the ladies to obtain the best places in the

boxes, that it was no uncommon thing to see them almost falling over each other in
order to get their names put upon the box plan. Before the erection of this Theatre,
the drama was performed in an old barn-like building in Wren and Woodcocks
timber yard, where Miss Farron (afterwards Lady Derby) made her appearance in
the year 1796. John Kemble also trod the same stage about the same period. The
middle and upper part of Fishergate were then private residences, most of the elite
of the town living there. Among the number may be mentioned the two Misses
Thompson (sisters of Judge Thompson), General Fletcher, and the Misses Fletcher,
Mr Hankinson (better known as Snuy Hankinson from his habit of keeping that
article in his waistcoat pocket instead of a box), Dr Lowe, Mr Cowburn, Mr Dalton,
Rev H Shuttleworth, the vicar (father of the late bishop of that name) and his three
daughters, remarkable for their tall gures and constant attendance in the stage
box at the Theatre; with many others of the aristocratic class. Subsequently the
family residences by degrees were converted into shops. The rst was opened
by Mr Arthur Milsom, an upholsterer from Bath, who was followed by Miss Cox, a
milliner, who occupied part of the same residence. Near to these premises was the
house latterly occupied by Mr John Taylor, seedsman, and somewhat celebrated as
the home for many years of the unfortunate lady the heroine of the extraordinary
Romance in Real Life which appeared in the Chronicle some ten years ago.
Opposite to this house there stood a towns pump in connection with which there is
an amusing anecdote related. In the year 1768, during what was called the great
electionthe Tory mob, composed of colliers from Sir Frank Standishs pits, had
collected in large numbers in Fishergate and were committing all sorts of mischief.
The Mayor and the half dozen constables to whom the peace of the town was then
entrusted, made their appearance and commanded it to disperse. The mandate
of his worship, though at all times respectfully listened to by the townsfolk, availed
nothing with the strangers. With so little terror did they behold the chief magistrate
that they actually laid him upon his back and pumped upon him an incident that
so amused them, that on a neighbour Mr Bradley (father in law of the lady above
referred to) courageously coming to his assistance, they removed his worship and
supplied his place with the valorous old townsman. Another incident, in which the
said old inhabitant was the chief actor, has been handed down traditionally to the
writer, viz., that when the Pretenders army reached Preston in the year 1745, about
half a score of his men where quartered upon him during their stay in the town, and
that on their retreat from the south, an ocer whose duty it was to enquire how
the men had conducted themselves in his house, besought his aid to save him from
his pursuers. Mr Bradley, though by no means sympathising with the Pretenders
cause, yielded to his entreaties, and after supplying him with a disguise, conducted
him through his garden into the foot road from the Waterworks, along the Sykeroad to the Marsh, where he left the fugitive to nd his way to Scotland. The poor
man, grateful for the assistance thus aorded him, broke o the hilt of his sword, a
valuable one, and earnestly entreated his acceptance of it.
September 29th, 1852. Your Constant Reader and A Prestonian.

Preston Now and Then (cont.)

It is indeed ornamentum perennius a joy for ages, and a lasting honour to the designer.
For this magnicent building we are indebted to the late Mr E R Harris, solicitor and
prothonotary, who died on the 27th June, 1877, aged 73 years. He bequeathed the whole
of his property and money to the town of Preston, amounting with interest to the enormous
sum of 285,350, the disposal of most which was left to the discretion of trustees, of whom
Mr CR Jacson was chairman, and foremost in this and other great benets that Mr Harriss
bequest has enabled them to confer upon the town The Harris Orphanage in Garstang
Road, the Technical School at Avenham, municent grants to the churches and schools &c,.
For the Free Library and Museum alone the trustees granted 105,000, of which 75,000
were devoted to building and furnishing, 15,000 to endowment, and 15,000 for books of
reference, works of art, &c,. The site of the building has cost the corporation 30,000, as it
involved the demolition of all the valuable places of business on the east side of the Marketplace. Eight public-houses were razed The Blue Anchor in Anchor-court; the Shakespere
Inn and Swan-with-two-necks in Strait Shambles; the Cross Keys, the Wheat Sheaf and
White Hart in Gin Bow Entry; and the Shoulder of Mutton and Bull and Butcher in Lancaster
Road, at the east end of Gin Bow Entry. The licence of the Cross Keys Inn which stood
at the corner of the Entry and facing the Market-place, was removed to the corner house
adjoining, occupied in old times by the Pedder family. Eighteen months ago it was proposed
in the Town Council by the Streets and Buildings Committee that the thoroughfares north
and south of the Harris Free Library should be named respectively Harris-street and Jacsonstreet. Alderman Hibbert objected that this would be to belittle the structure bearing the
former name that it would be a ridiculous gilding of rened gold, and most people would
agree with him. He moved, and Mr Yates Booth seconded the motion, that that portion of
the Committees proceedings be referred back for reconsideration, and the proposition was
carried by eighteen votes against ten. It is a matter of surprise that not a single voice was
raised in the Council Chamber at the time in favour of a commemoration of the name of the
late Richard Newsham, who bequeathed to the inhabitants pictures and objects of art valued
at 17,000. Besides this splendid bequest Mr Newsham in the course of his long life was a
most generous benefactor to various churches and schools. He was one of the gentlemen
who bought a Dissenting Chapel in Avenham Lane, and converted it in 1841 to a chapel-ofease to the Parish Church, when it was named St. Jamess. It has since been rebuilt from
the design of Mr Hibbert, the cost, 2,000, of the upper portion of the tower being defrayed
by Mr Newsham who had previously contributed 3,000 to the building fund. Contiguous
to the church in Knowsley-street, stand the Commercial Schools, built at the expense of Mr
Newsham in 1844, as a memorial to his parents. With these benefactors we must name Miss
Roper, to whom we owe the Catholic Mens Club, in Friargate; Mrs Maria Holland who built
and endowed the orphanages in Theatre-street and Mount-street; and Mr Joseph Livesey who
erected six drinking fountains in various parts of the town.
Not far from St James Church on the opposite side of the road, the old cottages formed out
of an ancient workhouse built more than 200 years ago, gave way in 1850 to a lodge for
Avenham-street Mill of Messrs Horrocks, Jacson and Co; but it was afterwards lled up and
the site is now covered with shops and houses. The workhouse on Preston Moor erected
in 1788, and those also at Woodplumpton and Penwortham, were closed when the palace
at Fulwood was opened in 1868, but the workhouse at Ribchester has been retained for the
imbecile poor only. Divirging into Glover-street, we must mention the Blind Institute, the
foundation stone of which was laid by the late Ald. JJ Myres (Mayor) and was opened in
1874; and making another deviation from Avenham-lane, we see Bairstow-street, built on

what was formerly

the garden of
Avenham House,
long occupied by the
father of the late Mr
Newsham. At the
end of Avenhamlane stands the
Harris Technical
Institute, erected
as the Institution
for the diusion of
knowledge from
the design of Mr
John Welch. The
foundation stone
was laid by the
late Mr Thomas
German, in 1846, and the building was opened in 1849, at a cost of about 6,000, raised by
subscription and donations, with a grant of 250 from the Corporation. In 1882, the building
was transferred by the Council of the Institution to the Harris Trustees, who granted 40,000
for the purpose of converting it into a technological college. The beautiful Avenham Walks
in front of that building were largely extended in 1846. Previously, at the end of the present
upper walk, there was a rough declivity to the river, where now there are steps and terraces.
From these terraces the old Prestonian would barely recognise the landscape of his youth.
The Ribble still winds through the valley; the woods beyond, the Old Tram bridge, the village
of Walton, and Hoghton Tower are all still there, but trades unfeeling train has been busy
here also; it has thrown three railway bridges across the valley and river. The North Union
Railway spanned them in 1838, the East Lancashire Line in 1846, and the West Lancashire in
1882. When the East Lancashire brick-built arches that carry the line from the south end of
the bridge to the high ground beyond were nished, one of the labourers had a marvellous
escape, or rather a series of escapes, from death. He was engaged on an arch near the
bridge when he felt it giving way, and jumped onto the next arch, which also fell, and the
next, and the next,
until he reached a
safer foothold, 13
arches having fallen
behind him as he
ran. A few years
ago these arches
were lled in and
buttressed with soil;
so that now the line
seems to have been
constructed on a
solid embankment.
Lancashire Daily
Post 25th March 18

Preston Streets Named After Writers, Artists

and Adventurers
By John Bannister
Poets, Playwrights, authors and
artists gure greatly in local street
names, especially in Ribbleton. Here,
the older streets are Shakespeare
Road and Tennyson Road, both
running o Acregate Lane. There
are followed by Bard Street and
Thompson Street, the last named
after Francis Thompson, Prestons
own poet. Newer streets built by the
Council and private builders on both
sides of Ribbleton Avenue have kept
up the trend with Chaucer Street,
Burns Street, Wordsworth Road,
Emerson Road, Browning Road and
Browning Crescent. Rydal Road
and Grasmere Road are names from
places associated with Lakelands
best known poet. Grasmere Road
formerly ran o Ribbleton Road and
Wordsworth Road was the road
between Ribbleton Methodist Church
and the school.
O Ribbleton Lane are Poynter Street,
Landseer Street, and Ansdell Street
all famous artists. Liverpool born
Richard Ansdell, who painted The
Stag at Bay needs no introduction,
nor does Sir Edward Landseer, R.A., the celebrated animal painter and designer of the lions
that grace the base of Nelsons Column in Trafalgar Square. Sir Edward John Poynter, R.A.,
was famed as an artist in water colours and as a designer in fresco, mosaic, stained glass,
and pottery. In 1896, he was elected President of the Royal Academy. Also o Ribbleton
Lane is Fitzgerald Street, Edward Fitzgerald is best known for his translation of the works
of Omar Khayyam. Moving over to New Hall Lane are Waverley Road and Waverley Park,
which together with Ivanhoe Terrace, refer to the works of Sir Walter Scott. Scotts Court
which connected Mill Bank, Church Street, with Edmund Street also referred to Sir Walter. It
is in the Edmund Street district that the person who was responsible for naming the streets
showed that he knew his poets and writers but slipped up on the spelling. While Edmund
Street and Spencer Street were named after Edmund Spenser, while Carlisle Street and
Carlisle Terrace have nothing to do with the Border city but are intended to refer to Thomas
Carlyle, the Scottish writer. In this same group of streets was a Homer Street and a Dryden
Street, but together with Spencer Street, they have been swept away to make room for high
rise ats and maisonettes.

Other early streets that favour poets and writers are Milton Street and Byron Street, both o
Moor Lane. A loner is Ruskin Street at the southern end of Manchester Road as is Grasmere
Terrace on St Thomass Road. High up on the frontage of the terraces, the stone faces of the
Lakeland poets stare out across Moor Park. Elliot Street o Aqueduct Street takes its name
from Ebeneezer Elliott, a Yorkshire born poet and social reformer. He was greatly concerned
about the exploitation of children, especially orphans, in the cotton mills.
An early 19th century street is Newton Street, originally running from Park Road to Deepdale
Road, but since realigned to t in with the new Council estate. Sir Isaac Newton is well
known for his scientic work and observations, although most people associate him only with
a falling apple. There is also a Newton Road in Ashton, but this possibly refers to the nearby
hamlet of Newton rather than to Sir Isaac.
Slightly beyond the end of Newton Street on Deepdale Road
is Stephensons Terrace, an impressive row of Regency-style
residences. They honour George Stephenson, the pioneer
of steam locomotion. Behind the Terrace is the original
terminal station of the Preston to Longridge Railway, one of
Prestons earliest railway ventures, on which work started
in 1838 and the line ocially opened on the 1st May, 1840.
The station was later sited further along Deepdale Road
after the line was connected to the main Preston Station
by a tunnel from Maudland to St Pauls Road. The original
terminus became the Deepdale Sidings.
In the mid- 19th century there were several expeditions
to the Artic Regions, principally to pioneer a North West
George Stephenson
Passage to the Bering Straits and the Pacic. Many lives
were lost in these attempts, among them Sir John Franklin
with nine of his ocers and fteen men. Captain R Collinson was sent by the Government
to search for Franklin but apart from nding his winter quarters on Beechy Island, no trace
of this ill-fated expedition was found. In a further search that left England in 1850, Collinson
reached Victoria Land within a few miles of Point Victory where the fate of Franklin would
have been ascertained. In this last voyage, Collinson navigated the second North West
Passage, a similar passage having been made some months earlier by Captain R McLure.
Collinson Street o Ribbleton Lane honours Captain Collinsons achievements.
An American expedition, under the leadership of Dr EK Kane discovered, among other things,
the Humboldt Glacier, the worlds greatest, which is 45 miles wide at its seaward end. In
1875, following Kanes discoveries, the British despatched the Alert under Commander AH
Markham and Captains GS Nares and HW Fielden, and the Discovery commanded by Captain
JF Stephenson and Lt. LA Beaumont. Beaumont made discoveries along the north coast
of Greenland, while Markham and the Alert reached a higher latitude and wintered further
north than any ship had done before. O Tulketh Brow can be found Kane Street, Nares
Street, Markham Street, Alert Street and a row of houses called Alert Terrace.
Taken from the book entitled The Street Names Of Preston by John Bannister.

A Preston Lad - Volume Two

I had my mates, we clicked with girls, and there was always Ingram, in the background,
even she had her faults and favoured weepy lms, like Garbo in Anna Karina, Paul Mieni in
the Good Earth, Mr Miniver Robert Donat in Goodbye Mr Chips etc, while I liked seeing
the Lionel Atwill and Boris Karlo, Lon Chaney, Mr Moto, Charlie Chan and Tarzan type stu,
but even I was scared by The Face at the Window. I fondly remember Hoot Gibson, Tom
Mix, Jack Holt, Ramon Navaro, Lew Ayres, Wallace Beery with Marjorie Main, Eddie Cantor,
Harold Lloyd and screamed with laughter at the Charlie Chaplin and the Keystone Kops
antics. Warner Baxter, Ronald Coleman, Norma Shearer, Mae West, Jean Harlow Constance
Cummings, Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Sylvia Sidney, Jackie Cooper, Margaret Sullivan,
Shirley Temple, Freddie Bartholomew, marvellous child actors, The Dead End Kids and the
other gang of kids, six or seven of them led by a chubby little lad of about six or seven, there
was a little black girl and a white dog with a black ring round one eye. Yes, we had plenty
of choice. I can name at least twenty cinemas that were operating in that marvellous era
of Preston in the twenties and thirties. The trams, the trains, the dance halls, massive fairs
and walking days. The years when children of both sexes and of tender years could romp
and play in elds, parks and lonely places without a thought or fear of molestations from the
evil men who stalk children like prey and suer at the hands of sick minded morons of the
nineties. Amongst all this of which I am enthusing there was poverty and children who saw
more dinnertimes than dinners and all and sundry had to obey the maxim children should be
seen, not heard. One thing I cant understand is, in my young days, children started school
at ve years of age, I think I went much sooner, we left at fourteen, had no homework to do
and yet we could write and spell better than our present day counterparts and was just as
learned if not more so than children who stay at school till they are sixteen and do hours of
homework and having little pocket machines to do all their adding up and subtracting. I think
modern youth spends more time in the bathroom, surrounded by bottles, tins and aerosols
of cosmetics that we did at school. Small kids of six and seven years of age with pierced
ears and high heels. Mind you at the time of writing its all about trainers and jeans. They
all knock about like myriads of window cleaners. In my younger days if you had wavy hair
you were classed as a pansy, I know. I had plenty of ghts about my own hairstyles. A lot of
sticus took place for someone using a now popular insult such as you stupid bastard that
was the ultimate oence. It cast derogatory doubts on you parentage and belittled your dad
and mums good name. I, of course, had to let it ride, because I was one !
Every group of boys always seem to have a leader, ours was Harry Smith or Mit as we
called him. He was a ladykiller, always seemed to get the nicest girls. He had the gift of
the gab, had a pleasant manner and was very good looking. When we met in the evenings
some would always say what are we doing tonight, Mit ? and he always seemed to have
formulated our evenings goings on and no one ever said otherwise. Mind you, he was a
mechanic and he could drive, not many lads his age held a driving licence. I was twenty one
before I applied for the treasured little red booklet, All Groups and all that. Gordon Livesey
was the next to learn to drive, but then he always tried to be the mirror image of Harry. Not
that he fawned or toaded up to him but seemed to walk in his shadow. I fancied his sister
Jenny but she was a little overpowering and frightened me, so even though she would have
agreed, I never took her out. For fourteen to being in my twenties I easily blushed especially
in the company of the opposite sex. If a girl called my name and everyone looked, I went a
bright red and would drop something on the oor so I could stoop to cover my confusion. At
school, if the headmaster during singing lessons picked me out to give the others an example
of what he wanted, I panicked and always held my sheet music close to my face, but if it

had been scored on the blackboard that avenue of escape was closed. At least the class had
to look ahead so that eased the tension somewhat. It was just that I could not stand folk
looking at me I dont know the reason for it. Could be lack of condence I dont know. It left
me later in life.
One thing that seems to have vanished from the human scene, the old characters every
district had one or two and when they passed on they could not be replaced and everyone
missed their banter and quaint philosophy, sometimes it was a mode of dress or the
knowledge of certain things and although they were a common breed and perhaps lacking
scholastically, people sought their advice on certain subjects for which these characters
had a natural air and a far seeing knowledge or had, could hold you enthralled with the
tales they told. In Walton, Jack Hartley, was one such person. Everyone knew him and he
was aectionately known by the nickname Coppo. He copped everything that came down
the river. He lived at the top of Church Brow, next to or very near St Leonards school. His
knowledge of the Ribble was phenomenal, he knew every back water and eddy, the deeps
and the shallows, the best shing places. He could tickle salmon and trout, and the police
always came to him when a body was, or suspected of being lying drowned somewhere
along the Ribbles immediate length. He had a boat permanently anchored at the bottom
of the steep bank opposite his home. He would venture forth with his grappling irons, and
always found what the police wanted nding. In conversation he was so interesting and droll
and could hold us all spellbound but the river was his chief interest in life. Another chap I
came across I never knew him and only saw him on rare occasions. I think he was a knight
of the road, and passed through Cuerdale periodically. He nearly always had two pairs of
pants sometimes odd boots and an old muer, ngerless gloves and a top coat so what the
weather which was fastened around the waist with binding twine. I was walking to Walton
one evening. May it was, an my bike was out of commission, so I left Mallinsons about 6.15
pm and was passing Wood Nook farm and this character was perched on a piece of fencing
smoking a clay pipe with a broken stem so that the bowl was practically under his nose and
he was lthy. I stared at him in amazement. Wot tha starrin at lad. Dusta want a smook
a mi pipe. No thankyou I replied. Ive brodken stem a mi throoat an stan still when Im
speyken tuthee. Hesta no manners boyo. I shued uneasily not knowing what to do or say.
I hev two pipes he said, one fer twist and he pulled a briar out of his cavernous pocket,
and this as Im smookin is fer fag ends, I picks em up an wen Ive have gotten anew, I rams
thowd pipe reet tight and its nod a bad smook un Ill say one thing Id keeps me nooase
warm, and he have o a queer cackle his way of laughing. Es ty ony fags laddie he said.
No I replied I dont smoke, sorry. No need to pologise lad o tha gooas un thas bin talking
to Jem Bradley. U to reet un dont luk so freightened Ill nod bite tha. O I went thinking
that Jim Bradley would not nd so many fag stumps on this length. I saw him once or
twice afterwards but only at a distance. Then there was Jud Fletcher, that kept the Unicorn
next to the Blacksmiths, it was a haven for cyclists and thousands must have stopped for
refreshment there. It was also the headquarters of The Autumn Leaves cyclists of mature
years, sixties and seventies. Now the wheel has turned full circle. Plenty of folk seem to
think that I myself am a character and rather an odd book.
More next month Arthur Eric Crook (1917 1997)

The Stretcher-Bearer
My stretcher is one scarlet stain,
And as I tries to scrape it clean,
I tell you wotIm sick with pain
For all Ive eard, for all Ive seen;
Around me is the ellish night,
And as the wars red rim I trace,
I wonder if in Eavens height,
Our God dont turn away Is Face.
I dont care oose the Crime may be;
I olds no brief for kin or clan;
I ymns no ate:

I only see

As man destroys his brother man;

I waves no flag:

I only know,

As ere beside the dead I wait,

A million earts is weighed with woe,
A million omes is desolate.
In drippin darkness, far and near,
All night Ive sought them woeful ones.
Dawn shudders up and still I ear
The crimson chorus of the guns.
Look! like a ball of blood the sun
Angs oer the scene of wrath and wrong.
. . .
Quick!

Stretcher-bearers on the run!

O PRINCE OF PEACE!

OW LONG, OW LONG?

By Robert W Service

We are proud to announce our

exciting new science teaching
spaces are now open and in
use. Priory also recently won
the Penwortham Best in Bloom
Competitition, schools category.

www.priory.lancs.sch.uk