Category Archives: Preston

Mistaken Urbanism

Seldom photographed views of Preston Bus Station approached from the north on foot. Pedestrians are forced to approach the Bus Station and town centre via a footbridge and subway.

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Endless Bridge

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Architects at work

Architects’ office April 2006. Francis Roberts Architects have moved to 1 Ribblesdale Place, Preston.

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A Grand Day Out?

ManchesterModernist Society are organizing a ‘Preston Grand Day Out’ on Saturday 22 January 2011. All are welcome – see details on the MMS website.The trip will be led by Aidan Turner-Bishop, a key figure in the fight to protect the … Continue reading

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The ‘fifties from above

Following the visit of MA Urban Design students from MMU to our fair city this week, I offer an aerial photo set of Preston in the ‘fifties (before the clearance of factories, mills and much else). All the photos

Posted in CiA, Dominic Roberts, Nostalgia, Preston | 2 Comments

Improvisation at the Bus Station

Preston Bus Station is one of those modernist structures that condemned the pedestrian to the bridge or subway giving the surrounding ground plane or ‘apron’ to vehicles i.e. buses. The people of Preston are characterised by their disdain for motorised … Continue reading

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Drinking in architecture

It is St Walburge’s Beer Festival time again. This is your opportunity to sample the ales of Britain alongside one of the country’s great buildings: Joseph Hansom’s St Walburge’s RC Church, Preston. We’ll be there Thursday night, Friday night and … Continue reading

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Bankers?

Cornice detail on the (now empty) Midland Bank, Fishergate, Preston. Bankers 

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The Crowd

Preston, England 1926. The dedication of the Cenotaph funded by public subscription and designed by Giles Gilbert Scott. Scott, who was architect of the classic British red telephone box, Liverpool Anglican Cathedral and Tate Modern (Bankside power station), described his … Continue reading

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The great gates of Preston

Original detailed drawing of the gates to the Harris Museum, Preston 1882-1893. “The architect was the widely unknown James Hibbert”*. Compare the repeated star/sun motif with this house. More pictures of the building… * N. Pevsner in “The Buildings of … Continue reading

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Unpopular Culture

CIA recommends the strangely subdued exhibition at the Harris Museum in Preston. The Turner Prize winning artist Grayson Perry has selected pieces from the Arts Council Collection. This very restrained and slightly dark collection is predominantly modern and many of … Continue reading

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On the one hand…

An example of publicity material for urban regeneration in Preston…LINK

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