Egypitan Balcony drop in at The Harris

Climb to the very top of The Harris and discover one of Preston’s hidden treasures – the Egyptian Balcony.
This unique space offers breathtaking views and a rare glimpse into early 20th-century fascination with Ancient Egypt.

What is the Egyptian Balcony?

Perched high above the galleries, the Egyptian Balcony wraps around the base of the museum’s lantern.

It is home to a series of magnificent murals by artist John Somerscales, commissioned in 1908 by Preston Corporation. Somerscales travelled to Egypt to capture authentic scenes, which he transformed into large-scale paintings depicting iconic sites such as:

The Great Temple of Amun-Ra at Karnak
The Temple of Kom Ombo
The Temple of Isis at Philae
The Pyramids at Giza
The Sphinx at Gizeh
The Nile at Aswan
These murals are complemented by decorative panels inspired by ancient Egyptian sculpture and wall paintings, creating an atmospheric setting that feels like stepping into a pharaoh’s world.

*Please note, the Egyptian Balcony is up steep, narrow stairs without lift access.*

Join us for this a self-led exploration of this space that is normally behind the scenes which takes around ten minutes and then why not explore the rest of The Harris.

Timings

Saturday 12 September:

13.00PM-15.00PM

Sunday 13 September:

13.00PM-15.00PM

Location & directions

The Harris, Market Square, Preston Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 2PP

Directions:

On the Flag Market, you will find The Harris. You can find our entrances on Market Place and Lancaster Road. If you’re coming by bus, Preston Bus Station is just a short 3-minute walk away. Using the train? Preston Train Station is about a 10-minute stroll.

Contact on day:

The Harris

Telephone number:

+441772905421

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking not required

Accessibility details

*Please note, the Egyptian Balcony is up steep, narrow stairs without lift access.*

Additional information

Everything you need to know about The Harris is here: https://theharris.org.uk/ Before/ after the tour feel free to look around the rest of the museum, visit the Library and explore our exhibitions which are all free. We also have The Harris Cafe and Shop for you to check out during your visit.

Max number of people:

10

Estimated duration:

0 hour(s) 10 minute(s)

Check out our online channels

Back to results