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Properties and events in Preston 2023
Properties and events in Preston 2023
Before heading out for your Heritage Open Days visit, please check entries at www.heritageopendays.org.uk for last-minute changes.
Heritage Open Days 2023 will be 8-17 September.
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Ashton Freehold - celebrating a Victorian suburb
St Michael's Church, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston, Lancashire
Ashton Freehold is a distinctive Victorian suburb, built just outside Preston's boundaries as a completely new development. Discover the origins…
Discover - and contribute to - the history of a Victorian suburb created in Ashton-on-Ribble by a freehold land society, an early type of building society. This year's events include an open afternoon to share information as well as guided walks.
Event Times
- Tuesday 12 September: Walk 1800
- Sunday 17 September: Walk 1000. Open afternoon at St Michael's 1300-1600.
Booking Details: Pre-booking: Required
Broughton in Amounderness Heritage Centre and Church Cottage Museum
Church Cottage Museum at Broughton C of E Primary School, Church Lane off Garstang Road, Broughton, Preston, Lancashire, PR3 5JB
Church Cottage Museum is a 16th Century Gem. Church Cottage was restored in 1994/95 and tells the story of its life since its original…
Guided Tours of Church Cottage (1590), restored Museum 1995, part of Broughton Heritage Centre and including Parish Church and National School. Includes "Peasants Hovel", Sleeping Gallery, Inn, School Room, Parlour, Wash House, Cart Shed and Garden.
Event Times
- Saturday 9 September: 1000-1600. Tours running through the day as required.
- Sunday 10 September: 1400-1700
Booking Details: Pre-booking: Not applicable
Creativity Unwrapped at Lancashire Archives
Lancashire Archives, Preston, Lancashire
At Lancashire Archives in Preston where we look after 900 years of Lancashire's written heritage, there will be opportunities for tours of our new…
Join us for tours, exhibitions, creativity and a chance to see Lancashire Archives' treasures.
Event Times
- Saturday 9 September: 1000-1600
Booking Details: Pre-booking: Not applicable
Dobcroft Nature Reserve and the Intact Centre
The Intact Centre, 49 Whitby Avenue, Ingol, Preston, Lancashire, PR2 3YP
Whether you're an outdoor enthusiast, an artist at heart, or a family seeking quality time in nature, our Nature-Based Heritage Open Day has…
Join us for a day of discovery, creativity, and community as we celebrate the beauty and significance of the natural world on Dobcroft Nature Reserve and The Intact Centre in the heart of the community.
Event Times
- Saturday 9 September: Open 1100-1500, 1/2 hour guided tours at 1115, 1215, 1315 , drop in activities
Booking Details: Pre-booking: Book on day
Fulwood Barracks - Evening Talks
Fulwood Barracks, Watling Street Road, Fulwood, Preston, Lancashire, PR2 8AA
In the mid C19th the Government was alarmed by the Chartist movement who were dissatisfied by the 1832 Reform Act. The Government’s response…
Fulwood Barracks is the only surviving Napier Barracks in England. It has remained in continuous use by the Army since 1848, and is rarely open to the general public.
Join us for a series of evening talks.
Event Times
- Wednesday 13 September: 1800 hrs for 1830 hrs - 66 (2nd) East Lancs Div – 3rd Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele)
- Thursday 14 September: Cancelled - The Dick Kerr Ladies
- Friday 15 September: 1800 hrs for 1830 hrs - The Fulwood Barracks Story
Booking Details: Pre-booking: Required
Fulwood Barracks - Guided Walks
Fulwood Barracks, Watling Street Road, Fulwood, Preston, Lancashire, PR2 8AA
In the mid C19th the Government was alarmed by the Chartist movement who were dissatisfied by the 1832 Reform Act. The Government’s response…
Fulwood Barracks is the only surviving Napier Barracks in England. It has remained in continuous use by the Army since 1848, and is rarely open to the general public.
Join us for a guided walk or ghost tour of the barracks and learn more.
Event Times
- Wednesday 13 September: Historical Guided Walk – Arrive at the barracks at 0930 (for 1000 hrs tour start), 1130 (for 1200 hrs) & 1330 (for 1400 hrs)
- Saturday 16 September: Ghost tours – Arrive at the barracks at 0930 (for 1000 hrs tour start), 1130 (for 1200 hrs) (1 place remaining) & 1330 (for 1400 hrs) (Full)
Booking Details: Pre-booking: Required
Haslam Park and Local Nature Reserve
Haslam Park , Bristow Avenue, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston, Lancashire, PR2 1JE
Entering Haslam Park from Blackpool Rd through the wrought iron gates designed by architect Thomas Mawson you will find some of its original…
Join informative guided walks. Explore the adjacent Local Nature Reserve. Wander around the park. Stroll by the Lancaster Canal.
Visit website for Tree trail, virtual Fly Tour.
Enjoy cake and brew while viewing the displays in the pavilion.
Event Times
- Saturday 16 September: Walks 1100 "Thomas Mawson - landscape architect - looking for his legacy". 1400 "Haslam's interesting trees".
Booking Details: Pre-booking: Not applicable
Jeremiah Horrocks Observatory
Moor Park, Blackpool Road, Preston, Lancashire
The observatory was built in Moor Park in 1927 to escape the chimney smoke that clouded the view of the skies from one at Deepdale. It houses a…
Take a look inside Moor Park's historic observatory, and - weather permitting - gaze at the skies with the help of Preston and District Astronomical Society members.
Event Times
- Friday 8 September: 1000-1400
- Saturday 9 September: 1000-1400
- Sunday 10 September: 1000-1400
Booking Details: Pre-booking: Not applicable
Lancashire Conservation Studios & Collections
Lancashire Conservation Studios, St Mary's Church, St Mary's Street, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 5LN
Meet the Curator- 13th September 16.00 – 19.30 See some of the unexpected items which have been created in Lancashire and learn about some new…
Meet the curators & conservators who look after Lancashire's heritage.
13th-Bring your objects for identification, see objects from our reserve collections
16th -Tours by the conservators of their studios.
See Preston's Bond Car!
Event Times
- Wednesday 13 September: 15.30 - 20:00 Open access to displays and curatorial enquiries. Church grounds also open
- Saturday 16 September: 1030-1530 Tours of Studios every 30 minutes delivered by Conservators - Church Grounds Open
Booking Details: Pre-booking: Not applicable
Open Day @ No. 3 Syke Street
N W D C, 3 Syke Street, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 3XA
We are opening up No. 3 Syke Street to the people of Preston to tell the story and history of our iconic little building. Well known amongst…
Join us for an open day to see, hear and learn about the history of our little building on Syke Street. From a foundry office, to the iconic Charity Shop Rwanda and now an architectural studio!
Event Times
- Saturday 16 September: 1000-1500
Booking Details: Pre-booking: Not applicable
Preston Cleansing Department
Argyll Road , Preston, Lancashire, Preston , Lancashire, PR1 6JY
Originally on the outskirts of Preston, the Argyll Road site has been processing the city's rubbish since the early 19th century, first, as the…
Discover the fascinating history of dealing with Preston’s rubbish on the site of an early ‘manure depot’. Tour the site of the former 'refuse destructor' built in the 1880s to collect, sort and burn waste. *No need to book - turn up on the day*
Event Times
- Sunday 10 September: 10.00, 11.30 & 13.30
Booking Details: Pre-booking: Not applicable
Preston Markets Heritage Walk
Market Office, Box Market, Earl Street, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 2PT
This specially created tour will reveal fascinating tales and facts about the markets and their structures, in particular the historic canopies,…
Discover the ever-evolving history of Preston's markets - including the Market Hall and Box Market under the Grade II listed canopies built in 1875 and 1925.
Event Times
- Saturday 16 September: 2 tours at 1000 & 1200
Booking Details: Pre-booking: Required
Preston Masonic Hall - Not so secret!
Preston Masonic Hall Ltd, Ashlar House, 2 Saul Street, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 2QU
Freemasons have met in Preston since 1775 meeting in many inns, taverns and civic buildings. Preston Masons finally opened their own home in…
Preston Masonic Hall - Established in 1944
Access to all parts of Preston Masonic Hall guided by Masons in full dress
Fixtures dating back 200 years
Free Art and Photography Exhibition by local artists and photographers
Have lunch in our Licensed Bar
Event Times
- Saturday 9 September: 1000-1530. Meet the Masons and tour the building. Local Art and Photography Exhibition in the Ballroom. Open All Day
Booking Details: Pre-booking: Not applicable
Preston Playhouse
The Playhouse, Market Street West, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 2HB
Members of the public, friends and patrons are cordially invited to visit us and join a guided tour of the theatre, including backstage and…
A special tour will guide visitors through the front of house and backstage areas of the theatre, housed in a former Friends Meeting House
Event Times
- Sunday 10 September: 1000 - 1600
Booking Details: Pre-booking: Not applicable
Preston Suffragettes Walk
The Cenotaph, Flag Market, Near Birley Street, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 2AQ
Join a local guide on this one and a half to two-hour linear walk in the city centre. Starting at the Cenotaph, we will visit the locations of…
Follow in the footsteps of Preston's suffragettes on this guided walk. Discover the tactics they used, from polite persuasion to bomb making, and visit the locations of their deeds - here in our city.
Event Times
- Monday 11 September: 1000-1200
Booking Details: Pre-booking: Required
Preston Town Hall
Lancaster Road,, Preston, Lancashire, Preston , Lancashire, PR1 2RL
The Town Hall was built as municipal offices in the 1930s and only took on its existing role following the fire that destroyed the old Gothic town…
Visit the Council Chamber at the heart of the Town Hall and discover how local decisions are made there. See the splendid civic regalia and learn about its fascinating history. And complete your tour meeting the Mayor in the Mayor’s Parlour.
Event Times
- Saturday 9 September: Tours - 1000, Tour 2 - 1130
Booking Details: Pre-booking: Not applicable
St Michael and All Angels, Ashton on Ribble
St Michael and All Angels church, Egerton Road, Ashton on Ribble, Preston, Lancashire, PR2 1AJ
St Michael's stands on a prominent corner of Victorian and Edwardian middle-class housing between Tulketh Road and Egerton Road, but its origins…
Discover the architecture and social history of this landmark Preston church, built by renowned Lancaster architects, Austin and Paley, and opened in 1908. Follow a self-guided tour of the building and enjoy the farmers' market in the church grounds
Event Times
- Saturday 16 September: 1000- 1200
- Sunday 17 September: 1300 - 1600
Booking Details: Pre-booking: Not applicable
St Walburge’s Church
Weston Street, off Pedder Street, Preston, Lancashire, PR2 2QE
The church was designed by Joseph Hansom – the man responsible for the Hansom cab - and is an architectural wonder. The hammerbeam roof spans a…
Discover Preston's Grade I listed church - with the highest parish church spire in the UK and a stunning hammer beam roof spanning the width of the building. The spire and its panoramic views over Preston will be open, weather permitting.
Event Times
- Saturday 9 September: 1030-1230
- Sunday 10 September: 1400-1700
Booking Details: Pre-booking: Not applicable
The Lancaster Canal Tram Road and old Tram Bridge
Pavilion Cafe, Avenham Park, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 8JT
A guided walk and with some photos and narrative about the horse-drawn Tramroad and the bridge that connected what was only meant to be a…
This is a heritage guided walk covering part of the route of the old tram road (plate-way) that once connected both ends of the Lancaster Canal.
Event Times
- Saturday 16 September: 1000-1200 & 1330-1530 **FULLY BOOKED**
Booking Details: Pre-booking: Required
University of Central Lancashire Campus and Rooftop Tour
University of Central Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 2HE
The main UCLan campus in Preston has evolved over 100 years through several phases of development and distinctive architectural styles reflecting…
Join an historical tour of the University of Central Lancashire's Preston campus finishing with panoramic views from the rooftop terrace of the new Student Centre.
Event Times
- Tuesday 12 September: 1430-1600
- Thursday 14 September: 1430-1600
Booking Details: Pre-booking: Preferred
University of Central Lancashire Library and Special Collections
The Library, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 2HE
The University of Central Lancashire's Special Collections comprises an important set of printed works and archival manuscripts. This…
University Archivist Fran will lead a handling session with items from the Special Collections. You can also see an exhibition on the history of the university and join a tour of the Library.
Event Times
- Tuesday 12 September: 1330-1430
- Thursday 14 September: 1330-1430
Booking Details: Pre-booking: Preferred