Monday 31 December 2012

Preston History Walk

Reverend John ClayThomas MillerWalk Start: Harris Museum, Jacson Street1. The Bull Hotel, Church StreetStoneygate2. The Cockpit or Temperance Hall, Stoneygate
3. Arkwright House, Stoneygate3. Arkwright House, Stoneygate4. Site of Church Street Mills and Cotton Court (now Avenham Street car park)4. Site of Church Street Mills and Cotton Court (now Avenham Street car park)4. Site of Church Street Mills and Cotton Court (now Avenham Street car park)5. Site of the Preston Gaslight Company Works
5. Site of the Preston Gaslight Company Works5. Site of the Preston Gaslight Company Works6. Stephen Simpson Gold Thread Works6. Stephen Simpson Gold Thread WorksMansion Dell8. Peel Monument
8. Peel Monument7. Winckley Square7. Winckley Square7 Winckley StreetPlaque to Francis Thompson, 7 Winckley StreetSite of Preston Catholic College

Preston History Walk, a set on Flickr.

Had a quick mooch around Preston taking in some of the sites marking important parts of the city's industrial heritage. Details of which can be found here:

http://www.revolutionaries.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1&Itemid=5

It was a very interesting walk and I'd urge all Prestonians to take it in at some point. You'll only need an hour.

Sunday 25 November 2012

Replacement of Wellfield Road/Ashton Street Railway Bridge

Crane dismantling startsCrane dismantling startsCrane dismantling starts



Network Rail are currently working on electrifying the railway line between Preston and Blackpool North. As it stands, the electrics stop a few hundred yards from the bridge where Wellfield Road and Ashton Street meet each other in Preston.

The bridge was built as an arch and, as such, there wasn't enough room to get the cables underneath. The same is true for a number of bridges along the line. So, Network Rail are currently working on replacing them with unarched bridges that cables can pass under.

These photos show the progress of the work on the Wellfield Road/Ashton Street Bridge, starting just before work commenced. For those of us who have lived round here for a number of years it's fascinating to see the old bridge ripped out and the new structure taking place.