Sell your Rolex Preston

The city of Preston was only quite recently given its city status. Until 2012 it was a large town. The event was momentous amongst the local ‘Prestonians’ who welcomed the Queen, who visited Preston during its transition to city status.

Preston as a town dates back to 1086 in the Domesday survey making it of Anglo-Saxon origin. Its name also suggests a heavy emphasis on religion with it then being known as ‘Priests Tun’ translating to a priest’s estate.

During the industrial revolution in the 14th century, helped by its easy access to the River Ribble, Preston became a successful trading port for the North West. Further introductions such as a quay and inland dock during the 18th and 19th centuries helped to increase this success.

In the 16th century Preston became well established in the wool and linen industry. Much of the street plan laid out at the time is still present today in the city. Friargate, Church Street and Fishergate are there, with the latter being one of the main indoor shopping centres in the area. During Victorian times more areas were created like Market Street and Orchard street, both still in use today. Another victorian area was Miller Arcade which is now utilized as another indoor shopping venue, albeit smaller than Fishergate.

In the 18th century Preston became a predominantly Catholic town, one of the largest in the country for its time. This was following anti catholic laws being abolished in England. St Walburge’s church, dating back to the 18th century still remains today as a key place for worshippers and tourists alike, featuring one of the tallest spires in the country.

Preston is also known for its beautiful green spaces, especially within the city centre. In the 1860s landscape designer Edward Milner wanted to create an interlinked series of parks to be ‘harmonious as one’ and set about designing Avenham Park and Miller Park, linked via intricate pathways. Many of the pathways run alongside the river and provide popular riverside walks for the locals.

Over the years Avenham Park has seen additions and improvements to its original design. Avenham walk is a tree lined path that runs in conjunction with a length of the river through the park and is renowned for its picturesque views. Since 1867, even before the park was officially opened to the public an Easter tradition of egg rolling has drawn a crowd to the area, with it even being documented in the Liverpool Mercury publication which praises the event and helped secure its yearly repetition. The review was written as follows:

“I never saw the festival of Eastertide don such an air of thorough-going festivity in any town as in Preston. The people have a park there – nestling snugly on the brink of the river Ribble, so famous for its salmon; and though this park is the very miniature of all its race it is so well ordered, so tastefully laid out, so entwined and enfolded in beautiful walks, so dotted with fountains and streams and miniature lakes, and so picturesquely situated, that it is a very gem of parks”.

Preston is also home to some impressive architecture. Winckley square is made up of beautiful Georgian buildings which now serve the purpose of offices for the local businesses. In 1968 duo Keith Ingham and Charles Wilson designed another of Prestons iconic structures; Preston Bus Station. Built in the ‘Brutalist’ style the still functioning station is now a grade 2 listed building and is even the largest bus station in the entirety of Europe, it is also one of the major transport hubs of the area.