Architecture,Cathedrals,England,Museums & Art Galleries,North West,U.K.

Architecture in Preston: A Tour of the City Centre

posted on : 13/04/2018 posted by : Tilly Jaye Horseman 4 Comments

One of my favourite things to do when visiting a city is to wander round looking at all the fantastic architecture. It doesn’t matter which city I go to, there’s always some exciting and unique buildings to discover. The architecture in Preston was no different.

I hate to admit I knew very little about Preston prior to my recent visit. It’s a city I’ve passed countless times on my way to the Lake District but never detoured into. I didn’t even realise Preston was a city until a few years ago. I’ve always thought of it as a town which it was until 2002. It was only in 2016 that Preston gained a cathedral. So as part of my quest to visit 12 new cities in 2018, I looked to those geographically closest to me and Preston came top of the list.

Where to See the Best Architecture in Preston

Given my interests in the arts, culture and heritage, I often get led by architecture and key buildings. After arriving in Preston by train, I decided to follow my nose up the main shopping street in the general direction of the main square. Knowing very little about the city, I was quite happy to be led by what I happened to see en route. In trying to locate the tourist information centre for a city map, I came across lots of fascinating buildings.

Preston Architecture Guide: Discover the rich and varied architecture in Preston, England with this guide to the most beautiful, and/or fascinating buildings & structures in the city. Making the cut are numerous churches, the stunning Harris Museum and Art Gallery, a shopping arcade, a cenotaph, a market hall and even a bus station.

So without further ado, here’s my guide to the architecture in Preston city centre. It is by no means exhaustive as I ran out of daylight to see everywhere that I learnt about throughout the day. However, it’s a good starting point for anyone heading to Preston for the first time.

Table of Contents

Former Fishergate Baptist Church

This is the first building that grabbed my eye after turning up the main shopping street from the station and is located opposite the Fishergate shopping centre. Immediately noticeable from a distance was the imposing pointed clock tower. Then on approach the impressive trio of rose windows stood out. These together with an arched doorway signified its church status. On closer inspection however, it was clear the building was no longer used as a church. It used to be a 19^th century Baptist Church which was built in 1857. It closed in 2011 but re-opened in the spring of 2018 as a Bistro Pierre Restaurant .

St Wilfrid’s Catholic Church

Continuing up Fishergate, this building caught my eye as I glanced down Chapel Street so I went to investigate. Resembling an old theatre at first glance, St Wilfrid’s Catholic Church had me entranced. The mouldings around the doorways and windows are exquisite. The stunning facade alone makes it into my top picks of architecture in Preston.

As I gazed at the impressive frontage (which is sadly hemmed in by the next building) unsure as to whether I could go in, a lady who was just arriving approached me and beckoned me inside. I just happened to have caught the end of prayers and had 15 minutes until afternoon mass started. Perfect timing for a quick look around! Not wanting to impose on those who were there to pray, I contented myself with marvelling from the back. The interior really is magnificent.

The grand Corinthian columns in the nave are made out of Shap granite and are a rich deep pink in colour. Together with the red Algerian Onyx pilasters surrounding the altar and aisle walls and a concoction of beige and yellow marbles throughout, the church could appear too dark; however the light coming through the windows in the pale coloured tunnel vault douses the church in light and makes the colours of the nave all the richer.

Of particular note is the series of five superb Venetian mosaic panels in the north aisle which depict different Saints. Opposite them in the south aisle wall are 5 similarly impressive stained glass windows. There are also two carved wooden sculptures in the foyer by artist Fenwick Lawson. The one called ‘Hidden Life’ is particularly poignant as it depicts a mother cradling a child to her chest to symbolise the suffering that couples who lose a child in infancy experience.

Miller Arcade

After a quick detour further down Chapel Street to look at Winckley Square Gardens, I headed back to the main shopping street and it wasn’t long before the magnificent Miller Arcade dominated the street. This elegant shopping arcade is a Grade II listed masterpiece of Victorian splendour and an iconic piece of architecture in Preston. Sporting a beautiful terracotta coloured Italian style facade, it was modelled on the fashionable Burlington Arcade in London.

Inside, the vintage shop fronts belong to many independent retailers. The arcade features pretty patterned tile floors, high domed glass ceilings and a number of lampposts to resemble an outdoor setting. It’s certainly very quaint and I could visualise Fred Astaire dancing around the lampposts ‘Singing in the Rain’, but without the precipitation!

As I walked back past the arcade along one of the side streets later in the day I discovered that it was once home to some Turkish Baths as the original signage is still visible in the door mouldings.

St John’s Minster

Visible from the Miller Arcade is St John’s Minster. Like several English towns that were later granted city status, Preston does not have an Anglican cathedral and therefore cannot be termed a ‘cathedral city’. What did happen however, was the parish church (dedicated to St John the Evangelist) got elevated to the status of Minster Church by the Church of England. It falls within the diocese of Blackburn which notably is a town with a cathedral.

The current Grade II listed church building was built in the 1850’s after the previous church was demolished and is built in the Decorated Gothic style. The impressive tower and spire is what stands out the most when approaching the Minster. The spire stands tall and the supporting tower is rather imposing, but slightly out of proportion with the rest of the church. I still liked it though! I particularly loved the diamond shaped clock-face which mimics the roof line of the porch below it and the window tops above.

Unfortunately the congregation were on a visit to Ripon cathedral that day so the church itself was not open to go in which was a shame as I would have loved to see inside.

The Bus Station

As I was still on a mission to locate a tourist information centre, which I’d been led to believe by Google Maps was at the bus station, that was next place I aimed for. I was not however prepared for the site that greeted me on arrival.

My first thoughts were: “OMG, what an eyesore!” Of course this view wasn’t helped by the current building work going on around the station. The building looks like it would be more at home at an airport. However by the time I had walked down the full length of the building and taken in the enormity of the structure, I had changed my opinion to… “Wow, what an ingenious way to disguise a multi-story car park.” Each of the razor-like sails borders a different car park level.

Built in 1969, the bus station was the largest in Europe and has been the subject of much controversy. Many consider it an example of the worst of 1960’s Brutalist architecture and wanted it demolished. Preston City Council were hoping to do just that as part of a regeneration scheme. However in 2013 the station was granted Grade II listed status so it’s here to stay!

Whatever your thoughts about the building: love or hate, there’s no mistake that it is an important record of the architecture of the era. And as far as architecture in Preston goes, the bus station is certainly unique!

The Guild Hall

Just around the corner from the bus station is Preston’s guild hall. When I was planning my trip to Preston, the guild hall was mentioned on every website as a key building. Now, I have seen many guild halls in cities across the UK and Europe and they’re usually beautiful historic buildings. As you can see here though, Preston’s guild hall is very different. It’s certainly not a cute black and white Tudor building or grand 18^th century palatial residence.

The building is the city’s main entertainment complex hosting a range of excellent restaurants, retailers and theatrical spaces. Constructed in the 1970’s, the guild hall replaced the original public hall. It was transferred to private ownership in 2014 and has since gone from strength to strength with grand refurbishments. The latest update transformed the old balcony to an outdoor terrace with retractable cover. The next project will see the creation of a bowling alley, crazy golf course, sports bar and karaoke booths. This will elevate the guild hall to a one-stop-shop for all entertainment and dining needs.

I didn’t have chance to go inside on this occasion, but after learning about the guild hall’s purpose, I can’t wait to have an evening out there taking in a show, a meal and perhaps a round of golf! I’m a huge fan of crazy adventure golf.

Sessions House

This guild hall looks out onto Preston’s town hall and Sessions House. The latter serves as the city’s courthouse and is yet another Grade II listed building in Preston. If you walk down the road immediately opposite the guild hall and look up to your right, you’ll see an impressive sandstone facade. The elaborate architectural features including sculptures and a superb Baroque tower make this one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture in Preston. Sessions House is also one of the tallest buildings in Preston. What’s unusual about this building is that this amazing facade does not face onto the main square, but onto what is in effect a side street.

Harris Museum and Art Gallery

In contrast to Sessions House, the Harris Museum and Art Gallery situated next door, has its grand entrance facing directly onto the main square. It is with no doubt the most prominent building on the square and is my favourite architecture in Preston.

Exterior Architecture

The museum and art gallery is a striking Grade I listed Neo-Classical building. It was designed in the 1880’s by local architect James Hibbert who also designed Fishergate Baptist Church. It may be imposing but it’s also simple and symmetrical in design. The main feature is the crowning pediment filled with exquisite sculpture, a design popular in ancient Greek architecture. On the apex there are griffins guarding the ‘lamp of learning.’ Beneath the pediment inscribed into the stone is the dedication: “to literature, arts and sciences” which reflects the purpose and use of the building. Then around the sides of the building there are many inspirational inscriptions promoting the greatness of mankind. My favourite one is this: “The mental riches you may here acquire abide with you always.”

After touring round the museum and art gallery where I learnt so much about Preston, I couldn’t agree more with this statement. It’s the primary reason I love visiting museums and galleries.

The Harris building has been compared to other prominent European buildings including the British Museum in London. However where the Harris Museum differs is that despite the impressive facade, it is missing a welcoming front set of steps leading directly off the square. Instead there are two entrances to the side of the building which are hidden from view.

Interior Architecture

The interior of the Harris museum is equally impressive. It features a central hall that rises to the full height of the building through a circular opening. There’s a balcony on each floor that looks down into the hall and up to the roof. Gallery spaces extend off each side of the hall on each floor displaying local art works, an extensive glass and ceramics exhibition and various temporary exhibitions. There is a dedicated local museum which I found fascinating as I learned so much about the local area. There’s so much to mention though I have written a separate post just for the Harris Museum and Art Gallery.

Preston Cenotaph

Although Sessions House and the Harris Museum are the stars of Preston’s market square, the Queen of the square is easily the beautiful cenotaph. It was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, who incidentally designed the iconic red telephone box, a line of which can be found just around the corner. Preston’s cenotaph is considered to be one of the most impressive free standing war memorials in the country, not just in size but in its sophistication too. The main feature of the memorial is the figure of ‘Victory’ who is cast with raised arms holding laurel wreaths. Set amidst two columns which support a pediment, the cenotaph mimics other architectural features found on the square. When it comes to great architecture in Preston, the market square is the place to go!

During restoration work that was carried out in 2013, a carving was added to the cenotaph which detailed the re-dedication to the people of the city who gave their lives in service since 1945.

Behind the Cenotaph in this image you can see the beautiful architecture of the former post office. This is soon to open as a new boutique hotel called the Shankly Preston, named after Bill Shankly, a Scottish footballer who played for Preston North End. This Grade II listed building was originally completed in 1903 but the post office closed down in 2005. I look forward to the day I can call in for a meal or maybe even stay the night!

The Open Air Market

Just up Market Street from the main square is Preston Market. The brand new market hall re-opened in February 2018. Unfortunately I missed experiencing it by a week. It was the architecture of the open air part that I was interested in the most though. The grand Victorian canopy has been restored and is gorgeous. It is a worthy addition to any list of notable architecture in Preston. It helps of course that it was lit in purple which is my favourite colour! The market stall tables are apparently new and bespoke to cater specifically for the needs of market traders and the canopy means the market can operate all year round. The outdoor market operates on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Rock FM Building

I doubt this building would make it onto many lists of the most notable pieces of architecture in Preston, but I thought it was rather charming. On making my way to the cathedral, I used the footbridge by the bus station to cross the main A59. From the bridge I spied this lovely little church, or what certainly looked like a church anyway. However not many churches have large satellite dishes in the grounds which was a bit puzzling. A sign gave the game away: Rock FM.

After researching later, I found out the building was St Paul’s Church… Not surprising as the road next to it is called St Paul’s Square. Built in the Early English style in 1823-5, its use as a church came to an end in 1979 and was converted into a radio station in 1981. I’m sure it’s one of the more unusual radio station buildings in the UK.

Preston Cathedral

From Rock FM it was a stone’s throw to the cathedral, another church building to make it into my guide of architecture in Preston. Formerly the parish church of St Ignatius, the church closed its doors in 2014 due to a dwindling congregation. Preston was granted its cathedral in 2016 and St Ignatius church was reborn. It became only one of three cathedrals in the world dedicated to the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. This is an eastern catholic faith originating in India. The other two are in the USA and Australia. The choice to establish one in the UK indicates just how many practising Syro-Malabars there are living here.

The cathedral has been dedicated to St Alphonsa, a catholic saint who was the second person of Indian origin to be canonised as a saint by the church. She was also the first canonised saint of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church itself.

The church was built in the 1830’s and was the first church in Preston to have a spire. It’s also one of the oldest surviving Catholic Church buildings in the city.

As I experienced at St Wilfred’s Church, a kindly worshipper invited me in to have a look around. The plain and simple interior could belong to any parish church. However then your eyes settle on the altar, an area resplendent in gold, red and blue. Shimmering in the light, it really is bedazzling. Of all the architecture in Preston I had seen today, this had me mesmerised the most. I could quite happily have looked at it for hours but unfortunately my time in Preston was coming to an end.

Other Architecture in Preston

As I made my way back to the station to head home, I reflected on the buildings and areas I unfortunately was not able to see on this trip such as St Walburge’s Church. St Walburge’s is home to the tallest church spire in England that isn’t a cathedral. What a claim to fame! It falls third overall behind Salisbury and Norwich Cathedrals. I was unaware of this accolade until I visited the museum earlier in the day and you can actually see the spire from so many places in the city. This would definitely be first up on the itinerary for my next day out discovering architecture in Preston.

In addition I’ll be checking out Preston Docks which have been brought to my attention by a photographer I discovered on Twitter: Sonia Bashir. Sonia lives locally and documents the docks at all times of day and night. I also plan to walk the Guild Wheel, a 21 mile cycleway and walking route that circumnavigates the city. Apparently, it passes through some of the most beautiful parkland and countryside in the area along its way. I’ll certainly be walking the stretch from the docks back to the city via Avenham and Miller parks.

As you can see, the architecture in Preston is rich and varied. But do you have any recommendations for other buildings I need to see? What am I missing out on? Please let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you.

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