Tragedy and Tears of a Lancashire Mill Town.
From the City and Surrounds, including Barton, Bamber Bridge, Farrington, Lea, Penwortham, Freckleton, Lytham and Tarleton.
A Walk Through Preston’s Past. Death, Tragedy and Intrigue.
Preston has a long and distinguished past. Edmund Calamy described the town in the early 1700’s as a pretty town with an abundance of gentry in it, commonly called Proud Preston. However, like any settlement today or at any point in history, Preston has had to endure many tears. Any town has a dark under belly, not often discussed or conveniently consigned to the annals of time, long lost & forgotten. Preston has a number of sad tales, sometimes unfortunate fate or perpetrated by an individual hell bent on destruction. The tales within this work is an illustration of both the tragedy and in many cases the compassion of the good people of Preston.
One day during the summer, as the leaves rustled in the trees around Lea Road with the light casting shadows onto the tarmac a realisation developed. Although the passage of time has changed so much, there are still many experiences today that have not been altered. Look around and you can observe our time through the same lens that generations of Prestonians have done before us. As you are making your way through modern Preston you may have a brief realisation that you are in fact walking in the same steps as old Mr Murden did in July of 1919. Stop, look around, imagine. The trees in summer, autumn leaves, the robin in winter, the green shoots in spring. A shared experience of location could not necessarily be separated by time. People of all times have dreams & hopes. Sometimes dashed, but we share these alike.
An intriguing little read. The synopsis above does offer an idea into the thinking of the author, clearly someone who wished not simply to learn, but also to feel the past. A passion many of us will surely understand.
The book attempts to take the reader into the footsteps once walked by the town’s former inhabitants. Leading not just to the sad true crime endings, but also the tenderness the citizens of the time showed to the fellow human beings.
Life in the centuries prior to which we were born does not always end through acts of violence, yet at times through terrible chance. This books looks at all. As well as the odd times the other worldly farse. Fun none the less.
When reading this little gem, imagination can very easily be ignited allowing the reader to slip back into a time now forgotten. Immerse yourself an enjoy.
Reviews
Something new in Preston history books
Really interesting book. I enjoyed this because the author has taken time and trouble with his research. I particularly liked the part about Lea Road Station as my Great Grandfather lived in the railway cottages there when he worked on the railway. Well worth buying as its not just a rehash of old tales.
A fascinating collection of tales about Prestons past
I really enjoyed this grim collection of Preston’s past, the author has clearly done thorough research and puts a good level of detail into each tale. There are so many things that have happened that you would never know about if it wasn’t for the books like this.
Thoroughly recommend it to anyone interested in hearing about the past of Preston and the people.Well worth a read.
A. Kenny
Despite not having strong links to Preston, other than through my Grandfather’s Market Gardening business in the 1950’s and the Market of the town, I felt that the book appeared to be a potentially interesting read. I was not to be proved wrong. an enjoyable bank holiday read. I know my Grandfather would have been very much enthralled and made up to have read that.