Preston
88918
225806325
2008-07-15T14:19:52Z
78.149.69.56
/* Areas and Estates */
{{otheruses1|Preston, Lancashire}}
{{Infobox Settlement
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'''Preston''' ({{Audio|en-uk-Preston.ogg|pronunciation}} {{IPA2|ˈprɛstən}}) is a [[city status in the United Kingdom|city]] and [[Non-metropolitan district|local government district]] in [[Lancashire]], [[England]], located on the [[River Ribble]]. Preston was granted the [[City status in the United Kingdom|status of a city]] in 2002,<ref>"[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1872505.stm 'Proud Preston' wins city status]", BBC News, 14 March 2002. URL accessed on 6 June 2006.</ref> becoming [[England]]'s 50th city in the 50th year of [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]]'s reign.
The Mayor of Preston from May 2008 to May 2009 is Councillor John Swindells<ref>[http://www.preston.gov.uk/news/News.asp?id=SX9452-A780F4F6 Preston welcomes Councillor John Swindells as new mayor<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>.
The population of the Preston City Council area is c 130,000. The 2001 census indicated 184,836 living in the Preston sub-area and c 335,000 living in the Central Lancashire sub-region, which also includes [[Leyland, Lancashire|Leyland]] and [[Chorley]].<ref>[http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/profiles/30UK-A.asp Census 2001: Preston], Office for National Statistics. URL accessed on 6 June 2006.</ref>
==History==
===Etymology===
Preston is first recorded in the [[Domesday Book]] as "Prestune" in 1086. <ref>Hunt, 1992. p. 9.</ref> Various other spellings occur in early documents: "Prestonam" (1094), "Prestone" (1160), "Prestona" (1160), "Presteton" (1180), and "Prestun" (1226). The modern spelling occurs in 1094, 1176, 1196, 1212 and 1332.<ref>Hunt, 1992. p. 10.</ref> The town's name is derived from [[Old English]] ''Presta'' and ''Tun'', the ''Tun'' (town or place) of the ''Presta'' (priest or priests).<ref>Hunt, 2003. p. 31.</ref>
===Early development===
During the [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] period, the main road from [[Luguvalium]] (Carlisle) to [[Mancunium]] (Manchester) forded the [[River Ribble]] at [[Walton-le-Dale]], ¾ mile (1 km) southeast of the centre of Preston. Here was a Roman camp, probably a regional depot for military equipment or other supplies. At Withy Trees, 1½ miles (2 km) north of Preston, the road crossed another Roman road from [[Bremetennacum]] (the Roman fort at [[Ribchester]]) to the coast.<ref>Hodge, 1997. pp. 3-5.</ref>
In [[Ripon]] in 705 AD the lands near the [[River Ribble]] were set on a new foundation, and the parish church was probably erected. This parish church was probably situated on the grounds of the present Anglican parish of St. John the Evangelist on Church Street, which was originally dedicated to St. Wilfrid and then later St. John the Baptist. Later, [[Edward the Elder]] endowed the lands to the Cathedral at [[York]] and then, by means of successive transfers the lands were exchanged between lesser churches, hence the origin of the name ''Priest's Town'' or Preston. An alternative explanation of the origin of the name is that the Priest's Town refers to a priory set up by [[St. Wilfrid]] near the Ribble's lowest ford. This idea is supported by the sameness of the paschal lamb on Preston's crest with that on St. Wilfrid's.<ref>Walsh and Butler, 1992.</ref>
Preston was already the most important town in [[Amounderness]] (an area of Central Lancashire between the rivers [[River Ribble|Ribble]] and [[River Cocker (Lancashire)|Cocker]], including [[The Fylde]] and [[Forest of Bowland|Bowland]]) when first mentioned in the [[Domesday Book]], compiled in 1086; and it was the wealthiest town in Lancashire when assessed for tax purposes in 1218-19.<ref>Hodge, 1997. pp. 6-10.</ref>
===Guild Merchant===
The right to hold a [[Guild Merchant]] was conferred upon the Burgesses of Preston by a charter of 1179<ref>[http://www.preston.gov.uk/General.asp?id=SX9452-A77FA185&cat=1806 Preston's History]</ref>; the associated Preston Guild is a civic celebration held every 20 years, with the next in 2012,<ref>[http://www.preston.gov.uk/GeneralM.asp?id=SX9452-A77F9FB8&cat=1806 Once Every preston Guild]</ref>.
Before 1328 a celebration had been held on an irregular basis, but at the Guild of that year it was decreed that subsequent Guilds should be held every twenty years. After this there were breaks in the pattern for various reasons, but an unbroken series were held from 1542 to 1922. A full 400 year sequence was frustrated by the cancellation of the 1942 Guild due to [[World War II]], but the cycle resumed in 1952. The expression '(Once) every Preston Guild', meaning 'very infrequently', has passed into fairly common use, especially in Lancashire.
Guild week is always started by the opening of the Guild Court, which since the Sixteenth century has traditionally been on the first Monday after the feast of the decollation (the beheading) of [[St John the Baptist]]. As well as concerts and other exhibitions, the main events are a series of processions through the city. Numerous street parties are typically also held in the locality.
In 1952, the emphasis was on the bright new world emerging after [[World War II]]. The major event held in Avenham Park had every school participating, and hundreds of children, from toddlers to teenagers, demonstrated different aspects of physical education in the natural amphitheatre of the park.
===Pre-Industrial Preston===
In the mid-12th century, Preston was in the hundred of [[Amounderness]],in the deanery of Amounderness and the archdeaconry of [[Richmond, North Yorkshire|Richmond]]. The name "Amounderness" is more ancient than the name of any other "Wapentake" or hundred in the County of Lancashire, and the fort at Tulketh, strengthened by [[William the Conqueror]], shows that the strategic importance of the area was appreciated even then.<ref>[http://www.manchester2002-uk.com/lancashire1.html The County of Lancashire, England, UK<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
Served by the [[River Ribble]] which flows through the city, Preston was so much the principal port of Lancashire that in the run-up to the English Civil War [[Charles I of England|King Charles I]] demanded a quarter more ship money from Preston than from nearby [[Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster]] and twice as much as from [[Liverpool]].
The location of the city, almost exactly mid-way between [[Glasgow]] and [[London]], led to many decisive battles being fought here, most notably during the [[English Civil War]] (1648), and the first [[Jacobitism|Jacobite]] rebellion whose invasion of England was brought to a conclusion by the defeat of the pro-Catholic and pro-monarchial Jacobite army at the [[Battle of Preston (1715)]] which remains the most recent major battle on English soil (though there were further battles with Jacobite or allied forces in Scotland in 1718, 1745 and 1746. {{Fact|date=June 2008}}
In the last great Jacobite Rising, on [[27 November]] [[1745]] the Jacobite Prince of Wales and Regent, [[Bonnie Prince Charlie]] passed through Preston with his Highland Army on the way south through Chorley and Manchester to Derby intending to take London and the Crown. Preston was the first of the very few places in England where the Prince was cheered as he rode by and where he was actually joined by some English volunteers for his Army. From 10 to 12 December the Prince gave his retreating Army a rest in Preston on their long, last and fatal retreat from Derby through Lancaster and Carlisle to their dreadful day of destiny the following [[16 April]] on [[Culloden]] Moor near [[Inverness]].<ref>Fitzroy Maclean, 'Bonnie Prince Charlie' 1988</ref>
===Industrial Revolution===
The 19th century saw a transformation in Preston from a small market town to a much larger industrial one, as the innovations of the latter half of the previous century such as [[Richard Arkwright]]'s [[water frame]] (invented in Preston) brought cotton mills to many northern English towns. With industrialisation came examples of both oppression and enlightenment.
[[Image:Plaque in Preston Lancashire commemorating Rev Joseph (Daddy) Dunn and first gas-lit building.jpg|thumb|Plaque on building in Fox Street commemorating Rev. Joseph (Daddy) Dunn and his work in bringing gas lighting to Preston]]
The town's forward-looking spirit is typified by it being the first English town outside London to be lit by gas. The Preston Gas Company was established in 1815 by, amongst others, a Catholic priest: Rev. Joseph "Daddy" Dunn of the [[Society of Jesus]].
The more oppressive side of industrialisation was seen on Saturday 13 August 1842, when a group of cotton workers demonstrated against the poor conditions in the town's mills. The [[Riot Act]] was read and armed troops corralled the demonstrators in front of the Corn Exchange on Lune Street. Shots were fired and four of the demonstrators were killed. A commemorative sculpture now stands on the spot (although the soldiers and demonstrators represented are facing the wrong way). In the 1850s, [[Karl Marx]] visited Preston and later described the town as "the next [[St. Petersburg]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1854/08/01a.htm|title=Karl Marx in the New York Daily Tribune 1854|date=1854-08-01|accessdate=2006-09-20}}</ref> [[Charles Dickens]] visited Preston in January 1854 during a strike by cotton workers that had by that stage lasted for 23 weeks. This was part of his research for the novel ''[[Hard Times]]'' in which the town of "Coketown" is based on the city of Preston.
The Preston Temperance Society, led by Joseph Livesey pioneered the [[Teetotalism|Temperance Movement]] in the 19th century. Indeed the term [[teetotalism]] is believed to have been coined at one of its meetings. The website of the [[University of Central Lancashire]] library has a great deal of information on Joseph Livesey and the Temperance Movement in Preston.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uclan.ac.uk/library/usersupport/lrs/collections/livesey/index.htm|title=The Livesey Collection|accessdate=2006-09-20}}</ref>
Preston was one of only a few industrial towns in Lancashire to have a functioning corporation (local council) in 1835, its charter dating to 1685, and was reformed as a [[municipal borough]] by the [[Municipal Corporations Act 1835]]. It became a [[county borough]] under the [[Local Government Act 1888]]. In 1974, county boroughs were abolished, and it became the larger part of the new non-metropolitan district of Preston in Lancashire, also including [[Fulwood, Lancashire|Fulwood]] and part of [[Preston Rural District]].
===Religion===
Preston has a strong [[Christian]] (particularly [[Roman Catholicism|Catholic]]) history and tradition, and has been called the most Catholic city in England {{Who|date=June 2008}}. One of the proposed derivations of the name Preston is from 'Priests town' and the lamb on the city's shield is a biblical image of Jesus Christ, the same image that represented St. Wilfrid, a 7th century bishop and the city's patron saint, who is historically linked to the city's establishment. The "PP" on the shield stands for either "Proud Preston" or "Princeps Pacis" (Prince of Peace), another title for Christ invoking Him as protector of the city. {{Fact|date=June 2008}}
As well as mainstream denominations like [[Roman Catholicism]] and the [[Church of England]], the city has seen a recent emergence of new evangelical churches. Preston has a strong history for [[Free Methodism]], as there are currently four Free Methodist churches in the area. Preston's Guild Hall plays host to a large [[Evangelicalism|evangelical]] worship music event called 'Encounter' every year. {{Fact|date=June 2008}}
Preston was the location of the world's first foreign mission by [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints]] from the American State of Utah (otherwise known as the Mormons). As early as 1837 the first LDS missionaries to Great Britain began preaching in Preston and, in particular, other small towns situated along the river Ribble. Preston is home to the world's oldest continuous [[Ward (LDS Church)#Branches|branch]] (a small congregation) of the Mormon Church.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lds.org.uk/media_news.php |author= |title=Media Newsroom |publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints |date=2007 |accessdate=2007-05-22}}</ref> In 1998 the LDS erected a large temple near Preston that was described in the Telegraph newspaper as ''spectacular''.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=/archive/1998/05/15/nmor15.html Mormons reveal secrets of the temple]. www.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved [[4 June]] [[2008]].</ref> The temple is officially known as the [[Preston England Temple]].
==Governance==
===Preston City Council===
[[Image:Prestoncity.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Entering the city centre from Fylde Road]]The City of Preston is divided into 22 district council wards represented by 57 councillors. There are nine wards with two councillors and 13 wards with three councillors. The two seat wards cover c. 3600 electors and the three seat wards c. 5400 electors. Preston City councillors serve a four-year term. Preston City Council is elected "by thirds", 19 at a time. One councillor from each of the three-member wards is elected every year for three years. In each of those years six of the nine two-seat wards also elect a councillor. Every fourth year there are no Preston City Council elections, Lancashire County Council elections taking place instead.
After the [[Preston Council election, 2007|2007 local election]] the Labour Party was the largest Group with 24 members but the Conservatives with 20 seats in alliance with the Liberal Democrats with 10 seats took control of the Cabinet and all committees except the Scrutiny committee. This situation continued after the 2008 local election at which the Conservatives, with 21 Councillors took a net seat from the Liberal Democrats who had 9 seats. Labour remained the largest party with 24 members.
Recent electoral results in Preston can be found at [[Preston local elections]]. The local areas of Preston can be found at [[Districts of Preston]]
The current mayor is John Swindells.
===Freemen of the City===
Current Freemen of the City are:
*Sir Tom Finney C.B.E. J.P. 6th September 1979
*Councillor Harold Parker 21st May 1992
*Alderman Ian Hall 21st May 1992
*Alderman Joe Hood 21st May 1992
*Nick Park 25th October 1997
*Andrew Flintoff 20th June 2005
*14th/20th Hussars Regiment 6th November 1992
*Minster and Guild Church of St John 29th November 1993
*University of Central Lancashire 30th March 2000
===Freedom of the City===
Freedom of the City has been granted to:
*The loyal Regiment (North Lancashire) 7th August 1952
This was subsequently transferred to:
**Queens Lancashire regiment 9th September 1972
**Duke of lancasters Regiment 1st July 2006
===Lancashire County Council===
The City of Preston contains ten Lancashire County Council districts with one county councillor in each district.
===Parliament===
The City of Preston is currently divided between three Westminster constituencies, which will be altered in size and shape when proposed boundary changes are implemented for the [[next United Kingdom general election]].
Currently the three constituencies are: [[Preston (UK Parliament constituency)|Preston]], [[Ribble Valley (UK Parliament constituency)|Ribble Valley]], and [[Fylde (UK Parliament constituency)|Fylde]]. When the proposed boundary changes are implemented, the city will continue to be divided between Preston, and Fylde seats, whilst the northern quarters will be placed within [[Wyre and Preston North (UK Parliament constituency)|Wyre and Preston North]].
Historically, Preston has been divided between such constituencies as [[Preston North (UK Parliament constituency)|Preston North]], [[Preston South (UK Parliament constituency)|Preston South]], and [[Fylde South (UK Parliament constituency)|Fylde South]] although until 1885 it comprised one constituency called Preston but which included most of west Lancashire.
==Geography==
===Physical geography===
The [[River Ribble]] borders the city. The [[Forest of Bowland]] forms a backdrop to Preston.
<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:Preston 2.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A view of the Preston Skyline]] -->
On 10 August 1893 Preston entered the [[UK Weather Records]], with the ''Highest 5-min total'' [[rainfall]] of 32 mm. As of July 2006 this remains a record. {{Fact|date=July 2008}}
===Areas and Estates===
Adelphi, [[Ashton-on-Ribble]], [[Avenham]], Bartle, [[Barton, Preston| Barton]], Broadgate, Brockholes, [[Brookfield, Lancashire|Brookfield]], [[Broughton, Lancashire| Broughton]], [[Cadley, Lancashire|Cadley]], Callon, [[Catforth]], [[Cottam, Lancashire|Cottam]], Cumeragh, [[Deepdale, Preston|Deepdale]], Farringdon Park, Fishwick, Frenchwood,
[[Fulwood, Lancashire|Fulwood]], [[Goosnargh]], Grange, Greenlands, [[Grimsargh| Grimsargh]], [[Haighton]], Holme Slack, [[Inglewhite]], [[Ingol]], Ladyewell, [[Tulketh|Lane Ends]], Larches, [[Lea, Lancashire|Lea]], Longsands, Maudlands, [[Miller Park, Preston|Miller Park]], Moor Nook, [[Moor Park, Preston|Moor Park]], Nooklands, [[Plungington]], [[Ribbleton]], [[Riversway]], Savick, St. Matthews, Sharoe Green, Sherwood, Springfields, [[Ingol|Tanterton]], [[Tulketh]], [[Whitechapel, Lancashire|Whitechapel]], [[Whittingham, Lancashire|Whittingham]], [[Woodplumpton]], Wychnor.
===Out of city Areas/Towns===
Unlike other towns and cities Preston's city centre is on the city's southern border with the [[South Ribble]] borough. This means that some of the areas and towns associated with Preston are not actually in the city itself but in neighbouring boroughs. Listed below are towns and villages which, while associated with Preston, do not belong to the city boundaries.
[[Bamber Bridge| Bamber Bridge]], [[Coupe Green]], [[Gregson Lane]], [[Higher Walton, Lancashire|Higher Walton]], Howick, [[Hutton, Lancashire|Hutton]], [[Leyland, Lancashire| Leyland]], [[Longridge]], [[Longton, Lancashire| Longton]], [[Lostock Hall]], [[Much Hoole]], [[Penwortham| Middleforth]], [[New Longton]], [[Penwortham| Penwortham]], [[Walton-le-Dale]].
===Civic geography===
The southern part of the district is mostly urbanised but the northern part is quite rural. The current borders came into effect on [[April 1]], [[1974]], when the [[Local Government Act 1972]] merged the existing [[County Borough]] of Preston with [[Fulwood, Lancashire|Fulwood]] [[Urban District]] and part of [[Preston Rural District]]. Preston was designated as part of the [[Central Lancashire]] new town in 1970. The former Preston Rural District part of the district is divided into a number of [[civil parish]]es:
*[[Barton, Preston|Barton]]
*[[Broughton-in-Amounderness]]
*[[Goosnargh]]
*[[Grimsargh]]
*[[Haighton]]
*[[Lea, Lancashire|Lea and Cottam]]
*[[Whittingham, Lancashire|Whittingham]]
*[[Woodplumpton]]
==Demographics==
===Ethnicity===
Preston is a diverse city, although the majority of the non-indigenous people are [[British Asian|South Asians]], in particular [[British Indian|Indians]]. The ethnic makeup of Preston based on 2005 estimates is as follows: 82.3% [[White British]], 1.1% [[Irish Briton|White Irish]], 1.5% [[Other White]]. 1.5% [[British Mixed|Mixed Race]]. 8.3% [[British Indian|Indian]], 2.4% [[British Pakistanis|Pakistani]], 0.3% [[British Bangladeshi|Bangladeshi]], 0.5% [[British Asian|Other South Asian]]. 0.7% [[Caribbean British|Black Caribbean]], 0.3% [[Black British|Black African]], 0.1% [[Black British|Other Black]]. 0.7% [[British Chinese|Chinese]] and 0.3% [[Oriental British|Other East Asian]] and [[British Arabs|Arab]].<ref>[http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=277022&c=Preston&d=13&e=13&g=463253&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1202935807210&enc=1&dsFamilyId=1812 Neighbourhood Statistics<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
===Religion===
The 2001 [[Census]] recorded 71.5% of the population as Christians (mostly Catholics {{Fact|date=March 2008}}), 9.8% as having no religion, and 8.2% as Muslims.<ref>[http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/profiles/30UK-A.asp Census 2001: Statistics.] URL accessed on [[6 June]] [[2006]].</ref> The Hindu and Sikh populations are smaller at 2.6% and 0.6% respectively, but in both cases this represents the highest percentage of any local authority area in the North West. 1.8% of the city's population were born in other EU countries. Though still small in number in Preston, the [[Mormon]]s (officially known as members of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] - LDS for short) maintain a large profile.
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Prestonharrismuseum.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The Harris Museum, a significant landmark in Preston]] -->
==Landmarks==
Preston's premier [[landmark]] is [[St Walburge's Church]], designed by [[Joseph Hansom]] of [[Hansom Cab]] fame. At {{convert|94|m|0}}, it boasts the tallest spire in [[England]] on a [[church]] that is not a [[cathedral]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.city-visitor.com/preston/information.html|title=Guide to Preston|accessdate=2007-08-24}}</ref> There are also many notable buildings dotted in and around the city centre including, the Miller Arcade, the Town Hall, the Harris Building, St. John the Evangelist's [[Minster (cathedral)|Minster]], the former Corn Exchange, St. Wilfrid Catholic Church, Fishergate Baptist Church, and many beautiful Georgian buildings at Winckley Square. Many Catholic and Anglican parish churches are also to be found throughout the city. [[Image:St Walburge's Church spire, Preston 231-10.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Saint Walburge's Church]]
'''Museums'''
*[[Harris Museum|Harris Museum and Art Gallery]]
*[[The National Football Museum]]
*[[The Museum of Lancashire]]
*[[The Queen's Lancashire Regiment Museum]]
*Broughton Cottage Museum
*[[Ribble Steam Railway]]
<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:24miller park72.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Miller Park]] -->
'''Parks'''
*[[Winckley Square]]
*[[Miller Park, Preston]]
*Ribbleton Park (formerly known as Waverley Park)
*[[Avenham Park]]
*[[Moor Park, Preston|Moor Park]]
*[[Ashton Park]]
==Economy==
Preston is a major centre of the British defence aerospace industry with [[BAE Systems]], the UK's principal military aircraft design, development and manufacture supplier, having its Military Aircraft headquarters located in nearby [[Warton, Fylde|Warton]]. The company has two of its major facilities located some miles on either side of the city. [[BAE Warton]] is located to the western side of the city whilst [[BAE Samlesbury]] is located to the east, over the [[M6]] motorway. BAe Systems also operate large office facilities at the Portway area within the city and at The Strand office complex.
[[Image:Eurofighter Typhoon 2.jpg|thumb|right|A [[Eurofighter Typhoon|Typhoon]], which is assembled at [[BAE Warton]] to the west of the city]]
The [[Westinghouse Electric Company]] (formerly [[BNFL]]) Springfield nuclear processing plant also lies to the west of the City boundary.
The city is home to [[Alstom]] Transport's main UK spare parts distribution centre. [[Matalan]] Retail Ltd was also founded in Preston under the name Matalan Cash and Carry. Although the head office of Matalan moved to [[Skelmersdale]] in 1998, the city still has the tax office for the company (located in [[Winckley Square]]). [[Plumbs]] Ltd founded in the 1950s is still a family run business employing over 300 people at its Preston base. {{Fact|date=June 2008}}
Convenience store chain operator James Hall and Co who supply [[SPAR]] stores in the north of England have their head office located in the [[Ribbleton]] district, although it is soon to be moved to a new building in the Bluebell Way area of the city, which would be the biggest building in the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.preston-city.com/files/news/PCC%20Newsletter%20v4.pdf|title=Confirmation of Relocation|accessdate=2007-04-25}}</ref>
The financial sector also has a large presence in the city with a large selection of consultancies, insurance and law firms including national debt collection agency Legal & Trade based in Winckley Square in the city centre.
Preston is the home of [[Airline network]].
On the 20 February 2006, mobile phone retailer [[The Carphone Warehouse]] took over [[Tulketh Mill]] (formerly the home of the [[Littlewoods]] catalogue call centre) a listed building in the [[Ashton-on-Ribble]] area of the city. The building has undergone an extensive redevelopment of the interior and is now the workplace of some 800 employees (as of 3rd March 2007). The main purpose of the site is a call centre for its broadband and landline service [[TalkTalk (telecommunications company)|TalkTalk]] as well as its LLU company [http://www.opaltelecom.co.uk Opal Telecom]. It was officially opened on 19 December 2006 by CEO [[Charles Dunstone]] and the Mayor of Preston.
Preston is also home to the large "new business" department of finance broker loans.co.uk, which took over New City House when [[Norwich Union]] moved its call centre to [[India]].
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Prestonflagmarket.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Preston Flag Market in the City Centre]] -->
Retail is also a major contributor to Preston's economy. The city houses two major shopping centres:
*[[Fishergate Shopping Centre]] - which has a large [[Debenhams]] department store, [[Primark]], [[TK Maxx]], [[Argos]] and [[T.J. Hughes]] stores.
*[[The Mall Preston|The Mall]] (formerly ''St. George's'') - a popular centrally located shopping mall dating from the 1960s.
Another shopping centre in Preston is the Miller Arcade, a specialist shopping centre in a listed building, which formerly included [[public baths]], situated next to the [[Harris Museum]].
<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:76878970 6037ed616a.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Miller Arcade]] -->
Preston's main high streets are Fishergate and Friargate which offer shops, bars and restaurants with many more tucked away down the side streets. The first [[Kentucky Fried Chicken]] outlet in the UK was opened in Fishergate.
An £800 million <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lep.co.uk/travel/800-million-plan-could-cause.3805457.jp|title=£800 million plan could cause more traffic chaos|accessdate=2008-02-22}}</ref> regeneration project known as the [[Preston Tithebarn redevelopment|Tithebarn Project]] is also planned for Preston. The project is being managed by property giants [[Grosvenor]] and [[Lend Lease Corporation]] and is dependent upon a number of requirements (such as the re-location of the current [[Preston Bus Station|Bus Station]]).
Since city status was awarded in the Queen's Jubilee year, Preston has been targeted by a number of developers. Residential developments are particularly popular with new apartments planned in and around the city centre. Office and hotel space is also in demand and a new Central Business District is being planned as well as a number of new hotels.
==Transport==
===Road===
The Preston by-pass, opened [[5 December]] [[1958]], became the first stretch of [[motorway]] in the UK and is now part of the [[M6 motorway|M6]] with a short section now forming part of the [[M55 motorway|M55]]. It was built to ease traffic congestion in Preston caused by tourists travelling to the popular destinations of [[Blackpool]] and [[Lake District|The Lake District]]. The first traffic cones were used during its construction, replacing red lantern paraffin burners.
In the 1980s, a motorway running around the west of the city which would have been an extension of the [[M65 motorway|M65]] running to the [[M55 motorway|M55]] was started but never finished. That is the reason that the M55 has no junction 2, because it was reserved for the new western bypass. However, the existing [[M6 motorway|M6]] between junctions 30 and 32 was widened extensively between 1993-95 to compensate for this. A new junction, 31A was opened in 1997 to serve a new business park close to the motorway.
As well as the M6 (North and South), there are 3 other motorways which terminate close to the city -
*M61 - Preston to Manchester via Chorley and Bolton
*M65 - Preston to Colne via Blackburn, Accrington and Burnley
*M55 - Preston to Blackpool via Kirkham
[[Image:Preston Station Front.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Preston railway station]]
===Rail===
[[Preston Railway Station]] is a major stop on the [[West Coast Main Line]], with regular long distance train services to [[London]] ([[Euston Railway Station|Euston]]) and the South East, and [[Glasgow]] to the North. Preston is also a hub for connecting rail services in the North West, with direct services to [[Blackpool]], [[Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster]], [[Blackburn]], [[Bradford]], [[Leeds]], [[Wigan]], [[Bolton]], [[Manchester]] and [[Liverpool]].
===Water===
The former Preston Port, known as Riversway or The Docks, has been the site of an expanding commercial and residential complex since 1988.
The Marina is just north of the River Ribble which enters into the east of the [[Irish Sea]]. This marina has its own chandlery and coffee shop, training courses and boat sales
There are multi-million pound plans to redevelop Preston's Docks (as well as large sections of the River Ribble running through the city) to introduce leisure facilities (ie watersports), new landmark buildings, a new central park opposite [[Avenham Park]], office and retail space, new residential developments and the re-opening of some of Preston's old canals. However, these plans, collectively known as [http://www.preston.gov.uk/category.asp?cat=785 Riverworks], have yet to undergo public consultation, and have already raised concerns amongst locals due to the potential loss of green space and increased risk of flooding<ref>{{cite web | title=Flood plain housing plan slammed| work=Lancashire Evening Post, June 30th 2007 | url=http://www.lep.co.uk/news?articleid=2995255| accessdate=2007-07-01}}</ref>
=== Bus ===
[[Image:Preston bus 209.jpg|thumb|right|A Preston Bus service at [[Preston Bus Station]]]]
[[Image:Preston bus 63.jpg|thumb|right|A [[Preston Park & Ride]] service at [[The Harris Museum]]]]
Although lacking any rail based rapid transit network, Preston has a very comprehensive bus network. The 3 main local operators are:
*[[Preston Bus]] - Serving Preston Borough and Penwortham
*[[Stagecoach]] in Lancashire (formerly Stagecoach Ribble) - serving most areas outside the borough, particular emphasis on Walton-le-Dale, Penwortham/Longton and Longridge
*[[John Fishwick & Sons]] - providing frequent services into the city centre for Lower Penwortham, Lostock Hall, Leyland, Euxton and Chorley
Preston also has its own [[Preston Park & Ride|park and ride]] at Walton-le-Dale and Portway.
Preston is also served by many national bus services. Stagecoach Express, National Express, Eurolines, and Megabus all have a large presence at [[Preston Bus Station]].
Preston was one of the first cities in the UK to have its bus network fitted with ''Realtime'', a satellite based technology fitted to every bus stop which aims to provide an accurate time and destination of the next bus arriving using [[GPS tracking]]. This service was initially restricted to all services within the borough, however, it has now been expanded to cover Fishwick's 111 City Centre/Leyland route due to its popularity.
=== Air ===
Although not a public airport; [[Warton Aerodrome]] is an active airfield west of the city and is the airfield for the BAE Warton factory. [[BAE Samlesbury]] to the east of the town is a former active aerodrome but today it serves as a facility for [[BAE Systems]]
:[[Blackpool International Airport]] is located only {{convert|20|mi|km}} west from the city.
:[[Manchester Airport]] is a large international airport about {{convert|40|mi|km}} south-east of the city.
==Education==
The city is home to the [[University of Central Lancashire]]. Formerly known as Preston [[Polytechnic]], "UCLan" is now the sixth largest university in the country. The university currently has over 33,000 students.<ref>{{PDFlink|"[http://www.uclan.ac.uk/students/facts.pdf Pocket Facts]"|708 [[Kibibyte|KiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 725307 bytes -->}}, University of Central Lancashire. URL accessed on 6 June 2006.</ref>
As well as the university, the Preston area is home to many other higher and further education institutes:
*[[Preston College]] - Based in [[Fulwood, Lancashire|Fulwood]] with 2 campuses near the RPH and [[Moor Park, Preston|Moor Park]]. Specialising in A levels, vocational courses and adult courses. Also has COVE (Centre of Vocational Excellence) status in Retail.
*[[Cardinal Newman College]] - Based on a single campus in [[Avenham]], close to the city centre.
*TUC Education Unit - Based at Buckingham House, Preston city centre
*[[Royal Preston Hospital]] - A teaching hospital, with a proportion of medical students from the [[University of Manchester]] based here for their clinical training.
*[[Runshaw College]] - Based south of the city in [[Leyland, Lancashire|Leyland]].
*[[Myerscough College]] - Agricultural college based just north of the city in Bilsborrow but named after neighbouring village Myerscough.
*[[Hutton Grammar School]] Sixth Form College, located in [[Hutton, Lancashire|Hutton]], [[South Ribble]], southwest of Preston.
==Media==
Preston has a number of local radio stations:
*[[BBC Radio Lancashire]] - Lancashire wide news, talk and classic hits
*[[105.4 Century FM]] - North West 80s - present pop and sport
*[[Frequency 1350]] - Student radio 1350 kHz AM MW
*[[Magic 999]] - Preston and Blackpool classic hits
*[[Central Radio (Preston)|Central Radio 106.5]] - Launches mid 2008
*[[Rock FM]] - Preston and Blackpool pop music
*[[100.4 Smooth FM]] - North West Easy Listening
*[[Preston FM]] - Community Radio Station
The [[Lancashire Evening Post]] is based in [[Fulwood]].
==Sport==
[[Image:Deepdale.jpg|thumb|Deepdale, home of ''The Invincibles'']]
Preston is famous for [[Preston North End F.C.]] (one of the founder members of [[the Football League]] and the first team to be crowned [[English football champions]]) and the [[National Football Museum]], the home of English football heritage, currently located at [[Deepdale]] Football Ground. Deepdale is the oldest continuously used professional soccer venue in the world. [[Dick, Kerr's Ladies]] are arguably {{weasel-inline}} the most famous early [[Women's football (soccer)|women's football]] team in Britain and called Preston home.
Preston Hockey Club was established in 1903 and has since remained one of the North's most prominent clubs.
The [[Preston Arena]] is used for cycle racing.
England [[Test Cricket]] player [[Andrew Flintoff]] is a Preston native.
The [[Preston Mountaineering Club]] is based in the town and has been in existence for over 70 years.
Speedway racing, then known as Dirt Track Racing was staged at Farringdon Park in the late 1920s and early 1930s. The Preston team raced in the English Dirt Track League of 1929 and the Northern League of 1930 and 1931. The best known rider of the team was Joe "Iron Man" Abbott who went on to Test Match successes riding before the war for [[Belle Vue Aces|Belle Vue]]. After the war Joe appeared for [[Harringay Racers (speedway)|Harringay]] and [[Bradford Dukes|Bradford]].
==Notable people==
{{main|List of people from Preston}}
[[Image:RobertWService-plaque-Preston.jpg|thumb|right|Plaque commemorating birthplace of [[Robert W. Service]] on Christian Road near the railway station]][[Robert W. Service]], the poet associated with the [[Yukon]], was born in Preston and lived for a time on Winckley Street in the city centre. There is a [[Blue Plaque]] commemorating him on Christian Road, near the railway station.
The parents of legendary American outlaw [[Butch Cassidy]] lived in Victoria Road in Preston and emigrated to escape religious persecution of their [[Mormon]] faith. It was said that, unlike [[Paul Newman]]'s cinematic portrayal, Butch spoke with a thick Lancashire accent.
[[Benjamin Franklin]] (one of the [[Founding Fathers of the United States]]) once owned a property on the corner of Cheapside and Friargate in the city centre (on the site of what is now a coffee bar). A [[Blue Plaque]] on the wall of the building commemorates the spot.
Preston is the home city of the animator [[Nick Park]], the creator of [[Wallace and Gromit]], and in September 2007, the City Council announced that it would be raising £100,000 in order to build a bronze statue of the two characters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6980995.stm|title=Wallace and Gromit statue planned for Preston|date=2007-09-06|accessdate=2007-06-12}}</ref>
==Twin cities/towns==
{|
| valign="top" |
* {{flagicon|Netherlands}} - [[Almelo]], [[Netherlands]]. 2008 sees the 60th anniversary of this twinning.
* {{flagicon|Poland}} - [[Kalisz]], [[Poland]]
* {{flagicon|France}} - [[Nîmes]], [[France]]
* {{flagicon|Germany}} - [[Recklinghausen]], [[Germany]]
|}
==References==
{{reflist}}
==See also==
* {{cite book|author=Hodge, A. C.|title=History of Preston: An Introduction|year=1997|origyear=1984|publisher=Carnegie Publishing|location=Preston|id=ISBN 1-85936-049-1|}}
* {{cite book|author=Hunt, D.|title=A History of Preston|year=1992|publisher=Carnegie Publishing|location=Preston|id=ISBN 0-94878-967-0|}}
* {{cite book|author=Hunt, D.|title=Preston: Centuries of Change|year=2003|publisher=The Brredon Books Publishing Company|id=ISBN 1-85983-345-4|}}
* {{cite book|author=Sartin, S.|title=The people and places of Historic Preston|year=1988|publisher=Carnegie Publishing|location=Preston|id=ISBN 0-94878-925-5|}}
* {{cite book|author=Walsh, T. and Butler, G.|title=The Old Lamb and Flag|year=1992|publisher=Carnegie Publishing|location=Preston|id=ISBN 0-94878-979-4|}}
==External links==
*[http://www.preston.gov.uk Preston City Council website]
*[http://www.lep.co.uk Lancashire Evening Post - Preston based daily newspaper]
*[http://www.cleo.net.uk/followtheyarn/index.html/ Follow The Yarn - site detailing the history of the Preston cotton industry, put together by the local museum]
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