Preston’s Bus Station

You might be aware of the fact that Preston is home to an infamous and controversial building… the bus station!

This infamous building is often described as being like Marmite- you either love it or loathe it! But why is it so divisive? Let us try to find out…

Preston Bus Station

It was designed by Keith Ingham and Charles Wilson, who belonged to the Building Design Partnership, a firm of architects and engineers that was founded by the Prestonian architect George Grenfell Baines. They worked together with engineers from Ove Arup and Partners, and building work began in 1968, being completed in 1969. It was designed to accommodate 80 double decker buses and 1,100 cars, and it is still one of the largest bus stations in the world.

Preston Bus Station Development by Preston Corporation

Side note: Nick Park, the creator of Wallace & Gromit and UCLan SU meeting room namesake, has a connection to the Preston bus station, as his father worked as a photographer for the Building Design Partnership. Check out our blog about him here!

Roger Park, Preston Bus Station

But why does it stir up so many passions? Why is it often called ‘ugly’?

The building was built in a style called ‘Brutalism’, which was a modernist architectural movement that took its name from the French word for “raw”. This in turn came from the favoured building material choice of many architects of béton brut, raw concrete. It was popular from the 1950s until 1970s, and it became popular with governmental projects. Examples are found worldwide, and they are easily identified with their fortess-like appearance and the predominant use of exposed concrete construction, which can seem forbidding. The concrete would often expose the construction work, and was often designed to have a certain sculptural quality to it.

The rugged, not easily accessible look of the designed buildings could be interpreted as a reaction of younger designers to the smooth, light designs of the Art Deco era. This can be found in the design of the Preston Bus Station, where the car park balconies incorporate distinctive curves in exposed raw concrete. These balconies are the most recognisable feature of the structure, and they are functional, as they protect car bumpers from crashing against a vertical wall. It was also meant to have a sculptural quality to it.

It is noteworthy that many original features are still in place- the bold Helvetica signage and big Swiss railway-style clocks. The quality of the materials used is also noteworthy: bespoke handrails and the white tiles on the exterior and interior, produced by Shaws of Darwen, the same kind used in Harrods. It can be argued that such a standard of finish in public buildings would be unusual today, and whilst the appearance of these features might look rundown today, one must keep in mind that materials age in every building, be it Victorian or Brutalist, and the upkeep of a structure contributes to its appearance.

Preston Bus Station Interior

It was Grade II listed in 2013, which means that the building is of special architectural interest and warrants every effort to preserve it, after it was threatened with demolition. At the moment of writing it is undergoing extensive refurbishment, and it will probably be completed by 2019. The scheme is designed to revitalise the area, and a building accommodating a youth zone will be built next to it. Hate it or love it, it is doubtlessly one of Preston’s most famous building, and it will doubtlessly continue to cause divisions.

On a side note, many Victorian buildings were once deemed as ‘ugly’, but attitudes changed over time. The famous St Pancras Station in London for example was threatened with demolition in the 1960s, and only a campaign saved the building from this fate. Maybe the attitudes towards the Preston Bus Station will change over time towards a more favourable picture.

Picture credits

Preston Bus Station, image via http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=495159

Preston Bus Station, image via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preston_bus_station#/media/File:Preston_bus_station_232-26.jpg

Preston Bus Station Development by Preston Corporation, image via https://www.dezeen.com/2014/09/12/brutalist-buildings-preston-bus-station-by-building-design-partnership/

Preston Bus Station Interior, Image via https://www.dezeen.com/2014/09/12/brutalist-buildings-preston-bus-station-by-building-design-partnership/

Roger Park, Preston Bus Station, image via http://www.bdp.com/en/projects/p-z/Preston-Bus-Station

The History of UCLan Part 3: The Harris Institute

We are back with another part about the history of UCLan. Its forerunner, the Preston Institute for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, had seen big changes after it was founded in 1828. It became the Harris Institute in 1882, after the fund of a wealthy solicitor helped the Preston Institute financially.

The curriculum broadened, offering plumbing, brickwork, nursing, German, theoretical mathematics, agriculture, commercial geography and telegraphy, chemistry, textile courses and freehand drawing. This caused demands for yet more space, as had happened earlier, and which caused the construction of the Avenham Institute. The Harris Trustees made further funds available for these new premises, and Preston Borough Council promised to provide a site for them, though it took five years until a site was allocated. This was at Corporation Street rather than the hoped for site adjacent to the Harris Free Public Library. A joint design proposal from Henry Cheers and Aspinal and Smith was accepted for the new building, though it caused a slight controversy, as the costs were higher than the competition brief implied. Despite this, a foundation stone was laid in 1895, and the new Jubilee Technical School, later known as the Harris Institute and nowadays as the Harris Building, was opened in 1897, just in time for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.

Technical School, c.1900

The Harris Institute was a large and successful operation, and there were constant attempts to improve. The first World War affected the Institute, as students and staff either signed up or were conscripted into the forces. This had a dramatic effect, and caused a larger recruitment of women, who were to be trained to replace men who could then be released for the armed forces. The town’s mayor, Alderman Cartmel, criticised it as “deeply deplorable” that women should have to “take up their brothers’ places”. Additional classes and lectures for teaching English to Belgian refugees and ‘Economy in Food’ were introduced, reflecting the impact of war on the Harris Institute.

Student enrolment certificate, September 1927

1928 was the centenary of the forming of the Institute for the Diffusion of Knowledge, and there were some successes. There were some 1900 students, and whilst it was mostly a local college for evening class students there were plenty of students for daytime courses. The 1930s saw major refurbishments of the Technical School building and re-equipping of workshops and laboratories, and new “bright and well-ventilated classrooms” became available.

A. Winter, Harris Institute Technical School after refurbishment, 1931

A. Winter, Harris Institute Technical School, Corridor C, c.1931

The work of the college was disrupted in 1939 again, not only because student numbers dropped. The Institute made provisions for 90% of the students to shelter in the basement in the case of air raids. Other students were supposed to go home. Shelters were built for students and the public alike.

After the war, a General Inspection by HMI noted that the college was “dignified and substantially built” and “exceptionally well kept” with a “high standard of neatness and order”. But there were problems too, as there were gaps in provision and a shortage of accommodation. The biggest problem was the absence of a suitable library. The existing one consisted of a room with ceiling high shelves and large tables in the centre of the room, which were placed inconveniently. There was a also no indexing system in place. In addition, most students did not know about the existence of a library. It was recommended that these concerns should be addressed.

There were more changes to come, when the Harris Institute became the Harris College in 1956. To be continued…

Picture credits 

Student enrolment certificate, September 1927, image via https://www.flickr.com/photos/rpsmithbarney/4752108533

Technical School, c.1900, image via https://www.flickr.com/photos/rpsmithbarney/9106234009/in/photostream/

A. Winter, Harris Institute Technical School after refurbishment, 1931,image via https://www.flickr.com/photos/rpsmithbarney/5617724435

A. Winter, Harris Institute Technical School, Corridor C, c.1931, image via https://www.flickr.com/photos/rpsmithbarney/5617720257/in/pool-1280094@N23/

The History of UCLan Part 2: Expansion

We are back with the second instalment of our ongoing series about the history of UCLan. In our previous blog post we traced the origins and reasons for the establishment of the Preston Institution for the Diffusion of Knowledge in 1828. It was a successful enterprise, but this soon caused some space issues, which would lead to the construction of a new building, the Avenham Institute. We will be exploring the fascinating backstory of this building and what role the Harris fund played in the history of the Institution in this blog post.

Institution for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, Preston

As we covered in our previous post, the Institution grew, and became ever more popular after being founded in 1828. It was run from rented accommodation at Cannon Street, but as subscription numbers grew, space became an issue. Remember, at first the Institution did not have students, but subscribers. This subscription model enabled participants to attend lectures and use the library.

Large classes could not easily be accommodated, and this problem was soon recognised and donations raised for a new more suitable building. A site was selected in 1844 at the end of Avenham Walk, and the plans by John Welch, a local architect, were approved. The building was in a classical-revivalist style, harking back to ancient Rome and Greece. But there were problems ahead for the future Avenham Institute.

In 1846 a foundation stone was laid, but the funds were not very exhaustive. In addition, the mason’s business also went out of business. At least the shell of the building was completed in 1847, but there was another problem, as it still had to be fitted out. Loans had to be taken out, though the building was still largely unfinished when the Annual Meeting took place there for the first time a year later. There had also been protests by some founding members who argued that this new building would no longer serve the classes for whom it was intended, in other words, that the Institute would be there not be for the working classes but the middle classes.

Charles Wilson, Avenham Institute, 1853

However, soon afterwards the Avenham Institute was in use, though it was also sometimes known as the Mechanic’s Institute. Links with the School of Design in Manchester were established, and attempts to found an elementary school of design were also pursued. This resulted in the Preston School of Art, which was founded in 1859. It offered classes for children of both sexes and to young adults. There were also classes offered for apprentices, artisans, schoolmistresses, schoolmasters and pupil teachers. It was successful, not only in student numbers, but it also achieved national status, and the achievements of its pupils often equalled or surpassed those of more established centres, like at Glasgow or Liverpool.

The Avenham Institute also hosted exhibitions, like this one of two microphalic children from St. Salvadore, one of the first travelling human zoos

The Institution introduced also science and language classes in the 1860s, and it began to rival the School of Art in its achievements. But there were many hardships ahead. The Institution had to struggle with a lack of sufficient subscribers and funds. This caused the Institution to apply for additional support from the Harris Trust in 1879.

Edmund Robert Harris

This trust had been set up after the death of local solicitor Edmund Robert Harris. He had left a considerable sum of money which was to be used for setting up a free library and museum for Preston. These funds would be used for the Harris Building, now the Harris Museum and Art Gallery. Preston’s first public library was opened in 1879, the same year the Institution applied for funds from the Harris Trust. In 1882 the trustees of the Harris fund endowed the Institution. Houses in Regent Street were purchased and demolished for the Institution to be extended. Since then it was known as the Harris Institute.

As we have seen the Preston Institution for the Diffusion of Knowledge was transformed over time. During its beginnings its library had been its centre, and the Avenham Institute, in a purpose built environment, was the next logical step, and it was almost like a technical college. This shift was probably partly linked to the opening of the Harris library, which operated as a public lending library, different to the library access provided by the Preston Institute, where access was restricted to subscribers. This shift was important, as the focus was now on teaching.

Art class at the Harris Institute, c.1892

The Avenham Institute is currently empty, after it had been used by UCLan for art studies until 2009, when it was put up for sale. Since then, students have been able to use the facilities at the Media Factory, a much more suitable venue than the Avenham Institute, which had grown too small (and unsafe) for 21^st century demands. Ever since, the future of this building has been uncertain, as plans for a school seem to have come to nothing. But we are getting ahead, as the history of UCLan still has a few chapters that deserve to be told.

Picture credits

Art class at the Harris Institute, c.1892, image via https://www.flickr.com/photos/rpsmithbarney/5935750854

Edmund Robert Harris, image via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Robert_Harris#/media/File:Edmund_Robert_Harris.jpg

Institution for the Diffusion of Knowledge, Preston, 1854, image via http://www.amounderness.co.uk/the_institution_for_the_diffusion_of_useful_knowledge,_preston,_1850s.html

Poster for exhibition at Avenham Institute, 1854, image via https://www.flickr.com/photos/rpsmithbarney/10058363685

Charles Wilson, Avenham Institute, 1853, image via http://www.culture24.org.uk/art/photography-and-film/art70860

The History of UCLan Part 1: The Early Years

Have you ever wondered how and why the University of Central Lancashire was founded? In the next blog posts we will introduce you to the history of UCLan, about its origins and how it was like to study there in the early years.

The origins of the university can be traced back to October 7^th 1828, when the Institution for the Diffusion of Knowledge was founded. Its founding members were a group of 24 men at the Preston Corn Exchange, which still stands today (recently renamed as the Bar 1842). This institution was established as there was a need for providing adult working men with an education, often in technical subjects. Similar institutes, also known as Mechanics’ Institutes, sprung up all over Britain. They were a consequence of the Industrialisation, which saw the growth of industry and a population boom. This in turn led to a demand for facilities, social and cultural, that would ensure that the good order and economic advance of Preston could be sustained.

One of the most important figures behind the foundation of the Institution was Joseph Livesey (1794-1884), a cheese monger by trade, who was committed to many radical causes during his long life, including educational projects. He believed that writing was important for young people, as it improved their prospects in later life. Not only did he set up a Sunday School for adults, but he also wanted to provide free education for young people, which is why he opened a Sunday School.

Portrait of Joseph Livesey

It seems that there was an interest in establishing a mechanics’ institute in town, which is evidenced by a letter published on 23^rd August 1828 the Preston Chronicle, where Livesey proposed the establishment of an Institution for the Diffusion of Knowledge. This can be regarded as the starting point for the foundation of the University which would later be the University of Central Lancashire. It seems that the naming of the Institution was deliberately omitting the word ‘mechanics’, as it might have widened the support for the project.

On 11^th September 1828 Livesey went a step further towards setting up such an institute, as he invited interested parties to a private meeting at “Mr. Smith’s large room” above Mr. Templeton’s School at 11 Cannon Street. The attendees formed a provisional committee, which called for the inauguration of the Preston Institute for the Diffusion of Knowledge on 7^th October 1828 at the Corn Exchange. 24 people were present, and they formed the first council of the institution. The institution was run from rented rooms in Cannon Street. A local surgeon by the name of John Gilbertson gave books and equipment for the enterprise. The library was large, and there were lecture series and some self-funding classes. Thus a small museum was founded, where over 800 objects were held, mainly relating to natural history.

C. E. Shaw, Preston Corn Exchange (on the left side)

If you wanted to participate in the institute then you could subscribe. There were special privileges if you paid a higher rate. You could attend the library and lectures. The subscription model proved popular, as there were about 600-800 members in the early stages. The institute was open in the afternoons and evenings from Monday to Saturday, with a librarian in attendance. The library offered periodicals and books. “Works of imagination”, or rather, novels, were included after a change to the rule book. The library contained about 1,500 books by the end of 1828, and this number grew to 3,000 volumes by the late 1830s. The number of books grew constantly, and by the 1870s the library held over 11,000 volumes. It had the reputation as “one of the best provincial libraries in the kingdom”. Whilst the library was a full success, the attendance to the lectures was poor.  The committee commented in 1831 that “the subscribers did not appear fully the utility of lectures in the sciences”.

Institution for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge at Cannon Street, Preston (the Institution was housed in the house on the left side with the street lamp)

Interestingly, this poor support led the committee to stop hiring lecturers and rely on volunteers. These lectures by mostly unpaid speakers would grow to be more popular, indeed, some lectures seem to have been overcrowded. So, what were these early lectures about? The range was wide, and you could hear lectures about topics about chemical sciences, electricity, galvasnism, magnetism, human anatomy, astronomy and “vegetable physiology”.

So much for the very early years of UCLan, or as it was then known, the Institution for the Diffusion of Knowledge. We will continue this series soon, so watch this space.

Picture credits

Institution for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge at Cannon Street, Preston, 1891, image via <https://redrosecollections.lancashire.gov.uk/view-item?i=214260&WINID=1496134569815#.WS0zqWjysdU&gt;

Portrait of Joseph Livesey, image via <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Livesey#/media/FileJoseph_Livesey_portrait.jpg&gt;

C. E. Shaw, Preston Corn Exchange, late nineteenth century, image via <https://www.flickr.com/photos/rpsmithbarney/6189527035&gt;

Preston Mystery

You might have heard the name William Caxton in the news recently. This is because two very rare printed pages by him were found in an archive at the University of Reading.

You might wonder why this is important, and what this has to do with Preston. Some of you may be familiar with a mysterious bust on a building on Marsh Lane, and we will uncover its identity in this blog post.

Mystery bust on Marsh Lane

The recently discovered book pages are from a priest handbook from 1476 or 1477, and are in Latin. But why are these pages so important? Not only because these are the only surviving pages of its kind, but also as William Caxton was probably the first person to have brought a printing press in England in about 1476, and he was also the first person to deal with printed books in England. As he was a merchant he travelled abroad, and it was on the continent that he encountered the new printing industry. Printing was not new, but what was new was a movable printing press. Earlier systems had been created in China, but the first European type was developed by Johannes Gutenberg in Mainz, Germany, in about 1439.

William Caxton

This was an important new development, as the movable type page setting was quicker than the more usual woodblock printing. Books could be produced faster and cheaper, and it is no coincidence that the number of books and texts increased after the invention of the printing press. This also meant that information could travel faster. Caxton also worked as a translator, and he is credited with pushing the standardisation of English forward.

So what is the link to Preston? You might be familiar with a building on the north end of Marsh Lane, close to the junction with Corporation Street. If you look up, you might see a mysterious bust of a man, and you might have wondered about his identity. It depicts William Caxton.

North End of Marsh Lane

So how do we know that it is William Caxton? The symbols on the base of the bust provide an important clue, as they are the emblems used by Caxton to ‘sign’ his work. It might be difficult to make out nowadays, but they are his initials ‘WC’. They are the medieval version of a trademark or brand, and is also known as a colophon.

Detail of William Caxton bust

Printer’s mark of William Caxton

The former warehouse was occupied by Kilner’s Glass and China Warehouse, who produced a large range of ceramic and glass souvenirs for the Preston Guilds. Prior to being a warehouse it housed the printing workshop of Robert Parkinson. It would be logical to assume that this creates a link to William Caxton, the printing pioneer, and this was the reason why it was put in its place. But this is not the case, as the bust was not originally attached to the warehouse, as is apparent in a drawing from about 1900.

Kilner Ltd., 10 Marsh Lane, Preston

How exactly the bust came to its location on the former warehouse is unclear. It could have been attached to the building in 1898 in honour of the printer, though this is disputed. It could have also originally come from the wall of Halewood’s bookstore or the offices of the Lancashire Evening Post on Fishergate, which would mean that it was put up on Marsh Lane, then called Bridge Street, much later. It seems most probable that the bust came from the former Lancashire Evening Post offices on Fishergate, also known as the Guardian Office Building. It was built in 1872 and was demolished in 1989, and it has since been replaced with retail developments. If you look at the picture below you might be able to see the bust on top of the building.

Preston Guardian Office, Fishergate

At the time of writing there is extensive building work being undertaken on the former warehouse, as student housing is being built at the site. If the bust will be incorporated into the new building is unclear, yet it would be lovely if this little bit of Preston history would be preserved for future generations.

Picture credits

Bernie Blackburn, North End of Marsh Lane, image via <https://www.flickr.com/photos/bernieblac/5943325269/&gt;

Home Jules, Detail of William Caxton bust, image via <http://homejules.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/mystery-man.html&gt;

Marty Hopkirk, William Caxton bust on Marsh Lane, image via <https://www.flickr.com/photos/micrashed/15687883503&gt;

William Hughes (block cut by), William Caxton, 1824, image via <http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=3397263&partId=1&people=33557&peoA=33557-1-7&sortBy=&page=1&gt;

Preston Guardian Office, Fishergate, 1902, image via <https://www.flickr.com/photos/rpsmithbarney/3980326766&gt;

Printer’s mark of William Caxton, from Image Du Monde, 1490, image via <https://www.nypl.org/blog/beta/2014/09/08/rare-book-printers-marks&gt;

Kilner Ltd., 10 Marsh Lane, Preston, image via <https://www.flickr.com/photos/rpsmithbarney/5938248265&gt;

 

 

History wins at the Union Awards 2017

On 6th April the UCLan SU Union Awards were awarded as part of Celebration Week, recognising the efforts of volunteers who have made a difference at the Students’ Union over the last year!

Competition was high as there were many nominations and contestants who rightly deserved to win this important award. It’s great to see students rewarded for the time and effort they invest. There was many reasons to celebrate that evening, especially for us at UCLan Through the Ages!

UCLan History Society, who we have partnered up with many times on events for LGBT, International Women’s Day and Black History Month won the Up and Coming Society award. The society, which was set up as a response to UCLan Through the Ages, were nominated for the work they have achieved in partnering up and building links with other societies through their events.

“Their trips to various museums etc are great fun, and the socials are also a great opportunity to connect with people. It’s also great to meet people from different courses or years who share a passion for history! It’s really lovely to meet different people from different backgrounds who share this interest and can connect via their passion.”

The award was picked up by the chair of the society, Sarah Pearson, and the society’s education officer Miriam Kohler, and of course Horace the elk, the society’s mascot! Keep up the good work next year History Society!

Chair and education officer of the UCLan History Society

Special recognition also went to student Sarah Pearson, who won the Inspiring Project Volunteer of the Year award for her contributions to the Union. The criteria for this award was “a positive ambassador for their project; engages in different aspects of the project and it’s development, makes a valued difference to others, goes above and beyond the expectations of their role.”

Inspiring Project Volunteer of the Year Award

 

Sarah has gone above and beyond her role as History Society chair and has played an important part in the successful running of trips organised with UCLan Through the Ages, which have been very popular with students. Her work has meant that students from different backgrounds have had the opportunity to engage with history. Thank you for all of your help this year and good luck in the future!

Inspiring Projects Volunteer award winner Sarah Pearson

All nominees were deserved winners but we are happy and proud that this year history has had such a positive impact at UCLan SU.

A Hidden Treasure Trove?- Visiting UCLan Archives

The UCLan Through the Ages team has in the last few weeks started to work on an exhibition about history of UCLan, which will be launched in Fresher’s. As part of this process we have been visiting UClan Archives located within Vernon Building. Working alongside Helen, the Repository Manager we have been delving through the store room on the hunt for material that we can use.

We thought it would be nice over the next few months to share on the blog some of the hidden treasures held in the archives as they are not usually seen or accessible to the public.

One of the first treasures found by our project coordinator Hannah was this plaque dedicated to Joseph Livesey, the famous temperance campaigner and one of the original founders of UCLan. The archives is home to lots of material related to the Temperance Movement.

Plaque commemorating Joseph Livesey

The plaque appears to have come from a former shoe shop at 28 Church Street in Preston, where Livesey lived from about 1825-1860. We were excited to find a picture of the plaque in place at its former home. The house is currently occupied by the Preston Carers Centre.

28 Church Street, Preston, where the Livesey plaque came from.

A similar plaque was put up at Victoria Road at Walton le Dale, at the house where he was born in. It is apparently still in place.

House Plaque, Walton le Dale. This is the counter piece to the plaque formerly at Church Street

Our project assistant Miriam also uncovered an interesting Temperance pledge from 1856. It was signed by George Cruikshank (1792-1878), a famous caricaturist, and John B. Gough (1817-1886), an American orator of the Temperance movement. It was signed in 1856, the year the National Temperance League was formed, of which Cruikshank was the vice president.

Pledge signed by John B. Gough and George Cruikshank

The archive also holds a large collection of material from UCLan’s past, including a large collection of Pluto issues, the student newspaper and predecessor of Pulse Media. This quirky excerpt from one issue really made us chuckle, clearly filling the student led newspaper was a difficult task in the 1980s!

‘This Space is blank…’

We also found an interesting article accusing the then polytechnic of banning gay books from being sold in the bookshop. Seemingly books by the Gay Men’s Press were considered too radical for the bookshop, as they refused to stock it. This was not unusual at the time, as there was a rise in homophobia due to concern about HIV/AIDS. Homosexuality was believed by some as the source of the disease, however, it was under researched and not well understood. Whilst times and attitudes towards homosexuality have now changed, it can be said there is still a great deal to be done!

‘No Ban on Gay Books’

Keep an eye out as we reveal more hidden treasures from the archive!

Picture credits

‘No Ban on Gay Books’ and Pledge signed by John B. Gough and George Cruikshank photographed by Miriam Kohler

Plaque commemorating Joseph Livesey and ‘This Space is blank…’ photographed by Hannah Beattie

Tony Worrall Photography, House Plaque, Walton le Dale, image via https://www.flickr.com/photos/tonyworrall/1240056134/in/photostream/

Turner Brothers Ltd, 28 Church Street, Preston, image via Preston Digital Archive https://www.flickr.com/photos/rpsmithbarney/4285601545/in/photostream/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“A Brief History of Preston Astronomy”- Guest Blog Post by Steven Gough-Kelly

Hey! I am Steven Gough – Kelly a BSc Astrophysics student at UCLan. At the end of the last academic year, I was awarded a UCLan Through the Ages Bursary. I have written a guest blog post about my project to hopefully inspire others!

The idea for my project was inspired by a conversation with Associate College Librarian for the College of Science & Technology, Bob Frost at the opening of the Moses Holden Telescope at the UCLan’s Alston Observatory. The UCLan library has a special collections room. Items of interest for my department had been assigned to Bob and he expressed interest in bringing some of these items into the university buildings on display for students to enjoy.

When the UCLan Through the Ages Bursary became available it was the perfect
opportunity to fund this history project. So I met with Bob and he showed me the special collections. There was a treasure trove of books and items from the universities history. It was incredible to see how observatory’s ran in the 1900’s and to learn how astronomy in Preston developed over the years.

It was enough to spark a passion of wanting to allow others to get an insight into this history, so I applied for the UCLan Through the Ages Bursary. I was working at UCLan over the summer on an internship so also took on the challenge of finishing this project in time for fresher’s.

The project was to create a display of the history of astronomy in Preston with particular reference to UCLan and its predecessors. Within the first few weeks of the project, I had to take the physics hat off and become a historian. I was gloved up handling 70-year-old books, journals and charts all tied to Preston’s historic observatories. Through this research, I learnt about UCLan’s history from when it was first formed as the Harris Institute for the Diffusion of Knowledge, from it gaining college and polytechnic status.

Preston originally had an observatory in Deepdale but was closed when it came into disrepair. In 1927 the Jeremiah Horrocks Observatory in Moor park opened and has recently been renovated after being closed for over 10 years. In more recent history the Alston (previously Wilfred Hall) Observatory was opened in Longridge and is still owned and used UCLan for teaching and research.

While exploring the items in the special collections we came across an individual who had made a significant impact to Preston astronomy. His name was George James Gibbs (GJG). He was a civil engineer who invented the Helio-chronometer, the most accurate timekeeper of its day. In 1910 he became the Honorary Curator of the Deepdale observatory and as a result became a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. He supported both observatories in observations maintenance and record keeping until his death in 1947. He also gave many public lectures on optics and astronomy. Because of his contribution, I decided to dedicate some of my project and resources to his work.

After the initial research, I identified documents and items I wanted to include in the display. We spent a number of days carefully scanning books a high resolution so they can be included in the UCLan digital archives. These images were then used in two free-standing displays printed by the UCLan Print team. One had a timeline of “A Brief History of Preston Astronomy” dating back to 1828 to 2016. The other had a dedication to GJG displaying his work and images stored in his journals.

The project was a great success, the displayed were printed in time for fresher’s. They also feature at the UCLan Physics Society hosted SU trip: “Get Into Astronomy” at Alston observatory. Now they have found a home in the Leighton building foyer where hundreds of students a day pass through on their way to lectures. This project also encouraged the Jeremiah Horrocks Institute to publicise its history on its website found at http://www.star.uclan.ac.uk/observatories/history/ .

Steven’s bursary project on display in Leighton Building

Because of the UCLan Through the Ages Bursary, I was able to explore the history behind the university as a whole, and how my department has developed beyond its place at UCLan. It has enhanced my research and creative skills. And challenged me to present my work in an engaging work. I also felt that while working on this project I was able to save a small piece of Preston history and ensure it survives for future generations of UCLan students to discover and enjoy.

As recognition for the effort put in by Steven and the success of his bursary in sharing this piece of history with students, he was nominated by UCLan Through the Ages team for a UCLan SU Highly Commended ABCD (Above and Beyond Call of Duty) Award. This award recognises the work of student volunteers, so a big well done and thank you from us!

Art of Protest Workshop- People’s History Museum

We teamed up with the UCLan SU History Society and UCLan SU Feminists for a trip to the People’s History Museum in Manchester on 15^th March 2017, where students took part in a tour and workshop on the subject of protest art.

We kicked the session off with a tour around the museum led by Mitch, the artist leading our workshop, to learn about the history of protest art that would inspire our session later that afternoon.

Tour around the People’s History Museum

Historical banner from the Preston Typographical Association

The museum houses a large collection of historical trade union and political banners in all shapes and sizes. In fact, it is one of the largest collections of these types of banners in the world. They were used for many worthy causes such as protest demonstrations for LGBT rights. They were also used by trade unions, and we even spotted a banner with a Preston connection, which was very exciting!

The museum also houses a conservation studio where staff can preserve and study the museum collection. If you visit the museum (which we recommend that you do!) you can see the textile conservators at work.

After our tour we took part in a workshops session where we could design and make our own protest art. We choose the type of art we wanted to create and chose protest areas that were close to our hearts. Buttons were polular with our group and one student created a brilliant placard.

As you can see our group got really creative- it’s great to see such a variety of ideas!

It was a busy afternoon but worth it as we not only discovered a great deal about the history of protest art but were also able to flex our creative muscles. Thank you to People’s History Museum!

We ended the session with a group photo!

International Women’s Day: Preston Lasses Mun Hev the Vote

The 8^th of March is International Women’s Day, so to celebrate we will be telling you the story of two remarkable Preston women. One was an artist and suffragette, the other was a child mill worker.

Patti Mayor was born in 1872 in Preston. She studied at Slade School of Fine Art in London. This was one of the most important art schools in Britain at the time.

Patti Mayor, Self Portrait

Patti returned to Preston after her studies and is believed to have lived a very cultured lifestyle. During this time she formed a close relationship with a man called Joseph Garstang. He became infamous during World War I for his political views and for being a conscientious objector, which meant he refused participate and fight in the war. Look out for a post about him another day!

Patti and Joseph both took a strong interest in politics, and Patti was especially drawn to suffragism. Women were not able to vote during this period, and Patti, among many others, wanted this to change.

Following art school, Patti worked as an artist and painted numerous portraits of local women. These paintings were unusual for the time as they focused on young women at work and in their normal lives. Women until then had often only  been painted in a distant way, and commonly belonged to the upper classes. The lives of working girls was often left unnoticed.

In 1906 Patti painted her famous painting, The Half-Timer. It depicted a twelve year old girl called Annie Hill, who had just started working in the Horrockses Stanley Street Yard Works in Preston. The title refers to the fact that children split their time between working part-time in the mill and receiving an education. Annie would go to work for half the day and then to school for a few hours. Her work in the mill would have been extremely hard and in later life left her partly deaf.

Patti Mayor, The Half- Timer, 1906

In 1908, Patti removed the picture from its frame and took it to the ‘Women’s Sunday March’ march in London organised by the Women’s Social and Political Union. This organisation demanded the vote for women and often resorted to direct action. She mounted the picture of Annie on a stick and carried it around during the march. It also carried the slogan ‘Preston Lasses Mun Hev the Vote’.

But why did Patti choose to do this? The portrait of Annie was taken as evidence to prove that young girls were still working in the Northern mill industry. In many parts of the country, like the South of England people did not believe this to be true!

During this period, men were given the vote based on their contribution to the economy by working, the same could not be said for women. If it was shown that women worked just as hard to contribute to the economy then it supported their demand for the vote.

The campaign for the vote was halted by World War I and all efforts were focused on the war effort. By 1918, some women were partially given the right to vote and the universal vote for women was not introduced until 1928 in Britain.

Patti died in 1962. She left many unnamed portraits behind. A lot of her works can be found in public art collections. If you want to explore her work further, then head to the Harris Museum & Art Gallery in Preston, the Grundy Art Gallery in Blackpool or the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool.

Looking for more information on inspiring Prestonian women? Check out our earlier blog posts and this brilliant one from the Harris Museum & Art Gallery, where Patti also makes an appearance!

Picture credits

Patti Mayor, Self Portrait, Grundy Art Gallery, image via https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/self-portrait-150680/search/actor:mayor-patti-18721962/page/1/view_as/grid

Patti Mayor, The Half-Timer, 1906, Harris Museum & Art Gallery, image via https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/the-half-timer-152266/search/actor:mayor-patti-18721962/page/2