Preston Museums and Galleries

The Museum of Lancashire

The Museum of Lancashire in Preston, housed in the Grade II listed former court house, is the county's main heritage centre. Pulling on the Lancashire Museums collection which consists of over 150,000 artefacts and archive pertaining to Lancashire, the Museum of Lancashire has constantly changing exhibitions on this UK region which has one of the most interesting and diverse histories in the UK. Textile industry archive, paintings, furniture, medals and military artefacts all form part of the collection.

Previous exhibitions have included the superb 'Grin Up North' exhibition which truly was a journey back into the history of Northern comedy rooted in music hall. Other areas consistently explored include transport and textiles.

The Museum of Lancashire is a particularly good venue for families, with guide Ted the Teddy Boy taking you 'Fast Forward to the Fifties' and on-site Victorian schoolroom where kids can practice handwriting on slates. Regular Family activities run here (see the family activities leaflet via the museum's weblink right).

The Museum of Lancashire, Stanley Street, Preston PR1 4YP Tel. 01772 534075. Free parking including coach parking is adjacent with a shop and baby changing facilities on-site. The museum is fully accessible for disabled visitors.

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Harris Museum & Art Gallery

For a comprehensive 'Story of Preston' the acclaimed Harris Museum & Art Gallery is where to head. The collection of art, photography, costume and textiles here is impressive - The Harris is Preston's finest gallery and museum with an outstanding selection of exhibitions which incorporate all of Preston's particular themes - football, cotton textiles, temperance (the temperance society was founded here in Preston) and the famous Preston Guild. Fine art includes the largest collection of the Devis family of painters and photography includes images of Preston dating back to 1850. On the 1st Floor 'The Story of Preston permanent exhibition includes the John Weld Collection, the famous Poulton Elk, Preston Dock Finds and more, tracing the history of Preston as market town through to cotton manufacturing centre in the 19th century. Also on the 1st Floor is the Harris' superb collection of Ceramics and Glass - the museum has a reputation for its outstanding decorative art collection. Move to the 2nd Floor to view the permanent Fine Art collection with paintings, drawings, sculpture and photography dating mostly from the 18th century to the present. 'Serena Reading' by George Romney is here and you'll also find work by Stanley Spencer, Lucian Freud and Mill Workers by L.S.Lowry in the 20th century room area. Look out for the stunning tapestry by William Morris.

Unique highlights at the Harris of international importance include the Mrs French Perfume Bottle Collection and the mid-20th century collection of fashion dresses by the Horrockses Fashions label. Also within on the 1st Floor is a model of Preston's famous Yard Works, site for the Horrockses Cotton Manufacturers' in 1913. The Horrocks Brothers Samuel and John, of Quaker roots, were key figures within the Preston Cotton industry and numerous Horrocks records are held at the Lancashire Records Office. Both brothers went on to hold offices within Preston - one an MP, the other Mayor.

Opened since 1893, The Harris has always been free to enter. One of Preston's most treasured buildings, The Harris is Grade I listed designed in Neo-Classical style by James Hibbert. Guided tours are available focusing on the building's architecture (see details on the Harris' weblink right). Family activities run regularly including 'Hands on at the Harris' days.

Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Market Square, Preston PR1 2PP Tel. 01772 258248.

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Ribble Steam Museum & Ribble Steam Railway

The beautiful 1 1/2 mile dock and riverside line of the Ribble Steam Railway at Preston crosses the Preston Marina running alongside the River Ribble. A superb family day out, heritage trains run on designated weekends (see the Ribble Steam Railway weblink right for dates).

You can board the steam railway from the Ribble Steam Railway Museum which is based on the Riversway Docklands at Preston. The museum houses one of the largest collections of standard gauge industrial locomotives in the UK and includes a variety of steam, diesel and electric locomotives as well as rolling stock. Many of the locomotives are local to the North West. An all in one ticket allows entrance to the museum, workshop buildings and boarding of trains running through the day.

Ribble Steam Railway & Museum, Chain Caul Road, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston PR2 2PD. Tel. 01772 728800. Ample free parking is on-site.

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British Commercial Vehicle Museum Leyland

Exhibits in the outstanding British Commercial Vehicle Museum in Leyland span a full 100 years of transport history. The town of Leyland just outside Preston has strong links with British Transport. Leyland Motors was a British Vehicle manufacturer of buses and lorries - initially the Lancashire Steam Motor Company founded by the Spurrier and Sumner families in 1896.

The company's very first vehicle was a steam powered van with a capacity for 1.5 tonnes. Leyland Motors later merged with British Motor Holdings in 1968 becoming British Leyland. You'll find a number of Leyland trucks and heritage buses on display within the BCVM - look out for the 1956 Leyland Tiger Club coach and the Foden Buses. The very last Foden 2006 truck is just one of the highlights.

Real heritage treasures on-show include an 1896 Horse Drawn Bus and Ford Model T from 1921. The museum offers a fascinating journey through the changing designs of buses, cars and trucks. The on-site gift shop offers an extensive range of transport books and gifts an a cafe is also within the museum.

The British Commercial Vehicle Museum, King Street, Leyland, Nr Preston, Lancashire, PR25 2LE. Tel. 01772 451011. See the museum's weblink right for entrance prices and events listings.

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The Queen's Lancashire Regiment Museum

The history of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment can be traced to as far back as its founding in 1689 by William of Orange. This historic regiment saw action through the American War of Independence, The Napoleonic Wars, Waterloo, the Crimean through to the First and Second World Wars and more recently in the Falklands and on NATO operations in Bosnia in 1996.

The museum sits within 19th century buildings on the historic Fulwood Barracks just north of Preston town centre. The extensive collections and archives on display explore the history of all the famous Lancashire Regiments including The East Lancashire Regiment, The South Lancashire Regiment and The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment as well as the Queen's. Alongside uniforms, weapons, medals and memorabilia sit testimonies and photographs of front line soldiers.

During World War 1 the East Lancashire Regiment recruited huge numbers from the East Lancashire towns of Blackburn, Nelson, Burnley, Colne and Accrington. Four received the Victoria Cross and 7000 lives were lost. This and other sobering facts on Lancashire's Military History are explored in-depth in this museum which houses one of the most important Infantry Regimental collections in the UK.

The Queen's Lancashire Regiment Museum, Fulwood Barracks, Preston, PR2 8AA. Tel. 01772 260362.

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Samlesbury Hall Preston

The 14th century Manor House Samlesbury Hall just to the east of Preston towards Blackburn attracts huge numbers of visitors annually. Widely known for its hauntings - notably by the ghost of the 'White Lady' - Lady Dorothy Southworth who witnessed the murder of her soldier lover by her brothers and has been sighted by numerous visitors. The Hall runs regular Ghost Investigation Evenings - see the Samlesbury Hall webguide right for details.

Saved from demolition by a trust in the 1920s, the Hall has a fascinating history and is open to the public daily except Saturdays (Fridays and Saturdays the Hall can be hired for weddings and events). The Samlesbury Hall Plant Centre plus a Floodlit Driving Range and Par 3 nine hole golf course are also within the grounds.

You can enter the Hall's stunning grounds and Gardens free. Plant and Green Fayres are regular events here. The works of local Preston artist C J Holmes are on show in the Long Gallery, Annex and Southworth Rooms.

Samlesbury Hall, Preston New Rd, Samlesbury, Preston PR5 OUP. Tel. 01254 812010.

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Hoghton Tower nr Preston

Another Manor House open to the public near Preston is the stunning Hoghton Tower, home to the de Hoghton family since the Norman conquest. The fortified house sits 650ft above sea level, offering spectacular views of the surrounding Lancashire countryside.

The fortified Manor House dates from 1565 and retains many of its original features making it particularly special. Numerous Royal guests have stayed here through the ages including James I who slept in the King's Bed Chamber within the house.

Other highlights include a fascinating collection of historic Dolls Houses, the Tudor Banqueting Hall and table and the Tudor well-house. More hauntings are afoot here at Hoghton which has underground passages and a Priest's Hiding Hole. The dungeons at Hoghton are also associated with the Lancashire Witches. A gift shop, tearoom and extensive pretty gardens are on-site and the hall is available for events and functions hire.

Hoghton Tower, Hogton, Preston, Lancashire PR5 0SH. Tel. 01254 852 986. See the Hoghton Tower webguide right for more details.

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