Avenham Park Lodge

Avenham Park Lodge

Avenham Park Lodge, also know as the Park Keeper’s Lodge, while modest in scale, forms an integral part of the original Victorian design of Avenham Park. Constructed in the 1860s to house park staff, the lodge reflects the care with which the park was conceived as a civic landscape of national standing. Its architecture, though not individually remarkable, is typical of the picturesque domestic style often employed for park lodges of the period, designed to harmonise with the surrounding greenery rather than dominate it.

The building’s value lies in its context. Together with Miller Park, Avenham Park is recognised as one of the finest examples of Victorian municipal parks in the country. Both parks are Grade II* Listed. The lodge contributes to this completeness of design, embodying the practical and ornamental functions that characterised mid-nineteenth-century public parks. As a familiar point of reference and a reminder of the park’s continuous care and use over more than 150 years, the lodge remains a significant element of Preston’s heritage.

The Shawe’s Arms

The Shawe’s Arms, London Road

Shawe’s Arms, London Road, Privately owned but up for sale, has had repair work carried out but not currently in use.

The building is secure and appears to be water-tight. The roof was replaced relatively recently. This was part of work that an article in Blog Preston described as an ‘extensive structural refurbishment’. There had been a fire in the building, whilst it was described as being in a derelict state during 2022. Fire crews said that youths were spotted climbing the scaffolding and getting on to a flat roof adjoining the building before the fire started. This happened on Sunday 19th June 2022.

The building is in a good location on the River Ribble and is on the Guild Wheel route. Surely there has to be potential for some sort of refreshment stop in that location.

Blog Preston article:
https://www.blogpreston.co.uk/2024/01/shawes-arms-up-for-sale-again-following-extensive-structural-refurbishment/

---

Shawe’s Arms History

The Shawe’s Arms, address is 279 London Road and it is adjacent to the Ribble Bridge in the Fishwick area of Preston. The building is quite small, and it thought that it was originally a Farm-cottage. Shawes Arms was once a landmark pub in Preston, dating back to at least 1824, but it has been closed since 2014.

It was renamed to Shawe’s Arms from the ‘Black Horse’ in 1843. Historically, one of the most well-known landlords was William Lobban (Loban), who ran the establishment from 1892 to 1921.

Why “Shawes Arms”?
The Shawes Arms takes its name from the Shawe (or Shaw) family, who were once prominent landowners in the Fishwick area of Preston. The family lived at Fishwick Hall, recorded in the 18th century as the seat of the Shaws. In 1760, William Shaw, an attorney of Preston, purchased part of the manor of Fishwick and made the hall his residence.

It was common practice for inns and taverns to adopt the arms or surname of influential local families, both as a mark of respect and as a way to identify with the neighbourhood’s gentry. When the former Black Horse Inn on London Road was renamed in the mid-19th century, it became the Shawes Arms, commemorating this family connection.

More in formation about the history of the Shawe’s Arms at Fishwick can be found on the PRESTON’S INNS, TAVERNS and BEERHOUSES website.

https://pubsinpreston.blogspot.com/2012/03/shawes-arms-london-road.html

---

Former Tithebarn Pub

The Former Tithebarn Pub
and adjoining former Aladdin’s Cove building

The Former Tithebarn Pub and adjoining former Aladdin’s Cove buildings. The Tithebarn pub building is a council owned building, and was quickly earmarked for demolition by the council. However, Preserving Preston’s Heritage campaigned to save the building. Prior to the news about the demolition being received, the group was already working on a proposal to use the building as a Heritage Centre. PPH’s quickly formulated the remainder of the plans, formed a Community Interest Company and submitted proposals to save the building to Preston City Council. We were successful in saving at least part of the Tithebarn but, at this stage, the Council are proposing that they keep the building and potentially open it up as a public house.

You can read more about Preserving Preston’s Heritage’s Tithebarn Heritage Centre proposals here:

Save The Tithebarn

Blog Preston Article:
https://www.blogpreston.co.uk/2021/12/future-of-former-tithebarn-pub-uncertain/

Plans could save 19th Century pub building – BBC:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn41yxlk3gxo

The former Aladdin’s Cove building

We are not sure about the adjoining building, which did undergo some improvement work a few years ago. In a poor state of repair but again a historically important and an aesthetically pleasing building. The former warehouses are listed on the National Heritage List for England.

---

Tithebarn Public House History

The Tithebarn Pub has been on its current site in Preston since approximately 1796. It was previously known as the Waggon and Horses, as it served the blacksmith community of the area – which makes sense of the recent archaeological findings on the site behind. It was also known as The Volunteer and The Stocking. There’s been lots of talk of civic occasions and traditions in the form of the Guild recently but did you know that this was the site of the traditional civic ceremony of Boundary Riding in Preston?

Whilst the building in its current form spent most of its commercial life under the name of “WAGGON AND HORSES”, and was probably built as that establishment, there is evidence to suggest that there were earlier establishments in that location.  It is possible that parts of that building are now included in the fabric of the current building.

Establishments in this location were previously known as “THE STOCKING” and “THE VOLUNTEER”.  There is also a possibility that there was an establishment named the “SETTING DOG” in the early 1700s.

The “SETTING DOG” on Back Weind (now named Lord Street), gleaned via information from Trevor Kirkham of Preston Historical Society, is known to be extant in 1711 and specifically also on 13th May 1736.

The following, referring to the Waggon & Horses, is an extract from the book, ‘Peeps at old Preston’, by George C. Miller that was published in 1957.

The pub (“WAGGON AND HORSES”) took its name from the large number of blacksmiths clustered around the Tithebarn area. The name stayed with the premises for over 200 years before being changed to The Tithebarn. An old town custom called ‘Boundary Riding’ took place here whereupon the Mayor and members of the Corporation would set off on horseback to view the boundaries of the borough. As part of this ceremony, two of the town’s bailiffs were whipped round the nearby pump. Things got out of hand, as these events are wont to do, when the blacksmiths joined in the fray and began to beat the poor bailiffs with iron bars and other iron implements. After this, the old custom was discontinued.

An account by somebody called ‘Mary’, commenting on a Blog Preston article 8 years ago, recalls the following:

I remember it before it was called Tithbarn when it was The Waggon and Horses, a lively public house, packed most night. In the music room there was a piano and many good and famous acts would appear on their way to Blackpool, many using the old bus station across the road, now demolished. In the ‘best room’ people dressed in their best and sat on comfortable upholster seats. A bell just above their heads on the wall pressed when service was required. I remember the old fire station directly opposite on Tithbarn Street. I remember the sweet shop opposite and parched peas sold there.

The Park Hotel

The Park Hotel, East Cliff

The Park Hotel, East Cliff, privately owned, not in use, poor state of repair. Security has been improved and break ins have reduced.

Whilst not been empty for quite as long as the nearby St. Joseph’s Orphanage, it has also been a target for Urban Explorers and has suffered a lot of vandalism. Fortunately, as of September 2025, there doesn’t appear to have been any break-ins that have resulted in serious fire.

This article from the BBC website describes plans for Preston’s Park Hotel to welcome guests for first time in 70 years:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lancashire-68185043

There have been some delays with the planning applications, but things seem to be moving again. The ‘Farington Square’ redevelopment, in which the former hotel is included, will be undertaken by The Heaton Group.

Farington Square

---

The Park Hotel History

The former Park Hotel was built in 1883 as a railway hotel catering to passengers travelling through Preston. Former guests are reported to have included the future King Edward VII, Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin and Gracie Fields. Its strategic, landmark location offers scenic views of the surrounding parklands and is a key feature of views in the Avenham Conservation Area, which is notable for its mixture of townhouses, attractive views, and listed parks. Both Miller Park and Avenham Park are Grade II* listed and were designed by landscape designer Edward Milner in 1861 and 1864, respectively. Milner (1819-1884) was originally apprenticed to Sir Joseph Paxton, best known for designing the Crystal Palace. Miller and Avenham parks are considered significant as early examples of municipal park. The location of the hotel is therefore extremely sensitive as it is so prominent and affects numerous other heritage assets around it.

The hotel structure was used as offices by Lancashire County Council for a number of decades. The administrators of Lancashire County Council’s own pension fund took ownership of the site in 2016. In 2020, the adjoining 1960s office tower was demolished.

The Harris Institute

The Harris Institute

An effort to buy the building as a community asset in 2023 failed – despite a crowdfunding campaign – and instead it was purchased by The Harris Investment Group, based in Bolton.

It will be interesting to see what happens with the latest planning application. As well as the plans for the change of use a separate application has been lodged for consent to convert and make changes to a listed building.

A Facebook post from the Friends of The Harris School of Art in December 2024:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AfGbcg2LP/

The Harris Institute is listed on the National Heritage List for England.

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1207231

---

The Harris Institute History

Originally opened in 1849, the building was later funded by benefactor Edmund Robert Harris. He stipulated it should be used for educational purposes.

It became the Harris School of Art and later the Darul Aloom Islamic Institution. However, the Institute has been empty for almost 10 years and is currently on Historic England’s At Risk Register.

The Shepherd Library was relocated to the Mechanics Institute and opened in these premises on 29th July 1851. The Preston Institution for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge (or Mechanics’ Institute) building in Avenham was built between 1846 and 1849 by John Welch. It was converted and enlarged from 1882 to serve as a Technological College, parent institution of the Harris Technical School in Corporation, which ultimately became Lancashire Polytechnic, and currently the University of Central Lancashire.

Arkwright House

Arkwright House, Stoneygate

Arkwright House, Stoneygate, privately owned, not currently in use. Perhaps the most culturally important building in Preston due to its link with the Father of Industry, Richard Arkwright.

The building was sold in February 2025. It is currently unoccupied and has deteriorated quite rapidly whilst it has been empty.

Arkwright House on Stoneygate is a Grade II* Listed Building that is listed on the National Heritage List for England.

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1279775

---

Arkwright House History

In 1768 this building was the home of Rev. Henry Ellis, the Headmaster of Preston Grammar School. It was also the lodging place of Richard Arkwright and John Kay. During their time here Arkwright and Kay developed the water frame spinning machine that revolutionised the cotton spinning process.

---

Sir Richard Arkwright (1732–1792)

Sir Richard Arkwright, often called the “father of the factory system,” was born in Preston in 1732, the youngest of thirteen children of a struggling tailor. His early years were spent in the town, where he learned to read and write, and later trained as a barber and wig-maker.

It was in Preston that Arkwright’s inventive streak began to show. By the 1760s he was experimenting with mechanical spinning, working with local craftsmen such as John Kay, a clockmaker. Their efforts produced the machine that became known as the water frame – first powered by horses, later by water. This device transformed cotton spinning from a small-scale domestic craft into an industry that could be organised on a factory scale.

Although Arkwright moved on to Nottingham and then Derbyshire to build his mills, his roots and his earliest experiments were in Preston. The town provided the skills, the contacts, and the determination that he carried into later success.

From these beginnings, Arkwright rose to become one of the most famous figures of the Industrial Revolution. He built great mills, amassed wealth and influence, and was knighted in 1786. Yet his story always begins in Preston – the place where the son of a tailor set out on a path that helped change the world.

Edith Rigby’s House

Edith Rigby’s House, 27 Winckley Square

Edith Rigby’s House, 27 Winckley Square, is known as College House. It is privately owned, and in a poor state of repair but another of vital cultural importance particularly regarding Women’s history.

Repair plan goes in for Edith Rigby House in Winckley Square article on Blog Preston:

Repair plan goes in for Edith Rigby House in Winckley Square

Number 27 Winckley Square (formerly Listed as: WINCKLEY SQUARE Nos.27, 28 AND 29) is a Grade II Listed Building. It was originally a large town house, and was formerly part of school, but was last used as offices. It was built circa 1830, but has been subsequently altered.

---

Edith Rigby

Edith Rigby is Preston’s most famous suffragette and a woman ahead of her time. She was an extremely brave woman to follow her beliefs and passions despite the social pressure of the day to conform to what was perceived ‘a woman’s place’. She was fiercely committed to her principles and believed passionately in equality for both social class and gender.

Edith Rigby

The Friends of Edith Rigby are a community group dedicated to preserving and celebrating the legacy of Edith Rigby and Preston’s Suffragettes.

https://friendsofedithrigby.wordpress.com