It can be surprising and sometimes insightful what you can find after a good rummage on a car boot sale.
I collect scraps of old Preston based memorabilia. leaflets, letters, cards, anything local tying into my interest in Preston. Past This is all the stuff thrown away over past decades.
It could all be seen as worthless pieces of paper. But these documents contain nostalgic glimpses of past Preston and can be considered as historical documents in their own right.
I have selected a items from my collection here.
I’m not old enough to remember ration books, but that period in time must have been tough. The economic effects of the last war still being felt in Preston up to 1953.
In the image above of interest is the ticket for the old E H Booths store on Fishergate and a stamp for Kilshaw’s Butchers on Avenham Lane.
The First World War obviously had an effect on Preston as well. A 1916 postcard simply addressed to ‘Moorlands’ from someone on active service in France.
Wesleyan church preachers circuit plan from 1872. The Lune Street church is still going strong. Printed by the Borough Steam Printing Works on Fishergate.
Preston once had many mills and they all had letters with individual headers. This is the specimen template for the Moorbrook Mill Co Ltd letters.
The council ran many municipal baths in Preston. In the days before every home had its own bathroom. As shown, baths could be found at Moor Park, Haslam Park and Ribbleton Park. The most well remembered will be Saul Street Baths. All these have long gone.
I found this old teachers bank credit slip for the County Borough of Preston from 1960. The advice note shows pay of £92 for the month of July. Nice Lamb and Flag badge.
A out-patients card for the old Preston Royal Infirmary from 1930. Nothing of the hospital remains on Stanleyfield Road, which is now a housing estate.
A scrap from the ledgers books of Frenchwood Mill in Preston circa 1907. Shows payments made on account. All handwritten.
Stock share income statement for the Metropolitan Water Board showing interest to pay of £8. From 1958. 35 Fishergate is now the site of a Nat-West Bank.
Sales note circa 1800 from Marsden & Kay, druggists of Anchor Court in Preston.
What do you think of Preston Past in Paper? Would you like to see more? Let us know in the comments below.