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Preston and its workers, companies and trades explored in new book

Posted on - 10th March, 2018 - 7:00pm | Author - | Posted in - History, Nostalgia, Preston News
Workers lay tarmac in Church Street in 1938
Workers lay tarmac in Church Street in 1938

Preston is no stranger to hard graft and it’s explored in this look back at firms and jobs which have come and gone in the city.

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Local historian Keith Johnson has penned a look at back at Preston and its relationship with work in Preston At Work.

Starting from the Industrial Revolution and going right through to the early 2000s it includes a look at firms like Dilworth and Carr, Goss Foster, English Electric, Drydens, Simpson’s Gold Thread Works, Horrockses, Courtaulds, Siemens Lamp Works, Tulketh Mill, Atkinsons Vehicles, Sharps Commercials and Beeches Chocolate Factory.

Read more: Nostalgic 1980s Preston revealed in pictures

There’s also a look at the municipal workers at County Hall, the Town Hall, and by what was Preston Corporation.

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Dealing with ration books in the Town Hall in 1947
Dealing with ration books in the Town Hall in 1947
At Forshaws Bakery in Bamber's Yard in 1960
At Forshaws Bakery in Bamber’s Yard in 1960

Mr Johnson said: “Since the Georgian days Preston folk have embraced and endured the developments of the industrial age, and been swept along on the tide of change into the world of technology in which we now live. For successive generations the evolving world has brought many differing challenges that would have left our ancestors bewildered and baffled.

“It is apparent that great strides have been made and adversity overcome to accommodate a population that is nowadays over 140,000. Preston folk have achieved many great things for the benefit of all. They showed great loyalty to their employers many of whom acquired great riches with their investment in local people. The cotton masters have now gone and the corporate bodies rule the world of work. Yet still there are enterprising individuals who create companies for the benefit of all.

“Hopefully, this peep through the lives of the Preston workers down the years will leave you in admiration for their achievements. No doubt they stuck to their tasks despite the troubles and strife that they faced, thus ensuring we have a thriving enterprising city to dwell within. They took pride in their work for which we can be eternally grateful.”

Drydens Foundry
Drydens Foundry

Read more: Courtaulds connects exhibition opens at the Harris

The book is available on Amazon priced £9.97 in hard copy and for Kindle.

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