Cover of the book ‘Secret preston’ by Keith Johnson

There is a history of Preston that is hidden from view, or simply not recognised today amidst the hurly burly of modern life. Keith Johnson’s latest and fascinating book on Preston’s secret history.

Secret Preston, published by Amberley, goes behind the façade of the familiar to explore what lies beneath the historic city we are familiar with. Scratching the surface and delving into the archives to reveal things we are unaware of, or that have simply been forgotten in the mist of time.

The chapters bring to life some of the characters of old who walked along these highways and bye ways before us, leaving behind a trail that fascinates us and helps us to understand what kind of life they enjoyed, or endured.

Hopefully, you will delight in a tour of our streets and alleyways back in the nineteenth century town led by Richard Aughton, who recalled his formative years growing up in a place that was developing from pasture land. His anecdotes recalled the people, the places and the reality of his time.

Journey back into the secret past of Preston and loiter a while, and maybe marvel at those who lingered in olden days on the streets and fields of Preston past and their achievements. Graveyards and bones, monks and monasteries, alleyways and tunnels, factories and workshops, plagues and poverty, pain and torment, disease and death, famine and feast all provide an insight into the past.

The dictionary definition of secret includes the terms – concealed, unseen, mysterious – not deliberately, of course, but as a result of the passage of time – hopefully some of the dust of time is blown away in the pages that follow.

The book is now available at local bookshops including Waterstones and on line from Amberley Publishing or Amazon in either Paperback or Kindle Edition format.

In due course, there will be an official book signing by Keith: details to come later.

Do you like Preston history? Does this book intrigue you? Let us know in the comments below.