One of Preston’s iconic clocks has been restored to working order – and soon someone will have it as part of their new flat.
Work is continuing on The Bridge development of the former Booths store and offices in Glovers Court in Preston city centre.
TSS Property Limited have finished the show flat which includes a room which is the Booths clock bridge.
Work began in June on the apartments, with 14 due to be built in total.
The majority of them will be two-bedroom and the show flat is finished to a high standard.
A spokesman for TSS said: “Work has been progressing very well, and we’re working closely with Preston City Council on ensuring the right fixtures and styles are used.
“This is a historic building for the city, so many people remember it as Booths, and it’s important we keep all of this ornate detail.”
Above the Waterstones shop there’s a floor, which is the old Booths tea room, which is part of the conversion.
TSS, a Preston firm, said they are using primarily Preston-based construction firms and traders for the multi-million pound project.
Read more: Glovers Court flat, restaurant and shops plan due for green light
The spokesman said: “It’s a big project but we’re proud of the city and we want to see this done properly.
“If you take the windows on the building for example, because it’s a listed building, you need to spend more to ensure they are a certain style to match. It means they cost five-times as much as standard PVC windows.”
On restoring the clock, the spokesman said it was initially going to keep the Booths writing.
He said: “Everyone in Preston knows that clock right? And that bridge. We wanted it to be a centrepiece of this development. So we ensured it was working again and got it restored.
“Originally Booths was going to be kept on it but now it will have The Bridge written along the bottom, with the agreement of Booths.
“It will be interesting to see what the buyers of that flat decide to do with it. Some have suggested a bar, others a games room. Who knows?”
Read more: Maudland Bank student flats sees new proposal
Interest in the flats has already been strong, with four of them snapped up.
Work is due to be completed in Spring 2019.
The developers are asking Prestonians if they have any old photos of the Booths store or offices when they were operating. Anyone with the should email tk@tssproperty.co.uk
Do you have any memories of the old Booths store and offices? Let us know in the comments below