The lid is being peeled back on the history of one of Preston’s largest institutions.

The University of Central Lancashire’s archives are to go on display in the city.

Marking the 190th anniversary of the academic institution, which began as the Institute for the Diffusion of Knowledge, the public exhibition runs on Saturday 24 November.

It draws on the work by Dr Keith Vernon, a local historian and lecturer at the university.

Dr Vernon, who began working at the university when it was Lancashire Polytechnic in 1990, said: Higher Education has changed so much during the past 30 years with Government policy at the heart of many of those changes. At UCLan, there were huge expansions in the 1990s and 2000s to become one of the largest universities in the country. It is noticeable how UCLan has been fleet of foot and has constantly been inventive to keep pace with the enormous changes.

“One thing that stands out clearly during that time is the University’s commitment to widening participation and giving every student a chance, no matter what their background. UCLan has also become an important international institution, but remains firmly rooted in the North West.”

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The exhibition is from 11am to 3pm in the Livesey House cafe and exhibition space in Heatley Street.

Do you have any memories of UCLan or its past names? Let us know in the comments below