A Preston historian has pieced together a pictorial look at the city’s development from 1960s to the the early 1990s.

Keith Johnson’s latest book called Now That’s What I Call Preston shows what Stoneygate was like and the work that went on to demolish the old Town Hall.

There’s glimpses of when the St George’s Shopping Centre first opened, the clearance work that led to the Bus Station being built and the opening of the UK’s first motorway the Preston Bypass.

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Keith said: “It is true to say that when 1960 dawned it was a time for transformation with old buildings bulldozed into oblivion and new structures soon standing tall. The Victorian Town Hall, the old Ribble bus station, an old church or two, old ale houses, old cinemas and theatres, many a corner shop and endless rows of cobbled streets being swept away in the name of progress.

“Words of the planners talking of high rise apartment, office blocks and sprawling shopping centres filled the air, and then they became a reality. A period when traffic free zones, ring roads and motorways were planned and came to fruition. Whilst the transportation of people and goods came on in leaps and bounds on road and rail.

“Throughout the ‘swinging sixties’ Preston was striving towards a glorious Guild celebration that would reflect the attitude of the positive, proud people of Preston.

“That event kept the ancient traditions alive with pomp, pageantry and processions and provided a fair share of fun and frolics. Many of us proud to parade the streets in procession, or to just stand and stare.”

The book is Keith’s latest look at history in the city, and is available from Amberley Publishing and is available from Amazon priced £12.48.

Read more: See all of the coverage about the city’s history