A series of special walks and talks in and around Winckley Square is to feature in the upcoming Preston Arts Festival.

The Friends of Winckley Square have expanded on their usual programme after being asked to participate in the festival, which takes place in October.

As well as the walks and talks, The Women of Winckley Square Exhibition will be on at St Wilfrid’s Church in Chapel Street for the duration of the festival.

The exhibition has been put together by some of the Friends of Winckley Square who have researched many of the women who lived, worked or were associated with the Square in order to tell their fascinating and sometimes shocking stories.

Opening on Monday 30 September, the exhibition can be visited on weekdays from 1pm to 6pm, Saturdays 1pm to 5pm, and Sundays 1pm to 4pm until it closes on Monday 21 October.

Winckley Square walks and exhibitions will also feature in Preston’s Heritage Open Days.

Read more: Where you can explore with Heritage Open Days 2019 in Preston

Walks and talks

Artist Fiona Candy will lead A Walk In The Park from Winckley Square through Avenham Park. During this walk/art workshop, participants will explore a series of ways to connect with the landscape and atmosphere.

This two-hour walk runs twice, on Saturday 5 October at 2pm, and on Sunday 13 October at 10am, from the centre of Winckley Square Gardens.

In the walk, From Fishergate to the Ribble; West Preston Shaped by Power and Influence, Steve Harrison will guide participants around the areas where Preston’s rich and powerful families lived, and ask: did they create a world just for themselves or was philanthropy a key motive?

Join this one-and-a-half-hour walk on Tuesday 15 October at 11am from the centre of the Gardens.

Preston was the first town outside London to have a public gas supply, a fact that is explored with Peter Wilkinson on the Preston It’s a Gas! walk. Visit key locations including the site of the first gas works, the coal yards and some of the buildings first lit by gas.

Meet at the Robert Peel statue at Winckley Square at 11am on Wednesday 16 October for the one-and-a-half-hour long walk.

Judy Beeston will guide participants around the Edith Rigby Trail. It’s an opportunity to find out more about Edith’s childhood, marriage, time as a suffragette and war work. The two-hour walk includes a stop at the Olive Grove Cafe at Lune Street Methodist Church.

Taking place on Saturday 19 October at 10am, and meeting in the centre of the Gardens.

Read more: Why it is only right we have an Edith Rigby statue in Preston

In her talk, The Lot of a Woman in a Man’s World, Susan Douglass will discuss how English life between 1674 and 1913 was influenced by gender, including how views about strengths, weaknesses and responsibilities shaped everyday lives.

The talk is taking place at St Wilfrid’s Parish Centre on Monday 7 October from 2.30pm to 3.15pm.

Patricia Harrison will celebrate the unsung stories of Three Women who Shaped Preston. She will talk about how Ellen Cross, Cornelia Connelly and Beatrice Todd had a significant impact on the lives of people in Preston.

Taking place from 7pm to 8.15pm on Monday 14 October at St Wilfrid’s Parish Centre.

In the performance of An Evening with Edith Rigby, Judy Beeston will share stories about Preston’s most famous suffragette. Edith’s time as a suffragette, her marriage and working with women’s groups will all be covered.

This one-hour talk will take place at Lune Street Methodist Church on Wednesday 16 October at 7pm.

All walks and talks cost £4. Places are limited so to be assured of a place, book on Eventbrite or contact Patricia on patricia@winckley.org.uk or 01772 254395.

Read more: What’s on in Preston

Will you be going to any of the Winckley Square events? Let us know in the comments below.