For the first time in seventy years 2023 will be a Coronation year. What was Preston like in the last Coronation year of 1953?

Notably, it was an era of austerity and post war reconstruction. Many areas had not changed since the depression of the 1930’s and wholesale demolition was still in the future. Many Victorian buildings were in use and small local garages still sold rationed petrol. However, sugar and sweet rationing ended in 1953.

Stan Marks garage, with vintage pumps

Old, analogue dial, Esso petrol pumps still adorn the Entrance to Stan Marks garage, in this 1953 view. The building is still there on Garstang Road. However, the ornamentation over the doors has gone, but the alternating stone and brick pillars remain. Petrol is no longer sold from here.

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Smoke and grime

Remarkably, the photo above was taken in 1950. Consequently, the houses were demolished in 1953. This scene looks more like the 19th century than the 20th. The photograph looks South towards Ladywell Street. These are former hand-loom weavers cottages and families would have lived in the cramped cellars.

After the killer London smogs of the 1950’s, the Clean Air Act was introduced, in 1956. This effectively banned the use of coal in urban areas. Not a moment to soon judging by the smoky atmosphere in the image.

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The 1953 Coronation

One bright spot in the post war gloom was the Coronation of Elizabeth II. Street parties were the order of the day and here we see a party on Whittingham Street, in Preston. Another point of note was the fact that the Coronation was televised.

Interestingly, the Coronation was a big driver of TV sales with just under 1 million five hundred thousand licences issued in 1952, compared to two million one hundred thousand in 1953. However, this was not the first Coronation to be televised. The fledgling BBC Television Service broadcast the Coronation of GVI in 1937.

Millers cycles and Babytown

Another form of transport is featured in this view of Millers cycles, later Bill Head Motorcycles. Next door was a pram shop known as Babytown. The shop was just of North Road on Hardwicke Street. This area is now under Penny Street car park.

For some reason, three short streets in this area, that are long gone, were renamed in the mid 19th century. Dewhurst Street became Hardwicke Street, James Street became Penny Street and Kirkham Street became Brownlow Street.

Charles III will be crowned in May 2023.

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