In the 19th century Preston boasted a large number of improvement societies. As working hours gradually reduced, more and more intellectual societies grew up in the town. These societies later morphed into the institutions that led to Preston becoming a university city. The societies also performed an important social history function – documenting the town during the pivotal changes that occurred between 1937 and the 1960s. 

The Literary and Philosophical Society

A popular society was the Literary and Philosophical Society. This was founded in 1810 and later became an institution, with a fine building at Winckley Square. A contemporary description states:

“The Preston Literary and Philosophical Institution was established in November, 1840… An elegant building in the Tudor Style, from designs by Mr Welch, was completed in 1846, at a cost of about £4,000, for the purposes of this society.”

Unfortunately the building was demolished in 1960. This building was also the home of the Dr Shepherd Library from 1868 to 1895. It was later moved to the new Harris Library. Dr Shepherd was a Preston physician and later became Mayor. He was a book collector and bequeathed his library to the people of Preston after his death in 1761. There are works on literature, law, science and medicine, that can still be used.

Preston Institution for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge 

Another key society was the Preston Institution for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, later the Avenham (Harris) Institute. This was also founded in 1840. 

Prior to the opening of the Harris Institute, originally the Mechanics Institute, the society had built up a membership of more than 800 and a library of over 1,500 books. The main aim of the society was the provision of education and instruction for the working classes.

Unfortunately this grade II listed building is now under threat, although local group Friends of the Harris School of Art recently formed a Community Interest Company and are looking to raise funds to buy it. The property is made of an attractive sandstone ashlar with a slate roof and has been vacant for some time. Historic England reports that water ingress is again increasing the risk of dry rot. The Institute was built from 1846-9 and was extended in 1883.

The Preston Scientific Society

The Preston Scientific Society was founded in 1876 and is still flourishing today, as the Preston Society. The Victorian era saw many scientific advances, these culminated in the Great Exhibition of 1851. Funds from the exhibition were used to build the Science Museum in London, amongst others public buildings. As a result of the popularity of science, the Preston Scientific Society was founded. They had a number of specialist sections including, photography, astronomy and Natural History. Today the society focusses on Natural History with regular talks and walks.

Read more: Meet the Preston group who have been celebrating the natural world since 1876

One important aspect of the Society was the photographic record that was begun in 1937. This was to record Preston’s disappearing landmarks. The collection is now in the Harris. More than 1,000 of them can be viewed on the Red Rose Collection website. One of the biggest changes was the destruction wrought by the building of the ring road in the mid 1960s.

The buildings shown in the photo above were demolished in 1969 to make way for the ring road. In 1965 Billy Graham was visiting Preston and the buildings are Mayor and Son tarpaulin manufacturers, and the Corporation Arms pub.

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