Postcards were often used for promotional purposes as well as for leisure. That included sentimental cards that were sent to the front during World War I. Tragedy befell the Preston Pals and the shown postcard is a sad reminder of the waste of life.

Francis Frith was a 19th century photography pioneer. He later founded the Francis Frith company. They produced tinted postcards of many parts of the UK including Preston. These are an invaluable guide to the changing face of Preston.

Above a tram trundles down Church Street on one of the rather limited routes available. The livery was a dark mauve and cream. On the far left, sits a motorcycle and sidecar, a rather unusual sight. Motorcycles go back to 1885, when Gottlieb Daimler first attached an engine to a bicycle.

On the far right, Topping Brothers were chemists on Church Street. That was long before the NHS, and free prescriptions. Chemists also sold non-medical items such as furniture cream. You probably would not want to get that mixed up with the oxygenated tooth powder.

Promotional postcards, the Theatre Royal

Postcards were often issued to promote events or locations. Above Preston’s Theatre Royal is advertising a play named Beauty and the Barge. The site of the Cinema Royal, in Fishergate, was long associated with performance. It originally opened as the Theatre Royal in 1802 and was rebuilt in 1870. It was rebuilt again in 1959 as the ABC Cinema.

World War I, the Preston Pals are wiped out

The outbreak of war in 1914 was the cause of great excitement in Preston. The town was a major railway hub and garrison town. Fulwood Barracks rapidly became swamped with volunteers. The Corn Exchange and even the tramway power station were used for accommodation. A group of 250 volunteers formed the Preston Pals. They headed off from Preston Station to Salisbury Plain for training. However, the early enthusiasm was soon replaced by grief, as the Preston Pals were virtually wiped out in August 1916. Only 50 men survived.

Preston postcards books and publications

There have been some interesting books and publications, on Preston’ postcards.

The Preston The Postcard Collection book by Peter Byron came out in 2019. It was published by Amberley who produce a range of interesting history titles. The format follows a route around the town using original postcards and photographs.

There is a brief history of Preston and the text is informative and comprehensive.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter for links to the above book, as well as other sources used for this article and more Preston history.

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