NOTE: This information is now redundant. As of May 2019, much of the local history material held at the Harris Library is being transferred to Lancashire Archives in Bow Lane, Preston. It is unclear yet what will remain at the Harris and what will be transferred.
Some time ago there was a guide to the local studies collection at the Harris Reference library in Preston on line at the Lancashire Library website. The guide seems to have disappeared from the web so an older version dating from some years ago is reproduced below. It is published in good faith and if the copyright holder objects it will be taken down. It should be noted that the information is not up to date. For example, Lancashire Record Office is now Lancashire Archives and Lancashire Lantern is now Red Rose Collections.
- Scope and arrangement of the collection
The Local Studies Collection is housed in the Reference Library on the first floor of the Harris Library. Although much of the material in the collection is essentially historical, it is intended that every aspect of life and work, past and present, within the Preston City Council area should be represented. In addition to Preston and Fulwood, the villages of Barton, Broughton, Goosnargh, Grimsargh, Whittingham and Woodplumpton lie within the city’s boundary.
General geographical and historical studies covering other areas of the county are acquired when published, but more specialised or ephemeral material on such places is not actively sought.
The books, pamphlets and other printed works are arranged according to the Lancashire County Library’s Local Studies Classification Scheme. Collections of maps, photographs, postcards, ephemera and newspaper cuttings are also held.
- Catalogues and bibliographies
The library’s holdings of books and pamphlets can be searched on the catalogue available on the Lancashire County Library and Information Service’s website.
CLEMESHA, H.W. A Bibliography of the History of Preston. Preston: Toulmin, 1923. (This only includes a very small proportion of the works now held in the collection.)
FISHWICK, H. The Lancashire Library. London: Routledge, 1875.
Bibliography of North West England . All volumes published to date.
- Directories
(a) General directories
The earliest directories held are:
TUNNICLIFF, William. Topographical survey of the counties of Stafford, Chester and Lancaster, 1787.
The Commercial Directory for 1816 – 17.
From this date to 1968 a good collection of directories is held, the majority published by Barrett. Some cover only the city of Preston, others include neighbouring areas in central Lancashire and the Fylde.
More recent business directories include:
Central Lancashire Business Directory, 1999 – 2002/03.
Lancashire at work, 1987/88 – 2000.
Preston Business Directory 1991.
Preston and South Ribble Business Directory 1992 – 1994/95
(b) Telephone directories
A – Z Preston 1952 –
Classified Preston 1956 –
Thomson Local Directory, Preston area 1982 –
Directories can be found on the Library’s online catalogue .
- Electoral registers
Up to 1868 the registers cover Preston Borough only. From the mid 1880s Fulwood is also included. From 1949-1974 part of Walton-le-Dale is included but from 1974 onwards the registers cover Preston Borough/City. The following years are covered:
1832/42, 1845/46, 1846/47, 1861/62, 1863/64, 1864/65, 1865/66, 1866/67, 1868, 1870, 1879/80, 1880/81, 1882/83 – 1922/23, 1929/30 – 1939/40, 1945/46 – .
In addition South Fylde (part) is held for 1949 – 50, 1968/9 – 1971/2.
Poll lists
1807, 1820, 1830, 1841, 1847, 1852, 1859, 1868.
Burgess rolls
1844 – 1845, 1847 – 1848, 1851 – 1852.
The rolls of Burgesses at the Guilds Merchant of the Borough of Preston, 1397 – 1682. (RECORD SOCIETY OF LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE, Vol. 9, 1884).
Guild rolls 1702 – 1972 (Lancashire Record Office microfiches).
- Rate books
Preston Poor Law rate assessment book, 1806, and Revaluation of Rates – Preston Union: Assessment volumes, 1911, have been transferred to the Lancashire Record Office, the main repository for rate books for the county.
- Census enumerators’ returns
The 1801 census for Preston is a rare survival, a manuscript volume listing the head of each household, where he came from and the number of people in the household. The list has been transcribed.
Microfilm/fiche copies of the census for the present Preston City area for 1841 to 1901. Some returns are held for villages in adjacent districts but coverage for these is very imperfect. Street and surname indexes have been compiled for 1841 to 1891. 1901 has a street index only, surname searching being available on the internet. Copies of maps roughly contemporary with each census up to 1891 have been marked out to show the boundaries of each enumeration district.
1881 Census of England and Wales: surname, birthplace and place indexes for each county on microfiche and CD-Rom.
1891 Census for Lancashire. Street indexes only. CD-Rom.
- Parish records
LANCASHIRE PARISH REGISTER SOCIETY. Publications, Vol. 1- , 1898 – . Transcripts with indexes of over 100 registers of the established church covering various dates 1547 – 1837.
YORKSHIRE PARISH REGISTER SOCIETY. Publications, Vol. 1 – , 1899 – .
PARISH REGISTERS held on microfiche: Copies of some of the original registers dating up to 1900 held in the Lancashire Record Office. An index is available.
CATHOLIC RECORD SOCIETY. Publications, Vol. 1 -, 1905 – . Lancashiire registers in volumes 15, 16, 20, 23, 31 and 36.
BOYD’S INDEX TO LANCASHIRE MARRIAGES. The parishes and dates included are shown on the following list.
Lancashire -102 Parishes, 1538 – 1837.
| Aldingham 1542 – 1837 Altham 1596 – 1695 Ashton under Lyne 1594 – 1720 Bispham 1631 – 1837 Blackburn St. Mary 1600 – 1705 Blackley 1668 – 1700 Blackrod 1606 – 1700 Blawith 1730 – 1837 Bolton le Moors 1573 – 1660 Bolton le Sands 1653 – 1837 Brindle 1558 – 1837 Broughton ( Preston) 1654 – 1837 Broughton (Furness) 1662 – 1837 Burnley 1562 – 1653 Bury S. Mary 1591 – 1837 Cartmel 1559 – 1837 Cartmel Fell Caton 1585 – 1837 Chipping 1559 – 1837 Chorley 1548 – 1837 Church Kirk 1635 – 1747 Claughton 1701 – 1837 Cockerham 1595 – 1837 Colne 1599 – 1644 Colton 1623 – 1837 Coniston 1604 – 1837 Croston 1538 – 1837 Dalton (Furness) 1565 – 1837 Deane 1604 – 1750 Denton 1698 – 1754 Didsbury 1561 – 1757 Downham 1655 – 1754 Eccles 1565 – 1632 Eccleston 1603 – 1837 Eccleston (Douglas Chapel) 1721 – 1748 Finsthwaite 1727 – 1837 Flixton 1570 – 1754 Garstang 1567 – 1837 Gorton 1601 – 1741 Gressingham 1676 – 1835 Halton 1593 – 1837 Harwood, Gt. 1560 – 1683 Hawkshead 1518 – 1837 Hesketh (banns only) 1824 – 1837 Heysham 1659 – 1837 Hindley 1698 – 1837 Hoole 1673 – 1836 Hornby 1743 – 1798 Kellett Over 1653 – 1837 Kirkby Ireleth 1728 – 1837 Kirkham 1539 – 1837 |
Lancaster S. Mary 1599 – 1837 Leigh 1560 – 1624 Leyland 1622 – 1837 Liverpool S. Geo. 1734 – 1837 Liverpool S. Nic. 1604 – 1704 Lowick 1727 – 1837 Lytham 1679 – 1837 Manchester 1573 – 1804 Melling (Lonsdale) 1636 – 1837 Meols, N. 1600 – 1837 Michael, St.on Wyre 1662 – 1837 Middleton 1541 – 1752 Newchurch Pendle 1574 – 1813 Newchurch Rossendale 1654 – 1723 Newchurch Kenyon 1607 – 1751 Oldham 1598 – 1816 Ormskirk 1557 – 1625 Padiham 1573 – 1653 Pennington 1616 – 1837 Penwortham 1608 – 1753 Pilling 1630 – 1837 Poulton le Fylde 1591 – 1837 Preston 1611 – 1837 Prestwich 1603 – 1712 Radcliffe 1560 – 1761 Ribchester 1598 – 1837 Ringley 1719 – 1753 Rivington 1726 – 1837 Rochdale 1583 – 1801 Rufford 1670 – 1837 Samlesbury 1685 – 1837 Seathwaite 1737 – 1836 Sefton 1600 – 1812 Stalmine 1583 – 1837 Standish 1560 – 1837 Tarleton 1822 – 1837 Tatham 1558 – 1837 Todmorden 1669 – 1811 Torver 1599 – 1837 Tunstall 1625 – 1825 Ulverston 1545 – 1837 Upholland 1600 – 1735 Urswick 1608 – 1837 Walton-le-Dale 1609 – 1837 Walton on the Hill 1586 – 1663 Warton 1569 – 1837 Whalley 1538 – 1601 Whittington 1538 – 1837 Wigan 1594 – 1814 Wood Plumpton 1604 – 1837 |
The main collection of parish records for the county is held at the Lancashire Record Office .
- Newspapers
The Preston Guardian, Preston Chronicle and Preston Pilot served to some extent as regional newspapers for central Lancashire in the 19th Century. The Preston Guardian carried regular news columns headed “Clitheroe”, “Gt. Harwood” etc., noting local events, and eventually became the Farmers’ Guardian.
Note: The indexing indicated below has not been carried out in depth, apart from the Lancashire Evening Post, which has been quite detailed for Preston material from 1971 onwards, except for such subjects as criminal acts, sports reports and minor human interest stories.
Asian Image, 1998 – . Not indexed or microfilmed.
The Clarion Dec. 1891 – May 1897. Not indexed. Microfilmed.
Evening Mail Oct. 1830 – 1831. Not indexed or microfilmed.
Farmers’ Guardian Oct. 1964 – . (formerly Preston Guardian). Not indexed. Microfilmed.
General Strike Newspapers 1926. Microfilmed.
The Herald 1965-1971. Previously Preston Herald. Not indexed or microfilmed.
Lancashire County Clarion Feb. 1984 -5. Not indexed or microfilmed.
Lancashire Daily Post See Lancashire Evening Post
Lancashire Evening Post Oct. 1886 – . (From 1893 to 1948 the title was Lancashire Daily Post).Indexed 1886 – 1894, 1907, 1929 – 1930, 1971 – . Microfilmed 1886 – 1947, partially microfilmed 1948-52, 1953 –
Lancaster Gazette 1816; Jan. – Aug. 1818. Not indexed or microfilmed.
Longridge News 1969-72, 76 – . Not indexed. Microfilmed.
Manchester Weekly Journal 29th Oct. 1724 – 11th Feb. 1725. Incomplete. Not indexed. Microfilmed.
Preston and South Ribble Weekly Mail , 1985-1998. Incomplete. Not indexed or microfilmed.
Preston Argus Sept 1897 – Dec 1898, Jan 1900 – Dec 1908. Not indexed. Microfilmed.
Preston Chronicle Sept. 1812 – 1893. Indexed to 1855. Microfilmed. Bound volumes 1818-24, 52-3, Sept.1890-Dec.1891, 1893.
Preston Citizen Nov. 1980 – . Incomplete. Not indexed. Microfilmed 2003- .
Preston Guardian Feb. 1844 – Oct 1964 (lacks 1874). Indexed to 1940. Microfilmed 1844 – 1910, 1912 – 1964. Bound volumes 1911. Continued as Farmers’ Guardian.
Preston Herald 1855 – 96, 1899 – 1907, July 1908 – 1918 microfilm only. 1862-3, 1875-1913, 1915-64 bound volumes. Not indexed. Continued as The Herald.
Preston Journal Jan 1742 – Aug 1746. Incomplete. Not indexed. Microfilmed.
Preston Journal and Crofts Lancashire General Advertiser. Feb. 1807 – Aug. 1812. Indexed. Microfilmed.
Preston Leader 1984-85. Incomplete. Not indexed or microfilmed.
Preston Mercury 13 th April -7 th December 1861. Not indexed or microfilmed.
Preston Pilot Microfilmed 1831 – 77 (lacks Dec.1864-Sept.1867 and 1872). Bound volumes 1825-26, 1827, 1829-30, 1864 – 66, 1872, 1874. Indexed to 1849.
Preston Reporter Oct 1998 – . Not indexed. Microfilmed 2003- .
Preston Review and County Advertiser June 1793 – March 1794. Indexed. Microfilmed.
Preston Sentineland Lancaster County Advertiser Apr. 1821 – Mar. 1822. Not indexed. Microfilmed.
Preston Trader 1984 – 87. Incomplete. Not indexed or microfilmed.
Preston Weekly News 1975 – 86. Incomplete. Not indexed or microfilmed. Previously Preston and South Ribble Weekly News and South Ribble and Preston Weekly News.
Red Rose Advertiser 1987 – 1990. Not indexed or microfilmed.
True British Courant or the Preston Journal March 1745 – Jan. 1753. Incomplete. Not indexed. Microfilmed.
Wheeler’s Manchester Chronicle 1816; 1818 – 1824. Indexed. Not microfilmed.
Newspaper cuttings
Several volumes on matters of local interest 1929 onwards, e.g. history, biography, Preston Guild, Harris Library, Central Lancashire New Town. Most volumes include a manuscript index and a cumulated A – Z index has been produced. From the 1970s cuttings are mounted on card and filed by subject. Annual indexes are available for this sequence from 1971 to 1989 and the indexes from 1990 are searchable on Lancashire Lantern.
Newspaper indexes
Index to biographical entries in local newspapers including obituaries (coverage varies according to newspaper file). Available on Lancashire Lantern
Index to people, places and major events reported in local papers (coverage varies according to newspaper file).
Index to items of Preston interest in the Lancashire Daily Post 1939 to 1945. Available on Lancashire Lantern.
Kirby, Henry L. A chronological list of some articles and news items about Preston and district in “The Preston Guardian” 1844-1905.
Lancashire Lantern includes an index to stories from local newspapers covering several areas of the county.
12. Periodicals and serials
Business 550, 5 year file.
CATHOLIC RECORD SOCIETY. Publications, Vol. 1- , 1905 –
Centre Words. CENTRE FOR NORTH-WEST REGIONAL STUDIES, LANCASTER UNIVERSITY. 1971 – 1979, 1987 –
CHACOM: Central and West Lancashire Chamber of Commerce journal, 1984 – 1998.
CHETHAM SOCIETY. Publications, Vol. 1- , 1838 –
Community Focus, 1981- .
Contact . NORTH WEST CIVIC TRUST Newsletter, Nos. 1-9, Autumn 1984 – Autumn 1989.
CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND ANTIQUARIAN AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Transactions, Vols. 9-42, 1909 – 1942; Vols. 44-58, 1944 – 1958; New Series, Vol. 64 – , 1964 –
Delta: Red Rose postcard club newsletter, 1985 – 1994.
Echo: Preston Health Authority newsletter, 1973 – 1991.
Forum (formerly Preston Chamber of Commerce Journal), 1936 – 1937, 1955 – 1983.
Fylde Naturalist, Nos. 1-8, 1975 – 1983.
HISTORIC SOCIETY OF LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE. Transactions and proceedings, Vol. 1- , 1848 –
Journal of the Manchester Geographical Society, 1885 – 1947.
Lancashire: Lancashire Family History and Heraldry Societynewsletter, 1981 –
LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY. Transactions, Vol. 1- , 1883 –
Lancashire and Cheshire naturalist, 1911 – 24.
Lancashire archaeological bulletin, Vol. 1-12, 1975 – 1988 (incomplete).
Lancashire archaeological journal, Vol. 1-2, 1978 – 1982.
LANCASHIRE DIALECT SOCIETY. Journal, Nos. 2-41, Dec. 1952 – August 1992. (Incomplete).
Lancashire History Quarterly 1997 –
Lancashire Lad (Magazine of Queen’s Lancashire Regiment, formerly The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment), 1922 – (incomplete).
Lancashire Life, May 1956 –
Lancashire Local Historian 1983 –
Lancashire Magazine, Vol. 1- , 1977 –
Lancashire Today, 2002 – June 2005
Local Historian, Vol. 1- , 1952 – 1954, Vol. 5, No. 4. 1962 –
Local History, 1984 –
North West Geographer, 1980 –
Manchester Region History Review, 1987 –
Monitor, 1975 – 1997 (incomplete).
Northern history, Vol. 1- , 1966 –
North West Catholic History , 1984 –
North West Journal of Historic Studies, Vol. 2-3, 1989 – 1990.
North Western Naturalist, 1926 – 1955.
Papers of the Manchester Literary Club, 1874 – 1929.
Preston Parish Church Magazine, 1898 – 1899, 1912 – 1991 (incomplete).
Preston arts news, 1986 –
Preston Independent Paper, 1992 – 1993.
Preston Labour News, 1935 – 1965.
Preston Other Paper, 1988 – 1991.
Preston Worker, No. 1-4. 1979 – 1980.
Really Lancashire, No. 1-4. 1996 – 1997.
The Record ( LANCASHIRE AUTHORS’ ASSOCIATION) 1911 –
RECORD SOCIETY OF LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE. Publications, Vol. 1- , 1878 –
Red rose (LCC newspaper of industrial & commercial development in Lancashire) Nos. 1-4, 1980 – 1982.
Unemployment update, 1987 – 2002.
Waterwitch ( LANCASTER CANAL TRUST), 1979 –
WESLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Bulletin, 1985 –
13. Maps and plans
The library holds various small scale maps of Lancashire dating from the early 17th century onwards, including C. & J. Greenwood’s map of 1818. Several street maps of Preston are held: – c1690, 1774, 1809, 1824, 1836, 1852, 1865 to date, scales vary.
Ordnance Survey.
1″ to 1 mile maps. The Lancashire sheets of the David and Charles reprint of the 1st edition, originally published in the early 1840s, are held, and for the 1870s-1880s a full set of sheets for Great Britain forms part of the collection. Various sheets covering the Preston area are held for the 20th century, including 1920, 1947, 1954 and 1961.
1:1 0,000 series (Landranger) : Great Britain: all sheets, latest edition only. Earlier editions, 1970s onwards: Preston sheet only.
1:25,000 (2½” to 1 mile): Provisional edition, 1940s-50s, all Lancashire sheets. Later editions, including Pathfinder and Explorer, central Lancashire only. Outdoor Leisure (OL) series, Great Britain as published, latest editions only.
1:10,560 ( 6″ to 1 mile ) : 1st ed. 1840s: all Lancashire sheets. 2nd ed. 1890s: all Lancashire sheets. 1912–14 Preston Borough only. National Grid edition, 1950s-60s: all Lancashire sheets.
1:10,000: Central Lancashire area 1970s-90s.
1:2,500 (25″ to 1 mile): 1890s, 1912 and 1930s editions: most of the sheets for Preston Borough area. 1960’s – 80’s, 1993 – 94 and 2000 – 01: all sheets for the area of Preston Borough/City.
1:1,250 (50″ to 1 mile): 1950s to 1980s. All sheets for the Preston Borough area.
60″ to 1 mile: 1847 – 1849. Preston Borough area only.
126″ to 1 mile: 1892. Preston Borough area only.
Geological survey: 1″ to 1 mile sheets for a large part of Great Britain.
Goad plans for Preston city centre from 1980 to date.
There are also miscellaneous subject maps at various scales and dates, e.g. administrative areas and agricultural land classification.
- Council minutes and minutes of official bodies
FULWOOD URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL. Minutes, July 1934 – Sept. 1973.
PRESTON CITY COUNCIL. Proceedings, 1836 –
PRESTON RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL. Minutes, 1959 – 74.
SOUTH RIBBLE BOROUGH COUNCIL. Minutes, 3 year file.
15. Illustrations
A large collection of mostly black and white photographs, dating from the 19th century to the present, of Preston events, scenes and buildings. Includes the collection of the Preston Scientific Society and various subject albums, such as Preston Guild 1902 and the visit of King George V and Queen Mary.
Aerial photographs – black and white prints and some colour, Preston area, 1930s – 1990s.
A collection of postcards of Preston dating from the early twentieth century to the present. Also an album of Longridge postcards c1910-20.
Miscellaneous collection of printed ephemera relating to Preston including, engravings, theatre bills, Guild programmes etc.
Photocopies and/or photographic copies can be made in some cases; inquiries should be made to the library staff concerning the availability of these services.
The Library is currently developing an online database of photographs from the county’s various library collections; this is available as part of Lancashire Lantern .
- Sound and video recordings
None.
- Documentary material
None. The main repository of archives for the county is held at the Lancashire Record Office.
- Special collections
Harkness collection of broadsides. The collection of several hundred broadsides, mostly of the first half of the 19th century, includes many produced by John Harkness, the Preston printer, as well as a number by Catnach and others. They are nearly all street ballads. Title list available for consultation. Also available on CD-ROM.
Francis Thompson collection of manuscripts, texts and critical works , relating to the Preston-born poet. A centenary catalogue of the collection was produced in 1959.
- Special indexes
Census and newspaper indexes described in sections 9 and 11.
- Equipment available
Microfilm readers. Two of the microfilm readers can also be used to photocopy microfilm/fiches.
Microfiche readers.
Colour image scanner.
Digital camera.
- Books useful as introductory reading
BERRY , A.J. Proud Preston’s story. Toulmin, 1928.
CLEMESHA, H.W. A History of Preston in Amounderness. Manchester U.P., 1912.
COOKSON, Richard. Goosnargh past and present. Oakey, 1888.
CROSBY, Alan. History of Preston Guild. Lancashire County Books, 1991.
DAKRES, Jack M. The Last Tide: a History of the Port of Preston. 1986.
DOBSON, William and HARLAND, John. A History of Preston Guild. W & J Dobson, 1862 (reprinted 1971).
FISHWICK, Henry. History of the Parish of Preston. Aldine Press, 1900.
FLINTOFF, Thomas R. Preston Guild Merchant. Preston’s week of pageantry…1328 – 1952. The Author, 1972.
HARDWICK, Charles. History of the Borough of Preston and its environs. Worthington, 1856.
HARRIS MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY. Story of Preston. Vols 1 and 2, 1986.
HEWITSON, Anthony. History of Preston. Preston Chronicle, 1883.
HINDLE, David. Grimsargh: the Story of a Lancashire Village. 2002.
HUNT, David. History of Preston. Carnegie, with Preston Borough Council, 1992.
HUNT, David. Preston: Centuries of Change. 2003.
HUNT, David. The Wharncliffe Companion to Preston: an A-Z of Local History. 2005.
JACKSON, George. Broughton roundabout: a local history of Broughton and Barton. 1979.
JACKSON, George. Woodplumpton: its history in religion, houses and families. The Author, 1971.
KNIGHT, Carole & Burscough, Margaret. Historic Fulwood and Cadley. Carnegie, 1998.
SARTIN, Stephen. People and places of historic Preston. Carnegie Press, 1988.
SARTIN, Stephen. Preston past and present. Landy, 1992.
TIMMINS, Geoffrey. Preston: a pictorial history. Philimore, 1992.
WALSH, Tom. The Old lamb and flag: the songs and story of Preston and its guild. Carnegie Publishing Ltd., 1992.
WHITTLE, Peter. The History of the borough of Preston. 2 vols. P. & H. Whittle, 1821 –1837.
22. Other family history sources
Army Roll of Honour – World War II Soldiers Died in the Second World War 1939 – 1945. CD-ROM.
British Isles Vital Records Index . CD-ROM.
Family History in Preston: a guide to sources in the Harris Library. 1997. £2.50.
General Registrar Office Overseas Indexes . Microfiche.
International Genealogical Index (I.G.I. or Mormon Index) for England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Microfiche.
National Burial Index . CD-ROM.
Preston Roll of Honour 1914 – 1918.
Registrar General’s Indexes (R.G.I. or St. Catherine’s House indexes) to births, marriages and deaths, 1837-1999. On microfilm 1837 – 1980; on microfiche 1981 – 1999. It is essential to book in advance to use these indexes.
Soldiers Who Died in the Great War . Microfilm and CD-ROM.
Sources for family history research in the Harris Library. £0.30
All our libraries provide free access to the Ancestry website which gives access to Census Records for England, Wales and Scotland 1841-1901) and indexes to Births, Deaths and Marriages for England and Wales (1837-2005).
preston history 