Prologue - First Encounters

Preston found its origins in the Anglo age, derived from the phrase ‘Priest’s Settlement’ as it was at the time the centre for such holy training as was required from one to forge a path in Priesthood. In Medieval and Tudor times Preston evolved into a market town and was a crucial node in the trade of local textiles, given Guild Merchant status in 1179 which is celebrated at the Preston Guild which occurs vicennially. Rapid growth of the town coincided with the industrialisation in the North-west as cotton product and trade brought a huge influx in employment and development in the town.

Preston is the administrative centre for Lancashire county and home to over 300,000 people.

Preston’s morphology is ultimately derived by the River Ribble meandering to the south of the city. The Doomsday book records the medieval route of Fylde Road linking north-west to south-east and the origins of this route are still visible in Preston’s urban layout today. The Historic high-street was established later during the merchant years of the town and remains as an amalgamation of Church Street and Fishergate running laterally through the city. In the mid-century the Ring-road developments severed the city in two, creating a laborious border within the inner suburbs. Preston’s organic morphology is typical of other Northern towns who’s urban density rapidly increased and declined during the Industrial Revolution.

The site sits on the welding point between the historic Church Street and Fishergate. The jointures of these two streets forms the main shopping High-street in the town and is a mixture of architectural styles, building typologies and pedestrian and vehicular streets-capes. The site is enveloped by the back streets of Main Sprit Weind and Old Cock Yard, which narrow into service alleyways at the north and widen to join Syke Street to the south. The site’s main vehicular access along Syke Street, while its main public facing elevation sits along Church Street. The site is located at a key nodal point within the city, almost at true centre and therefore though a forgotten block of the city today it has the potential to be a epicentre for the community.