Now, there are plans to create a conservation group to protect the area's jewels. Evening Post historian Keith Johnson looks at how the area became the pride of a city.

Fulwood is nowadays very much part of the sprawling city of Preston. Of course it has not always been the case for an area that got its name from the days when forests covered much of the northwest. Indeed during the period when the Romans occupied Britain they made a road through this damp and boggy wood that stretched from Kirkham to Ribchester along the route of the present day Watling Street Road.

In the period following the Norman Conquest, Fulwood became part of the vast forest of Lancaster and was reserved for hunting by the noble folk. Eventually thanks to a Royal Charter the good people of Preston were granted permission for free pasturage and for the removal of timber for the construction of dwellings. Inevitably the privileges were abused and folk from the Fylde were soon helping themselves to the wood and in some cases settling within the area. Much of the forest was down the centuries laid bare and Preston had to fight long and hard to maintain its legal entitlement. In consequence the Burgesses of Preston were eventually given 150 acres on the border between Fulwood and Preston in return for relinquishing their ancient rights.

By the end of the 18th century the map makers of the time had Fulwood Moor stretching from Cadley Moor to the west through to Fulwood Row at the east.

Up to the middle of the 19th century, Fulwood remained an entirely rural region being mainly agricultural land with farmhouses and cottages scattered about the landscape. It had been decided back in 1817 to create the Fulwood Enclosure to get the best from farming the land to feed the growing population in cotton town Preston. Longsands Lane, Fulwood Hall Lane and Watling Street Road were all being developed to service the enclosure.

Within the area, eventually, was Fulwood Barracks that was completed in 1848 on land originally owned by the Crown. This land earlier being used for the horse racing backed by Lord Derby for over 40 years.

The area that would by the end of the 19th century contain most of the population of Fulwood was known as The Freehold, being part of the movement that created the Freehold Land Societies throughout the nation. The land they acquired for £5,000 was known as Horrocks's Farm and was of 45 acres, lots were drawn by shareholders of the society in the Temperance Hall in Preston.

In reality the progress in building was slow, it being some years before the first house was completed, this being known later as 18 Victoria Road on the north side - opposite the entrance to Higher Bank Road. The properties built varied from farm cottages to spacious detached homes and the development of Fulwood Park was overseen by Richard Veevers, one of the estate architects who had 17 Lower Bank Road known as The Priory erected for himself. Amongst the trustees of this fledgling society was Joseph Livesey, head of the Temperance Society, so it was no surprise there were no plans to increase the number of pubs, unlike the parent town of Preston where their seemed to be a pub on every street corner.

There were after all the Black Bull and Withy Trees from toll bar days and closer to the estate the old Prince Albert Hotel, that later took the name of Sumner in recognition of the local brewer William Sumner, and the Royal Garrison on the opposite corner both being ideally situated to quench the thirst of soldiers from the barracks.

Of course Fulwood has down the years developed a number of historical landmarks such as the old Fulwood Workhouse with its clock tower, opened in 1868, the premises of the Little Sisters of the Poor, the Harris Orphanage on land known as the Crow Trees and opened in 1888 and the former Home for the Blind at the corner of Black Bull Lane, built in 1895.

Around this time the golfers of the area started the Fulwood Golf Club that soon amalgamated with Preston Golf Club. Fulwood Lawn Tennis Club opened in 1891 and with Fulwood Bowling Club having started in 1872 there were plenty of sporting pastimes to suit the genteel folk of Fulwood.

Certainly Fulwood was not neglected in terms of transport links to Preston, a horse drawn omnibus frequently ferried locals to town and in those days when trams were all the rage Fulwood was well provided. In March 1879 the tramway from Preston to Fulwood opened.

This particular tramway running from the centre of town to the then Prince Albert Hotel and in later years the loop took passengers to the Withy Trees.

To govern this growing suburb, a board formed in 1863 when the population was less than 3,000, and from 1894 Fulwood was an independent urban district council. That changed in 1974 when, with a population of 22,000, it relinquished control to Preston.

Since becoming part of Preston Corporation there is little doubt that Fulwood has expanded.

Down the decades the Sharoe Green Hospital became the birthplace of generations of Preston folk. When plans were drawn up for the Royal Preston Hospital, a site at Fulwood was earmarked for the development on a 47-acre plot off Sharoe Green Lane.

There is little doubt that Fulwood has developed at quite a pace yet it remains one of the more desirable suburbs of Preston and if the Conservation for Fulwood lobbyists get their way it will stay that way.