Water Lane is often confused with Watery Lane, which is actually the road runs on to Riversway. But what did the area look like in the past? This collection of photographs show one slice of the area in 1985 and you can really see how much has changed, but also, how much of the charm of this crossroads has been retained. There’s also a couple of shots of Wellington Street and Fylde Road, which both lead on to the busy Water Lane. READ MORE: Preston’s Winckley Square through the years. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Look back at the streets of Preston. MORE MEMORIES: Weird and wonderful things you can expect to experience in Preston
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![A patch of wasteland on Wellington Street, which leads down on to Water Lane, which you can see on the right hand side of the image](https://www.lep.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjFkNWM3NmFjLTdhNWYtNGIxNS1hMTBmLWY1ZjA0NTJjOTFiYToyZDNmYjhhOS0wNmVlLTQ4MTUtYTUyMy00OTUwNTMzNDBlZjY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
5. Wellington Street
A patch of wasteland on Wellington Street, which leads down on to Water Lane, which you can see on the right hand side of the image Photo: Roy Payne
![Piles of rubble were left on Wellington Street after houses were demolished in the early 1980s. This became an issue for those living in the area as rats were seen scurrying about. Wellington Street leads on to Water Lane, which you can see on the left of the image](https://www.lep.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjhkY2E4MmQ3LTg4MjItNGQzNS1iOWE3LTZiZDA5MDNiY2U3Mjo5NDEyM2M5Zi1jMmNhLTQ4ZjktYmNmOS1iZTNmNDk3ZjFiYzY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
6. Wellington Street
Piles of rubble were left on Wellington Street after houses were demolished in the early 1980s. This became an issue for those living in the area as rats were seen scurrying about. Wellington Street leads on to Water Lane, which you can see on the left of the image Photo: Roy Payne
![Here you can see the shops directly across the road from Umberto's Fish and Chip Shop on Water Lane - this time with no traffic impeding the view](https://www.lep.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjAxYTU3Y2MxLTJjMGUtNGVkYi05ZjMxLWVhMWRhNjQyMmI1NjplY2I1MmVmNS1iMTZjLTQyMzktYmNlYy02NWI1NGViZDI5NzU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
7. Water Lane
Here you can see the shops directly across the road from Umberto's Fish and Chip Shop on Water Lane - this time with no traffic impeding the view Photo: Archive
![More rubble and building materials left on Wellington Street during works to improve the area. Unfortunately the company undertaking the work went out of business and the area was left like this for some time](https://www.lep.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjI0MmU3ZDYwLTU5YjktNDJmYy1hMWQ4LWQ1NzQ0MDcxNzg2YzozZjQyNmQ3Ni0zNGY2LTQ0NDktYjcxOS1hMmE1Nzc0Y2Q0YzM=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
8. Wellington Street
More rubble and building materials left on Wellington Street during works to improve the area. Unfortunately the company undertaking the work went out of business and the area was left like this for some time Photo: Roy Payne