Originally built in 1851 as a spinning mill for Thomas Ainsworth & Sons, Cotton Court was known as Church Street Mill prior to it being taken over by James Starkie & Sons, Iron & Wire Workers, which ran the site until a move to Raglan Street in the late 1970s. In the ‘80s, however, developers put in an application to transform the area into what we see today. Why not take a trip down memory lane and explore the evolution of Cotton Court down the decades...
Still fancy some more nostalgia? Check out these other recent retro pieces…
![Pictured at the opening of phase one of Cotton Court in 1990 are (from left) Keith Brockley, of building firm Brockley Estates who engineered the development, John Field, Preston Council development director, and Coun Peter Rankin](https://www.lep.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjVlOWE5MWRmLTRmNGItNDQyMy1hMmU4LTEzZDdkNzg5NmJkMToyNGMzM2E0Yy03NmMxLTQxMjAtYmUzMy00ZDNkNDNiZDliNzM=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
13. Cotton Court
Pictured at the opening of phase one of Cotton Court in 1990 are (from left) Keith Brockley, of building firm Brockley Estates who engineered the development, John Field, Preston Council development director, and Coun Peter Rankin Photo: RETRO
![In 1991 when this image was taken, part of the Cotton Court redevelopment had been completed - the part where the old police stables were. But it was still looking dilapidated as work continued](https://www.lep.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjk5NWJhYTc2LWMxZDgtNGZkZi1iYmRlLTQyZGM2MTMzZGNjYjowNDI1MmYwNC1kMzE1LTRkMDUtOWFlNC0wMDc0Nzk1ODQ3MjQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
14. Cotton Court
In 1991 when this image was taken, part of the Cotton Court redevelopment had been completed - the part where the old police stables were. But it was still looking dilapidated as work continued Photo: RETRO
![Situated next to the Old Blue Bell pub on Church Street, Preston - this is the old police horse stables which became part of the Cotton Court redevelopment](https://www.lep.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmViZmY4ZTU5LTlkODItNGMyOC05MDM5LWFjMzBkMmY2NDQ4ZDpmNGE2NjZhOC1kNGVkLTRiYWEtOGY2Ny02NzFiYTc4MTU1YmU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
15. Cotton Court
Situated next to the Old Blue Bell pub on Church Street, Preston - this is the old police horse stables which became part of the Cotton Court redevelopment Photo: RETRO
![Restoration work at Cotton Court, Church Street, Preston, is completed in 1990](https://www.lep.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjI4MDViMDgyLTZiOTAtNGZkNS1hN2Y1LWEwZDlmNDQzZjA2NzoxZGQyZWRjMS0xYTY2LTQyMWQtOGM1My1jYzAzNWU2YjVlMDY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
16. Cotton Court
Restoration work at Cotton Court, Church Street, Preston, is completed in 1990 Photo: RETRO