While many older commercial buildings stand on original medieval building plots in the centre of Preston, the Victorians added the Covered Market, Market Street, Miller Arcade, and Orchard Street. The name of the street came from what stood close by – Chadwick’s Orchard. Nowadays it is a bustling street scene with shoppers moving up it towards the Covered Market and down to Friargate and St George’s Shopping Centre. In these images you can see how the area developed over the years – from the 1930s all the way to to the end of the 00s.
ICYMI: 29 awesome photos to take you back to Preston suburb Walton-le-Dale in the 1970s, 1980s & 1990s
1. Orchard Street
This image, taken in 1971, was taken at the very top end of Orchard Street, at its junction with Market Street Photo: Archive
![Goodwin Bros umbrella shop, Orchard Street, Preston, taken around 1975. It's hard to make out in this image, but above the main shop sign is the saying 'We Shall Have Rain' - a line taken from old weather folklore: If it rains on St. Swithin's Day [15 July] then we shall have rain for forty days](https://www.lep.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjgyNmQ2NTU3LTAyMGMtNGUyNC1iNWIxLWIxYTY4NjY1ZmEzNTozZGZhOTA3Zi0zOTYwLTQyODQtYmM2OC00MWMxY2Y3ZDM1NmQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
2. Orchard Street
Goodwin Bros umbrella shop, Orchard Street, Preston, taken around 1975. It's hard to make out in this image, but above the main shop sign is the saying 'We Shall Have Rain' - a line taken from old weather folklore: If it rains on St. Swithin's Day [15 July] then we shall have rain for forty days Photo: Preston Digital Archive
3. Orchard Street
In 1935, when this image was taken, you can see that cars were free to drive up and down Orchard Street, and park. There was a good mix of shops which attracted plenty of shoppers Photo: Archive
4. Orchard Street
Orchard Street in Preston packed with Christmas shoppers back in 2008 Photo: Donna Clifford