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.
17. Orchard Street
Rainford's Restaurant on Orchard Street, Preston had a fabulous Art Deco exterior - it's a pity that you can't see the whole building in this picture, which was taken in 1933 Photo: Archive
18. Orchard Street
Taken from the bottom of Orchard Street, looking up towards the Covered Market. On the left you can see that Goodwin Bros. is still trading, with their 'We shall have rain' quote sitting proudly at the top of the building Photo: Archive
19. Orchard Street
Despite double yellow lines on both sides of Orchard Street, cars were still parking in this pedestrian-only zone back in 1971. The goods vans are probably making deliveries but the cars are parked directly opposite making the road very crowded Photo: Archive
20. Orchard Street
Here we see Coopers butchers shop occupying the building that once houses the Farmers Arms/Jolly Farmer, on the corner of Orchard Street and Market Street in Preston. This image must have been taken in the late 80s or very early 90s Photo: Lindsey North