Harris Library and Museum
One of Steve's sisters, Janet, was kind enough to offer to ride the bus into Preston with me today and show me the ropes. I know now that the bus anxiety I felt was unfounded, because I recognized the stop I needed right away.
The economy is pretty hard hit here in England, so naturally everyone was in the city center shopping. We made our way to the Harris Museum and Library. We went to the library first, and I checked out a few books. Then we went to the Reference Library where they keep their local history collection. OMG . . . I felt like I had died and gone to heaven. The books! The maps! The parish directories! I drooled over the very large collection of material for a bit and decided that next week, that's my second home. It's a bank holiday weekend, so it's only opened Tuesday through Friday. I'll need at least that many days to make a dent.
As I poured (or is that pored?) over history books dating to 1821 (1821! Can you imagine?!), I thought of Carmen. I can well imagine how she'd react to being in this grand old library surrounded by all the old tomes and maps. :-)
After I pulled myself away from the library, Janet and I checked out the museum exhibit, The Story of Preston. It was a nice exhibit and had quite a bit of stuff related to my thesis. As I mentioned before, a key mover and shaker (which I spelt movers and shakers before - no idea why) in Preston's industrialization was John Horrocks and his mills. There were quite a few Horrocks items on display.
One was the date stone from his first mill:
Even though Horrocks died young (at age 36), the company he founded thrived until the 1960s. He started off spinning thread, but the company expanded into weaving and became a global name in quality fabrics. One machine on display was one of the looms used to create sample fabrics. It has nothing really to do with my thesis, as it comes later in the time line. But it was still neat to see it.
The museum had another exhibit about Friargate, which is one of the main shopping streets of Preston and one of city's oldest. One thing Janet pointed out to me was a photo of a coffee shop on the street. The building was once owned by Benjamin Franklin! So we swung by the coffee shop after we finished at the museum, and I snapped a photo of the blue plaque on the building.
Small world, eh?
We ended the afternoon with a fabulous meal at a Chinese buffet. At home, I avoid such buffets, because the quality is usually questionable. But this place was great! The food was delicious and they cycled the trays regularly. I even enjoyed several veggie samosas and some really tasty veggie spring rolls. Mmmmm. I'm sure that will become a regular lunch place for me when I'm doing research. Not everyday, lunch is 6 quid, but I think I can swing eating there at least once each week.
The weather was beautiful today. It's been bright and sunny all day. It's cool, but the sun was bright enough that I actually had to take off my fleece, because I was too warm. We're in for spotty rain tomorrow (Sunday) and then rain on the holiday Monday. But I don't mind that too much. I've got half a dozen books to read . . . including a "fun" read of a book noting where people are buried in England. Does that make me weird? Or just an historian?
Skype has proven a lifesaver. I miss Steve something fierce, but at least I get to see him and chat with him. It makes it a little bit easier to deal with the distance.
All in all, a good day. Here's to more like them!
The economy is pretty hard hit here in England, so naturally everyone was in the city center shopping. We made our way to the Harris Museum and Library. We went to the library first, and I checked out a few books. Then we went to the Reference Library where they keep their local history collection. OMG . . . I felt like I had died and gone to heaven. The books! The maps! The parish directories! I drooled over the very large collection of material for a bit and decided that next week, that's my second home. It's a bank holiday weekend, so it's only opened Tuesday through Friday. I'll need at least that many days to make a dent.
As I poured (or is that pored?) over history books dating to 1821 (1821! Can you imagine?!), I thought of Carmen. I can well imagine how she'd react to being in this grand old library surrounded by all the old tomes and maps. :-)
After I pulled myself away from the library, Janet and I checked out the museum exhibit, The Story of Preston. It was a nice exhibit and had quite a bit of stuff related to my thesis. As I mentioned before, a key mover and shaker (which I spelt movers and shakers before - no idea why) in Preston's industrialization was John Horrocks and his mills. There were quite a few Horrocks items on display.
One was the date stone from his first mill:
Even though Horrocks died young (at age 36), the company he founded thrived until the 1960s. He started off spinning thread, but the company expanded into weaving and became a global name in quality fabrics. One machine on display was one of the looms used to create sample fabrics. It has nothing really to do with my thesis, as it comes later in the time line. But it was still neat to see it.
The museum had another exhibit about Friargate, which is one of the main shopping streets of Preston and one of city's oldest. One thing Janet pointed out to me was a photo of a coffee shop on the street. The building was once owned by Benjamin Franklin! So we swung by the coffee shop after we finished at the museum, and I snapped a photo of the blue plaque on the building.
Small world, eh?
We ended the afternoon with a fabulous meal at a Chinese buffet. At home, I avoid such buffets, because the quality is usually questionable. But this place was great! The food was delicious and they cycled the trays regularly. I even enjoyed several veggie samosas and some really tasty veggie spring rolls. Mmmmm. I'm sure that will become a regular lunch place for me when I'm doing research. Not everyday, lunch is 6 quid, but I think I can swing eating there at least once each week.
The weather was beautiful today. It's been bright and sunny all day. It's cool, but the sun was bright enough that I actually had to take off my fleece, because I was too warm. We're in for spotty rain tomorrow (Sunday) and then rain on the holiday Monday. But I don't mind that too much. I've got half a dozen books to read . . . including a "fun" read of a book noting where people are buried in England. Does that make me weird? Or just an historian?
Skype has proven a lifesaver. I miss Steve something fierce, but at least I get to see him and chat with him. It makes it a little bit easier to deal with the distance.
All in all, a good day. Here's to more like them!
What a great day!! Loved seeing your photos ... Benjamin Franklin! It is a small world, isn't it? You are a wonderful writer and I am so enjoying your blog.
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