Marsh Lane
History
Marsh Lane runs from Friargate in the east to The Strand in the west. In the nineteenth century the first bit was Bridge Street, as far as the canal (which is no longer there), and was then Bridge Lane as far as Bow Lane (the north end of which was Spring Street at that time). From there, it was Marsh Lane, so called because it went to Preston Marsh.
In 1825, New Quay was built just beyond the end of the lane, which was very quickly renamed Victoria Quay, and was about where Evans Halshaw is today. At this time there was a pub at the end of the lane called the New Quay Inn.
When the dock was built, the course of the river was modified, and a new quay, Diversion Quay, built to handle ships while the dock was built (more on that here). However, the road entrance to the docks remained at the same place, even after the dock opened (with a second at the north end of The Strand, and later a third opposite Old Docks House), and by 1890 a second pub across Marsh Lane from the New Quay Inn, was built, the Neptune Hotel.
The middle section of Marsh Lane is now part of the A59, and is a wide dual carriageway, though the ends are still quite narrow.
Following the Lane
From the west end, and heading east, towards Preston, we have Neptune House on the north side, formerly the Neptune Hotel, as rebuild in the middle of the last century. One of the ugliest buildings in Preston, it closed when the factories on the Strand closed in the mid-nineties.
The New Quay Inn, on the other side of Marsh Lane, was demolished when the bridge for the A59 was built.
Marsh Lane rises to meet the A59 at a bizarre junction that has traffic from Marsh Lane and Wellfield Road given a green light to enter the junction at the same time, despite the fact that vehicles from either will use the same road. I have never come across anything like it anywhere in the UK. It has been like that for years, and seems to work...
Shortly after this point was the Old Oak Inn on the north side. According to here, this was demolished in the nineties. However, this webpage has an image, and it looks very like what is now Tom Parkers.
There is a view looking up Marsh Lane towards the Old Oak taken in 1987 here.
Croft Street is just to the left after the Old Oak, and somewhere along there was the Fox and Duck. I am not sure where, but there is no sign of it now. An photo can be found here.
Further along Marsh Lane, and on the southside, was the Springfield Inn. This is still there, though it closed 1995, and now looks to be accommodation (details here). It was built set back somewhat from Marsh Lane, and so survived the destruction the rest of that side of the street suffered when the A59 arrived. It is on the corner of Bow Lane, and that part of Bow Lane was originally Spring Street. Presumable inn and street get their name from a local spring.
It is an odd building - the windows on the upper floor look to be too low. However, it has a third floor, with windows in the roof and eaves, which is why it is like that, I think.
Further down Bow Lane, there was a pub on the corner of River Street, and an inn opposite Arthur Street, according to maps from 1928 and 1938. These were the Volunteer Inn and the Buck-i’-th’-Vine, both of which were demolished in the sixties when the area was redeveloped (possibly for a market that was moved when the A59 appeared, and has itself now gone).
Back to Marsh Lane, and almost opposite Bow Lane there is National Tyres. This building, built in 1921, used to be a cinema (the Grand, then Regal, and lastly the Lido Cinema; see here), but I think that previously there was a pub here, the Sailors' Home.
Slightly further along Marsh Lane is a ghost pub. Look on Google maps, and it will tell you the Dolphin is here, just where the Ring Way forks off from Marsh Lane. I suspect Google is confused with the Dolphin on a different Marsh Lane, near Longton, PR4 5JY.
Maps from 1929 and 1938 show an inn on the south side just before the railway. It cannot have offered a quiet night! I have been unable to find any other references to it, and the entire block has been demolished, perhaps when the Ring Way was built.
After going under the railway, it is a short walk to where Marsh Lane crossed the canal. This photo from 1972 is looking north, and shows Marsh lane as it emerges from under the railway.
The road crossed the canal just a bit further along. The remains of the bridge are still apparent on the north side, just after the entrance to the hotel.
The Boatmans Arms, later Fighting Cocks, was after the canal, on the south side; demolished to make way for student accommodation, named after the pub. This web site has a photo, the building to the right is still there, on the corner of Ladywell Street.
At Corporation Street, there are some old buildings in evidence. On the northwest corner, we have "Colonial Buildings", home to "John Crook and Sons".
This firm appears to have had its origins in the shop of John Crook, tea merchant and grocer, established at 17 Friargate by 1889. The business expanded into wholesale grocers, tea and coffee merchants with a move to Colonial Buildings, Corporation Street, before 1892. Their last appearance in Preston street and trade directories appears to be 1963.
From here.
While to the southwest, "Askew and Son", a book publisher founded in 1872, notable for publishing some Sherlock Holmes stories between 1902 and 1920.
The company is now Askews and Holts Library Services, and is on North Road; quite a surprise to find it is still around.
The building to the southeast is a little more shy, but maps note it as an "Iron Works". The other corner is a modern building; student accommodation called "The Tramshed" - I can see no connection between the site and trams.
Further down Marsh Lane, on the north side is a building that, until very recently, was sporting the bust of a bearded man protruding from the wall, over the doorway. Sadly only a hole remains. There is writing on the side of the building, but so old and worn it is not legible.
Opposite is St Mary's car park, all that remains of the Roman Catholic church and school of the same name.
Marsh Lane ends shortly after, at Friargate.
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