The Creative Entrepreneur - Edmund Robert Harris - June 2025

Jun, 1 2025

Preston in Lancashire was the birth place of a man who became the principal benefactor of not just one established place in the city but several. For this month’s ‘Creative Entrepreneur’ we will discover more about Edmund Robert Harris.

In the following short film ‘Mark’s Journey of Inspiration’ will highlight Edmund’s creative force behind the Harris Museum and Art Gallery –

As mentioned in the film Harris was the son of the Reverend Robert Harris (1764–1862) vicar of St George's Parish Church in Preston and headmaster of the Preston Grammar School. The Reverend Harris was also the librarian of the Dr. Richard Shepherd Library and had been involved in a long campaign for the creation of a free public library and museum in Preston.

Following the death of his father in 1862 and his brother Thomas in 1875, Edmund Harris inherited the family's entire wealth and had no heirs. He left instructions in his will and £300,000 to create a trust that would help support several new institutions in Preston, including a free public library, museum and art gallery. They were all dedicated in memory of his family and in particular his father the Reverend Robert Harris.

Despite current renovation and a potential reopening soon the Harris Museum is the only institution created by the Harris bequest that still exists in it’s original format.

You can discover more about The Harris by visiting the following website link under the our story section -

https://www.theharris.org.uk/about-us/our-story/

The Harris Free Public Library and Museum Endowment Trust still exists to support the work of the Harris Museum and the library.

Many people take for granted the University of Central Lancashire in it’s modern ways but it was once called The Harris Institute and Harris Technical School. Edmund recognised the potential for utilizing educational institutions in and around the vicinity of Preston and wanted to make good use of his name long after he was gone.

In fact his death on 27th May 1877 revealed that he didn’t stray too far from his birthplace as he passed away at his home at Whinfield House in Ashton.

Edmund’s impact on Preston and the legacy he leaves behind go into the next generation of creative entrepreneurs. Perhaps when you enter the Harris museum when it finally opens again you will once recall that Edmund contributed greatly to getting it off the ground when it was originally conceived. You can walk up the steps, admire the layout, the vast changes and the grand expansion yet two centuries ago it was a very different building and without the creative direction of Edmund, architects today wouldn’t have that start up initiative that made Edmund’s vision so gleaming.

^Alex Ashworth CCG UK Blogger