Heritage Open Weekend - Preston Goes To War

Dates: 12 Sep 2014 - 12 Sep 2014

Location: Flag Market

Heritage Open Weekend - Preston Goes to War

Date: Sat 13 Sep
Location: Flag Market
Time: 10:30am to 4:00pm

As part of the Heritage Open Weekend events, the Preston Remembers project team bring to life the hustle and bustle of how the Flag Market would have been when soldiers from Preston joined the Great War.

From the echo of rousing recruitment speeches, to the footsteps of soldiers marching off to war, to tanks rolling into town for the war effort, Preston's Flag Market played a key role in the First World War.

Come and join Preston Remember and Harris Library, Museum & Art Gallery to mark the beginning of this incredible journey, 100 years on.

With lots to explore, discover and do, including:

• The Lancashire Hussars, a re-enactment group based on Squadron 'D' of the Lancashire Hussars Territorial Yeomanry, a Cavalry unit who's men and horses served in the war
• 'Walk and Talk' with Emma Heslewood, Curator of History at the Harris; and John Garlington, local historian (Call 01772 905414 to book a place)
• Preston Remembers 1914-15 - an exhibition in the Harris revealing some of the remarkable stories of the Preston men who first answered the call to arms
• Getting hands on with history with activities for all the family
• Going off to War - meet soldiers based in Preston today and find out how their kit has changed over the last 100 years
• Find out how to research your own family members who served in WWI with Library, Archive and Memorial Challenge volunteers
• Richard O'Neill, children's storyteller, will be in the Harris Children's Library from 11am. The stories will look at how children in 1914 would have had to say goodbye to their fathers, brothers and uncles as they were recruited in the services. Richard brings the stories to life by delivering a simple ‘make and takeaway’ activity – children will make soldiers using scraps of material and dolly pegs, one of the few ‘toys’ many children would have had at the time, often made for them by their Dad or older brother. The stories will explore the fact that for some children this would be become a precious keepsake as the family member didn’t return.

Other Heritage Open Weekend venues

Find out what other venues are open in Preston over the Heritage Open Weekend on our Heritage Open Weekend page.