As Christmas is fast approaching I wanted to recap three key dates in Preston’s festive history. They demonstrate the hardships faced by locals, but also that even in the hardest of times, people can still come together.
Christmas 1842
You may have already seen the memorial on Lune Street, outside of the 1842 bar, which depicts the events of the Chartist Rebellion. These statues stand as a reminder of the strikers’ sacrifice for equal pay and democratic rights. A group called the Chartists, a political movement who campaigned for more rights to working men.
They submitted a second petition in 1842 which highlighted their demands including the right for all men to vote. This was thrown out by parliament and the men were instead hit with a 25% cut in their wages, due to a recession. The men decided to take action in August of that year and went on general strike shutting down multiple factories to protest for their demands to be met. This was known as the Plug Riot.
The group congregated at the bottom of Lune Street where they were met by the Mayor who read the riot act to them. But the crowd, including women and children began to throw stones at him as they were furious at their conditions and wanted change. This continued as the police arrived and the protesters were fired upon resulting in four deaths and various injuries, several of which were serious.
Read more: Forgotten role of women in Preston’s lock outs
What was the impact on Christmas?
Due to the hardships faced by families after the wage cuts, that December local newspapers carried fewer stories about Christmas fairs and far more appeals for charity. Churches organised collections for families facing hunger and makeshift kitchens were set up to provide warm meals for those who could no longer afford them.
The mill owners contributed to relief funds, although this was likely an attempt to maintain order as opposed to offering compassion. For most working-class households, Christmas Day was a modest affair, no lavish roasts, only the simplest decorations and a quieter kind of celebration shaped more by togetherness than by festivity.
Christmas 1855
In December 1855, Preston faced severe social and economic hardship. The industrial town was grappling with poverty, disease and the aftermath of economic downturns, placing immense strain on its poor‑relief system. On 15 December, local authorities resumed soup distribution to the poor.
Read more: Preston soup kitchen providing hundreds of meals each week
What was the impact on Christmas?
For the people of Preston, this Christmas was sombre and austere. Emergency measures like soup distribution were intended to ease immediate hunger, but many Prestonians still felt forgotten. A large number of families relied on outdoor relief and local charity, while others continued to endure the hardships of overcrowded workhouses. The threat of cholera and widespread poverty meant that normal festive celebrations were limited. This episode would later influence reforms in public health and poor‑relief policies in the town.
Christmas 1918
Just over a month after the end of World War I, the Christmas of 1918 was difficult for many families, but numerous locals embraced the first ‘Victory Christmas’ with renewed hope and gratitude. The government attempted to lift spirits by relaxing food restrictions so that families had access to more food including quality turkeys and fresh vegetables.
An influenza outbreak meant that Christmas visits to the hospital could not happen. However, the Matron made sure the wards were brightly decorated, including a Christmas tree in the children’s ward. Church choirs were also allowed to sing in the corridors and those whose condition had improved were given a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings.
Local institutions helped to make Christmas cheerful for Preston’s poorest families. The Fulwood Workhouse served a full festive dinner to its 400 residents, while the Shepherd Street Mission provided a free breakfast of pies, cakes, fruit and hot chocolate for more than 500 children. At the Harris Orphanage, staff ensured the children still enjoyed Christmas despite the recent flu outbreak, giving each child a treat and a gift. Meanwhile, the Temperance Hall hosted their long-running ‘Uncle Sam’s’ Christmas breakfast, where over 1,200 gathered to receive a bag of goodies including a meat pie, biscuits and a cake.
Read more: Preston Station’s secret World War I underground platform
Despite challenges like poverty, strikes, and war, Christmas in Preston has always been a time of community, generosity, and hope. Through charity, festive meals, and shared celebrations, residents found ways to come together and make the season joyful, even in difficult times.
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