How has my local area changed?

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Introduction

It can be fascinating to find out about the history of your local area.

With a bit of detective work you can discover more about the people who have lived there in the past.

Some things you discover might be very different to your life, but some things might be very similar.

Join the Gabrielle and Josiah as they explore the history of Ancoats in Manchester.

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My local history

Imagine leaving your house and walking or cycling to your school. On your journey you will travel through history!

You’ll pass buildings of different ages, including some that could still be being built.

You might see shops, places of worship and other public buildings on the way.

As you travel, look out for clues which might tell you how your local area used to look.

Old buildings might have dates on them, carved into the stone.

The oldest building in your area could be the church.

Changing jobs

During your tour of history, keep an eye out for people at work. What jobs are they doing?

Some people work outside and others work inside. The jobs that people do have changed over the years too.

Many people now work in modern offices rather than old factory buildings.

New jobs have appeared based around technology. Some towns and cities have lost the factories they used to have.

Sometimes these old factory buildings have been changed into new offices or even homes for people to live in.

Case study: Preston

Preston is one of the newest cities in the UK. It is in the county of Lancashire, in the northwest of England.

A map of the UK showing where Preston is

Preston grew up around a market over 900 years ago, built close to a Roman fort.

It was previously called ‘Priest’s Town’ and in the Domesday Book of 1086 it was known as 'Prestune'. Over time this became ‘Preston’!

Preston in pictures

Have a look through these pictures to see some ways that Preston has changed over time.

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Image caption,
Mills
This drawing shows what life was like inside one of the mills almost 200 years ago. Children often worked in mills like this. The conditions could be very difficult and dangerous.
Image caption,
Mills
The mills don’t produce textiles these days. Some, like this one, have been converted into flats for people to live in.
Image caption,
Docks
This photograph was taken almost 100 years ago. It shows Preston Docks on the River Ribble. The docks were a place where ships could go to be loaded and unloaded.
Image caption,
Docks
When the Port of Preston closed, the area around the docks became homes, offices and shops. However, you can still see the giant hooks from the boat crane.
Image caption,
Market
This picture was taken during the Second World War. It shows people shopping for clothes at Preston market.
Image caption,
Market
And, you can still go shopping at the market today.

How has Preston changed over time?

Preston was famous for its textile industry. Textiles are materials and fabrics used to make clothes.

Sheep living on Preston’s hills were important for wool, as well as the water that flowed along the River Ribble, which helped the industry grow.

Wool and linen factories were built and canals and railways linked Preston to Manchester and Liverpool.

However, life in the factories was tough for people. They had to work very hard and often weren’t paid very much.

Preston has changed a lot over the years.

The port is now a marina for boats and factory buildings have been cleared to make room for new houses or offices.

The Queen made Preston England’s 50th city in 2002.

Lesson complete!

Well done Regenerator, you've completed this lesson. Now let's see what you can remember.

Local history hunt

Make a journey around your local area. How many of the landmarks do you seeon you way?

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Introduction