Preston Bus Station: Grade II Listed

Preston Bus Station was given a Grade II Listed status by English Heritage yesterday. The City Council had wanted to demolish it and build a smaller bus station, whilst redeveloping the rest of the area. Buses use both sides of the 'station' where there are 40 stands on each. A multi storey car park is used above the bus station and it was that design that clinched the listing. I took this set of images last week, expecting an announcement to be made by English Heritage.

Listed by English Heritage as a building of national importance and special interest, the bus station was built in the 1960s. It is seen as a prime example of the Brutalist school of architecture and has been described by English Heritage as "one of the most impressive civic buildings of its day.'"

The bus station, it has to be said, is a cold, featureless and a slightly uninviting area, which looks really dated. It really does need a makeover to add a bit of colour and light.

The barriers look obtrusive and the signage throughout the bus station need updating with a modern look.

The barriers give a claustrophobic feel to the place and restrict freedom of movement for the passengers. It needs to be more of an inviting space with individual timetable posters alongside each stand. 

This is the infomation office for Preston Bus, although you would never have thought it! 

A not very friendly warning - part one ....... 

A not very friendly warning - part two. There are so many restrictions, it makes you wonder whether bus passengers should be barred as well?!!! 

Preston Bus Infomation. Oh not its not. See the earlier image above for their information office in another part of the bus station. Why hasn't this sign been removed? There seems to be a lack of pride in the place (possibly due to lack of money being available as well to be spent on it) and not a very good 'advert' for the city of Preston. 

Whether having a Grade II Listed status will make any difference to the bus station, only time will tell. But it desperately needs refurbishment. 

Threave Gardens

One of the National Trust for Scotland’s most visited attractions, Threave Estate, Castle Douglas, covers 1,600 acres. The first image above shows the Patio Garden. 

Another view of the Patio Garden. Threave Estate was originally developed by William Gordon who bought the estate in 1867.

A Scottish thistle.

The Walled Garden. Prior to buying the estate, William Gordon had been living in a property called Ellerslie in Wallasey on the Wirral, which he had bought in 1858 for £5,250. Eleven years later Gordon, then living at the Threave Estate, disposed of the house and both pieces of land that came with it, for £5,000. The new owner was Charles Barber Greaves-Banning, Postmaster of Liverpool. 

Japanese Lantern, 

Threave House was occupied by William Gordon, a Liverpool businessman, and built between 1871 to 1873. The house was given to the National Trust for Scotland in 1948 by Major Alan Francis Gordon DSO MC who was formerly in the Irish Guards. A substantial bequest from the Major was also received by the Church on his death in November 1957, age 65, and the money was used for the building on the Memorial Hall, St. Ninian's, Castle Douglas.

Another view of Threave House.

A carved stone.

The pool with a sculpture of an Otter. 

A general view of the garden. The garden extends over 64 acres of the estate and is listed in the Inventory of Gardens and Designated Landscapes in Scotland, a listing that is maintained by Historic Scotland.  

The Secret Garden.

Butterflies on the Buddliea.

The Sunken Garden.

Sculpture in the Sunken Garden.

And another.  

Japanese lantern. 

Fir cones. 

Sculpture in the garden.

The Woodland Garden. 

One more view of the Woodland Garden. 

Seat with a cat!

Belties!

(Thanks to our Roving Scotland Correspondent for all of the above images).

Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway

Entrance to Haverthwaite station. 

Locomotive 'Princess' awaits departure from Haverthwaite to Lakeside, to connect with the Lake Windermere ship to Bowness and Waterhead.

A view of Haverthwaite station from the footbridge.

Train crew await the signal to set off for Lakeside.  

Wall mural in the cafe at Haverthwaite station. 

Through the cafe window and the station yard. 

A deserted station now that the train has departed. 

In years gone by metal advertising signs were a feature of railway stations. There are several  at Haverthwaite as the following images show.  Our thanks to the Roving Lakeland Correspondent for some of the photographs.

There was an added attraction at the station of some owls from the local raptor centre. 

The line comes to a dead end after the short section through the tunnel. At one time it continued on to join the Lancaster to Barrow-in-Furness line.

Haverthwaite looking toward the station buildings on the right.