14th Earl of Derby

To Preston today, for lunch at The Continental with a friend and colleague when I worked in what is now a City, over 30 years ago. As I arrived early, I went for a walk around the two adjoining parks - Miller and Avenham, which are surrounded by some fine buildings.

This Blip shows the statue of the 14th Earl of Derby, made at a cost of £2,500 (£347 came from "workers'  contributions" - can you imagine?) and unveiled to a crowd of 40,000 people in May 1873. (There obviously wasn't much else on that day.) He was MP for Preston from 1826 to 1830 when he lost the seat to Henry "Orator" Hunt.  He later became Prime Minister.

Behind him is the former Park Hotel  built in 1882 but now County Council offices.