Unity Community Centre, Shepherd Street, Preston

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iBase ID

234531

Reference identifier

CPP20111025003

Title

Unity Community Centre, Shepherd Street, Preston

Place

Preston

General notes

This building was purpose-built to house the Shepherd Library and building work began in the spring of 1897.

"The Library building in Shepherd Street is still in existence and is currently (2009) used as the Unity Community Centre belonging to Preston City Council; for many years it belonged to the Shepherd Street Mission. Hewitson is of the opinion that Shepherd Street is named after Dr Shepherd, and Library Street after the Library......It is not clear when the books were removed to their new premises ...(but)...it was definitely in use by the beginning of 1802"

From "Dr Shepherd: his life, his family and his Library" (2009) by John Convey, p.19.

Richard Shepherd, physician and former Mayor of Preston, bequeathed his library to the people of Preston after his death in 1761. The collection was added to in subsequent years and is now housed in the Harris Library. It includes works on literature, theology, law, science and medicine, and numerous publications of learned societies. To mark the 250th anniversary of his death in 2011 Lancashire County Council Cultural Services and the Harris Museum have produced a display of the works in this extensive and fascinating collection.

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