Our history collections include archaeology, ethnography, coins and medals, greetings cards, trade and cigarette cards, stamps, local history, music sheets and the Preston Guild.
Poulton Elk
Archaeology
Archaeological material was acquired from the earliest days of the museum. The current collection consists of about 2,050 items. The museum holds material of local and national significance which is displayed within the local history gallery, the Story of Preston. Items include;
Ancient human and animal skulls from the Preston Dock Excavations, which are between 6,000 and 1000 years old.
Material discovered at the Bleasdale Circle including the Bronze Age cinerary urns.
The Poulton Elk skeleton which dates from the end of the last Ice Age.
The John Weld collection of prehistoric and bronze age tools and weapons from Britain, Ireland and Denmark.
The museum also holds Greek and Egyptian artefacts including the Finch collection of Greek and Hellenistic pottery and Egyptian antiquities mostly acquired through the museum’s contribution to the Egyptian Research Account.
Archaeological material was acquired from the earliest days of the museum. The current collection consists of about 2,050 items. The museum holds material of local and national significance which is displayed within the local history gallery, the Story of Preston. Items include;
Ancient human and animal skulls from the Preston Dock Excavations, which are between 6,000 and 1000 years old.
Material discovered at the Bleasdale Circle including the Bronze Age cinerary urns.
The Poulton Elk skeleton which dates from the end of the last Ice Age.
The John Weld collection of prehistoric and bronze age tools and weapons from Britain, Ireland and Denmark.
The museum also holds Greek and Egyptian artefacts including the Finch collection of Greek and Hellenistic pottery and Egyptian antiquities mostly acquired through the museum’s contribution to the Egyptian Research Account.
Coins
The Harris Museum and Art Gallery has a collection of over 11,000 coins, tokens and seals. The coin collection is divided into Foreign, Colonial & Commonwealth and British coins. The token collection consists mainly of British trade tokens from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. It also includes some love tokens, seals, jettons, counters and toy money. The museum also has a small collection of bank notes from around the world and holds a number of important items of local and national significance including a large collection of coin hoards found in the North West. Parts of this collection are on display in the Story of Preston gallery, including;
Roman hoards from Brindle, Kirkham, Worden, Fishergate Hill, and parts of the Hackensall and Rossall Hoards
Part of the Cuerdale Hoard consisting of Viking, Anglo-Saxon and Frankish coins
The Prestwich hoard of early English coins (871 - 926 AD)
St Anne's and Whittingham hoards of Tudor and Stuart coins
The Harris Museum and Art Gallery has a collection of over 11,000 coins, tokens and seals. The coin collection is divided into Foreign, Colonial & Commonwealth and British coins. The token collection consists mainly of British trade tokens from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. It also includes some love tokens, seals, jettons, counters and toy money. The museum also has a small collection of bank notes from around the world and holds a number of important items of local and national significance including a large collection of coin hoards found in the North West. Parts of this collection are on display in the Story of Preston gallery, including;
Roman hoards from Brindle, Kirkham, Worden, Fishergate Hill, and parts of the Hackensall and Rossall Hoards
Part of the Cuerdale Hoard consisting of Viking, Anglo-Saxon and Frankish coins
The Prestwich hoard of early English coins (871 - 926 AD)
St Anne's and Whittingham hoards of Tudor and Stuart coins
Medals
The medal collection consists of approximately 800 foreign, national and local military and commemorative medals from the 17th to the 20th centuries and the local collection of commemorative medals including a large section relating to Preston such as Temperance medals and standard and trade medals from the Preston Guilds. A major part of the collection was collected and donated by Councillor William Richardson.
Preston schools attendance medal, 1902
Ethnographic collection
The ethnographic collection consists of about 200 items from North America, Oceania, Africa and Australasia. The North American artefacts in this collection come from the Weld collection and from John Hyde in 1914. Some material may have been transferred from the Cross Street Museum in 1893.
The ethnographic collection consists of about 200 items from North America, Oceania, Africa and Australasia. The North American artefacts in this collection come from the Weld collection and from John Hyde in 1914. Some material may have been transferred from the Cross Street Museum in 1893.
Philatelic collection
The stamp collection consists of about 3,600 stamps in albums and about 5,000 loose stamps. The majority of the collection is of foreign material with only about 20% British. There is one album containing a significant collection of Victorian stamps (penny reds, blacks and violets). Other philatelic material in the collection is of greater historical, and local, significance and includes;
Postmarks
Hand stamps
Mulready envelopes
A large collection of printed and embroidered postcards
Revenue stamps for licences
Boer War letters
The collection was mainly compiled from the donations of the collections of local individuals such as the Booth collection. Booth was a founder member of the Preston Philatelic Society.
The stamp collection consists of about 3,600 stamps in albums and about 5,000 loose stamps. The majority of the collection is of foreign material with only about 20% British. There is one album containing a significant collection of Victorian stamps (penny reds, blacks and violets). Other philatelic material in the collection is of greater historical, and local, significance and includes;
Postmarks
Hand stamps
Mulready envelopes
A large collection of printed and embroidered postcards
Revenue stamps for licences
Boer War letters
The collection was mainly compiled from the donations of the collections of local individuals such as the Booth collection. Booth was a founder member of the Preston Philatelic Society.
Greetings cards
This collection consists of 4,668 items covering such themes as Christmas, New Year, Birthday, Easter, In Memoriam and a significant collection of Valentine cards dating from the 18th century to present day. Much of this collection was purchased by the museum's Art Director Sydney Pavierre in the 1940s through Halewood and Sons, Preston. However, the collection has been supplemented with acquisitions from local people and the Preston greeting cards manufacturer CCA.
This collection consists of 4,668 items covering such themes as Christmas, New Year, Birthday, Easter, In Memoriam and a significant collection of Valentine cards dating from the 18th century to present day. Much of this collection was purchased by the museum's Art Director Sydney Pavierre in the 1940s through Halewood and Sons, Preston. However, the collection has been supplemented with acquisitions from local people and the Preston greeting cards manufacturer CCA.
Cigarette and Tea Cards
This is a large collection and consists of themed albums (e.g. the seashore) and various unmounted series grouped according to the issuer e.g. Wills, Player, CWS, EH Booth, Lyons Tea Co.. The most significant part of the collection is the Evans collection donated by the writer A.E Evans, the author of Cigarette Cards and How to Collect Them.
Information sheet on cigarette cards and the Evans Collection
This is a large collection and consists of themed albums (e.g. the seashore) and various unmounted series grouped according to the issuer e.g. Wills, Player, CWS, EH Booth, Lyons Tea Co.. The most significant part of the collection is the Evans collection donated by the writer A.E Evans, the author of Cigarette Cards and How to Collect Them.
Information sheet on cigarette cards and the Evans Collection
Social history objects
The museum has a collection of objects that relate to community, domestic, personal and working life in Preston and the surrounding area.
The museum has a collection of objects that relate to community, domestic, personal and working life in Preston and the surrounding area.
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