During the Roman period their was a main road from Luguvalium (Carlisle) to Mancunium (Manchester) which forded the river Ribble at Walton-le-Dale which was approximately 1km from the centre of to days Preston.
At this point it is thought that there was a Roman fort or Depot where military equipment and supplies may have been kept.
Another Roman road was also crossed at Withy Trees just 2km north of to days Preston.
This road was from the coast to Bremetennacum (The Roman fort at Ribchester).
The name of Preston comes from the old English Presta and Tun.
The Tun means village or place.
The Presta means Priest or Priests.
So Preston comes from a village or place of Priests or Priest.
First recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Prestune.
It is thought that the first Parish Church was situated on the grounds of the present church of St John the Evangelist.(Chruch Street) at or around 705AD.
The Church was originally dedicated to St Wilfrid and then to St John the Baptist.
The lands were then given to the Cathedral at York and to a number of subsequent churches.
Hence the name Preston or Priests Town.
Preston was the most important town at the time of the Domesday Book (1086) in an area called Amounderness (Central Lancashire between the Rivers Ribble and Cocker).

1179 Preston was given a Charter and the right to hold a Guild Merchant. Subsequently the Preston Guild has been a civic celebration held every 20 years.
In 1218-1219 Preston was the wealthiest town in Lancashire for tax purposes.
1328 The Guild had been held irregularly but it was from this time that every 20 years was decided as a celebration.
The Guild celebrations are held after the feast of decollation (the beheading) of St John the Baptist.
During the Middle ages textiles, wool and Linen were made in Preston.

1539 Henry VIII closed the friary at Preston.
1642 English Civil War Preston supported the King.
1643 Parliamentarians attacked and captured Preston.
1643 (March) captured by the Royalists.
1643 (April) captured by Parliamentarians.
1699 Oil lamps lit the streets of Preston.

1715 Battle of Preston. The most recent battle on British soil.
1745 Bonnie Prince Charlie marched through Preston towards Manchester and Derby and then stayed in Preston on his way back to the fateful battle of Culloden.
1771 The first Cotton Mill opened in Preston.
1771 Stage coaches ran from Preston to Wigan and Warrington.
1792 Canal first built from Preston to Lancaster.

1800 Preston had night watchmen that patrolled the streets at night.
1801 First Census population approx 11,887.
1815 Preston Gas Company established. The first town outside London to be lit by Gas in England.
1816 Preston lit by Gas.
1824 A Corn market where grain could be bought and sold was built.
1832 Cholera visits the town.
1832 Piped water supply.
1835 Local council operating dating back to a Charter of 1685.
1835 Preston became a Municipal Borough by the Municipal Corporations Act of 1835.
1835 There were 40 cotton mills.
1836 First modern police force in Preston.
1838 The railway reached Preston.
1841 The first museum in Preston opened.
1842 A riot in Preston the Riot Act was read armed troops fired on demonstrators and 4 individuals were killed.
1848 Cholera again visits the town.
1850circ Karl Marx visited.
1854 Charles Dickens visited.
1855 St Johns church was built.
1864 Miller Park was laid out.
1867 Town hall was built.
1867 Moor park opened.
1870 Royal Infirmary opened.
1879 Horse drawn trams ran in Preston.
1879 A free library opened to the public.
1881 The first telephone exchange opened.
1885 Farington Park was opened
1885 Preston has been divided between such constituencies as Preston North, Preston South and Fylde South.
1888 Preston became a County Borough.
1892 Albert Edward Dock was built.
1892 The Leyland steam wagon company was formed.
1893 The Harris Museum and Art gallery was opened.
1893 10 August Preston entered the UK weather records with the highest 5-min total rainfall of 32mm.

1901 The population in Preston was almost reaching 120,000.
1903 Sessions house was built.
1903 Preston Hockey club was founded.
1904 They began making petrol driven vehicles.
1907 The name of the company Leyland steam wagon company was changed to Leyland motors.
1939 Courtald’s rayon factory was opened.

1944 61 people were killed when a plane crashed in Freckleton.
1958 The Preston by pass was built.
1964 The St Georges shopping centre was built.
1970 A ring road was laid out around  Preston
1979 Courtald factory closed.
2001 A football Museum was opened in Preston.
2006 the rainfall record is still unbeaten.

Also the city is divided into 22 district council wards represented by 57 councillors.
The city of Preston is currently divided between three Westminster constituencies,
Preston, Ribble Valley and Fylde.
Benjamin Franklin (one of the founding sons of the United states) once owned a property on the corner of Cheapside and Friargate in the city centre.

With the best of intention all of the above information is true, correct and given in good faith, however, we cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions contained within the above.

Equally we recommend that should you need or want to find out more you should conduct more detailed independant research.