Preston's industrial past was heavily based on textiles, a trade that fell into terminal decline from the mid 20th century. It has faced the same challenges as many other post industrial northern towns.

The port, once important and prosperous, declined and was finally closed to commercial traffic in 1981. The channel leading out to sea which runs between training banks has also suffered. The most seaward part (although still marked), has silted up badly, part of the wall has collapsed, yachtsmen and motorboaters until recently made their way in and out through this " hole in the wall" and unmarked channels through the sands.

The approach to Preston from the sea involves tackling the Ribble Estuary, squeezing through the unmarked gap in the training wall, and then making your way another 10 miles odd up the marked channel. Entry to the lock at Preston is possible about 1.5 hours either side of high water.

Although possibly a bit tricky (and not be attempted in strong onshore conditions) there are leading marks to help, and you will be berthed right in the city, at a very reasonable cost too.

Important news: As of Spring 2010 the original channel between the training walls has cleared itself and is now the recommended route into Preston. See Approach and Entry section.

Development of the docks and surrounding areas known as Riverside is helping the rejuvenation of the city with housing, restaurants and cinema. The Marina is formed in the old Albert Edward Dock and offers up to 350 berths (with plenty of room for expansion by the looks of it).

There are another couple of boatyards in the area, one which can offer moorings too.

Quick links to other nearby harbours and area coverage: Liverpool (Approaches, Docks and Marina) , Fleetwood (River Wyre) , Wales and North West England

The original channel led out to sea, confined by training walls that caused the tides to scour it. A quick glance at the chart will show that the red-and-white Gut buoy (LFl.10s) was placed to aid entry into this Channel. This buoy is still the starting point to negotiate the Ribble Estuary. The outer part of the original channel had completely silted up, and also had a charted wreck within that dried to over 6 m. It could not be used.

As of Spring 2010 by some fluke of nature, the sea has re-opened this long defunct channel and it can now be used with caution, see below.

Pilotage Directions to Preston Marina and Douglas Boatyard..

The best way into the Ribble is now between the training walls, see quote below from Preston Marina:

"Mother nature has seen fit to effectively re-open the old, marked channel into the river.  This means that the approach now is far simpler. Still leaving Gut  Buoy at 2 hours before High Water a vessel should head in an Eastlerly direction to leave the 3 starboard hand perches approx 3 or 4 boat-lengths to starboard and then continue upstream between the perches. The unmarked South Gut channel, which has been the recommended approach until now is still there of course, and may still be advantageous to those with local knowledge approaching from the South.


Update Spring 2010: No alterations have been made to Chart 1981 yet, nor changes noted in Notices to Mariners, so this information should be used with caution, with the best plan being to consult the Marina before approach. Telephone them on  01772 733595.  The wreck shown drying to 6.6m alongside the training wall is reported to be of no significance, and not visible at all. The approach method outlined above has been tried and tested, but mariners are advised to use caution in the vicinity pending full surveys.  The UKHO have been recently notified (April 2010) and N.M. notices should be forthcoming.

Important Update Spring 2011:  Chart 1981 has now been updated and is on display here.  The wreck shown drying at 6.6m on the old chart is no longer there (as reported above).  Straight in is now the way to go, between the perches.



South Gut:

The way in for many years was through South Gut, which is not officially buoyed (if at all), and then through a large gap that has developed in the south training wall in the region of the 11.5 mile southerly Cardinal beacon.

There are reports that this route is now silting, as the river is now favouring the original path between the training banks. 

Locals only should use this route:

Vessels up to 1.5 m draft can make their entry a couple of hours before high water, but deeper draught vessels need to be far more cautious especially at neaps.

However you get across the sands, the important thing is to identify and line up a white tower on the shore with the southerly Cardinal tide gauge beacon (11.5 Miles) on 57° T. This transit takes you through the gap, in the close approach.

Once within the remainder of the channel you will find it is marked by many lit and unlit perches and beacons mounted on the training walls themselves. These walls are submerged by half tide so you will not see them, and it is essential you do not stray.

At the 5 mile mark the River Asland (or Douglas), branches off to starboard. Douglas Boatyard (01772 812462) will be found a couple of miles up the River, and it's accessible a couple of hours either side of high water. They have drying and floating berths, as well as full boatyard facilities. A link is provided below:

http://www.douglas-marine.co.uk/

If heading for Preston Marina continue up the Ribble, and in the closer approaches call Riversway on VHF channel 16 (working channel 14) for information about lock operations. You can call them up to 2 1/2 hours before high water, and 1 1/2 hours after. The lock is normally open for 1 1/2 hours either side of HW Liverpool, but only during the hours between 7 AM and 9 PM during the summer. In winter months it opens with reasonable notice on request.

A waiting pontoon is provided in the River Ribble just south of the first lock. Note there are 2 locks and a swing bridge to negotiate.

New information about lock operations:

"Please note the following change to our service as of April 2012.

Our Lockmaster service provides vessels with access to Preston dock via the locks and swing-bridge and the change in service is essentially to the date of termination of "summer season" Lockmaster working at the end of September instead of, as presently, the end of October each year:

Preston Riversway 53° 43' 51N  03° 00' 08W
River Ribble

Summer Season Service:
A Lockmaster will be on duty between two hours before high water and two hours after high water on all daylight tides, the high water of which is predicted by Laver's Liverpool Tide Tables to fall between 07:00 Hrs and 20:00 Hrs between 1st April and 30th September. Conditions permitting, this, in combination with the incidence of sufficient depth of water to
open lock gates and for most vessels to navigate within the river, will provide for locking from HW-1Hr to HW+2Hrs upon demand (hail on VHF Ch16 / Tel:01772 726871).

Out of Season Service:
Between 1st October and 31st March a Lockmaster will be made available to provide locking, as above, upon 24hour notice of request made to the marina operator (Preston Marine Services tel: 01772 733595 mob 07770505094)"

Ian B Smith
Riversway Manager
Preston City Council"

This was sent at 02/11/2011 10:09:02

 

Preston Marina works on VHF channel 37 (M), call them for berthing instructions. Alternatively telephone them on  01772 733595. Opening Hours: Mondays 10.00am - 5.00pm Tuesday - Friday 9.30am - 5.30pm Saturday 9.00am - 5.00pm Sunday 10am - 5pm.

Once through the locks and swing Bridge the Marina lies immediately on your port side. A link to their website is provided below:

http://www.prestonmarina.co.uk/

Their daily mooring rates of £1.70 per metre are extremely reasonable, especially when you consider that it includes electricity.

Facilities include water and electricity on the pontoons, toilets and showers ashore. Diesel is available.

The Marina has a boatyard, with full refit and repair services available, plus an on-site chandlery and clothing shop. National boat transport by low loader can be arranged for all types of boats. Training courses are also run from here.

The Marina is sited reasonably centrally for the city and its attractions. The main centre is a little over a mile away, with a frequent bus connection from the dock area.

The Riversway developments around the dock offers a cinema, health club and go-karting amongst other things.

The nearest supermarket is Morrison's at the far end of Albert Edward Dock is easily walkable. For more generalised shopping in the city centre, the Fishergate Shopping Centre  has a large Debenhams department store, Primark, TK Maxx, Argos and T.J. Hughes stores. The Mall (formerly St. George's) is another popular centrally located shopping mall dating from the 1960s.

The Miller Arcade is a specialist shopping centre in a listed building, which formerly included public baths, situated next to the Harris Museum.

Preston's main high streets are Fishergate and Friargate which offer shops, bars and restaurants with many more tucked away down the side streets.

Transport wise, Preston Railway Station is a major stop on the West Coast Main Line, with regular long distance train services to London (Euston) and the South East, and Glasgow and Edinburgh to the North. Preston is also a hub for connecting rail services in the North West. It's a short cab or bus ride from the Marina.

For access by car, the M6 passes close by Preston.

Preston is a city and non-metropolitan district of Lancashire, in North West England. It is located on the north bank of the River Ribble, and was granted city status in 2002, becoming England's 50th city in the 50th year of Queen Elizabeth II's reign.

Textiles have been produced in Preston since the middle of the 13th century, when locally produced wool was woven in people's houses. Flemish weavers who settled in the area during the 14th century helped to develop the industry. Sir Richard Arkwright, inventor of the spinning frame, was a weaver born in Preston. The most rapid period of growth and development in Preston's history coincided with the industrialisation and expansion of textile manufacturing. Preston was a boomtown of the Industrial Revolution, becoming a densely populated engineering centre, with large industrial plants.

The former Preston Port, known as Riversway or The Docks, has been the site of an expanding commercial and residential complex since 1988.

The Marina is just north of the River Ribble which enters into the east of the Irish Sea. This marina has its own chandlery and coffee shop, training courses and boat sales

There are multi-million pound plans to redevelop Preston's Docks (as well as large sections of the River Ribble running through the city) to introduce leisure facilities (ie watersports), new landmark buildings, a new central park opposite Avenham Park, office and retail space, new residential developments and the re-opening of some of Preston's old canals. However, these plans, collectively known as Riverworks, have yet to undergo public consultation, and have already raised concerns amongst locals due to the potential loss of green space and increased risk of flooding.

The text on this HISTORY page is covered by the following licence
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Text_of_the_GNU_Free_Documentation_License

If you are based in the Marina you will find several pub/restaurants within the Riversway development, including The Waterfront, Chiquito and The Ribble Pilot.

Otherwise hop a bus to the city centre where the choice will be nigh on unlimited. A couple of links are provided below for further investigation:

Pubs

http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/results.shtml/el/Preston%3BLancashire/

Restaurants

http://www.lollo.co.uk/preston-restaurants/1101-0/