FOLLOWING the news one of the town’s most iconic shops is set to close its doors, Liam Thorp takes a look at the history of Prestons of Bolton

BOLTON town centre can boast a number of iconic landmarks, with the Grade II * listed town hall building and the beautiful parish church two of its standout buildings.

But when it comes to recognisable shops, it is hard to look past the striking building which has housed the Prestons of Bolton jewellery store for such a long time.

REPORT: Iconic jewellery store to close after nearly 150 years in Bolton

The building at the junction of Deansgate and Bank Street — along with the soon-to-close Beales store — is one of the few retailers that can transport people back to a time when Bolton’s bustling high street was the envy of all neighbouring towns.

Prestons has gone on to launch three other stores, but people in Bolton have always been proud of the fact that the firm and its name were rooted in the town.

The business was founded by goldsmith James Preston in 1869, who opened up the site at number 2 Deansgate.

After Preston’s death in 1905, the business was inherited by his niece Gertrude Duckworth — a pioneering retailer who had an idea to build the biggest jewellery store outside of the capital in what was then a booming Bolton.

In 1912 the original building was demolished and a new premises was launched on July 24, shortly before the outbreak of the First World War.

It was the only jewellery store outside of London to trade on four floors and feature the novelty of a lift.

Prestons really prospered during the economic boom in the 1960s and 70s, with the entrepreneurial Gordon Duckworth now at the helm.

He took what was considered a radical decision to advertise the Bolton store on television and in cinema screens across the country.

And it was Mr Duckworth who first coined the famous phrase ‘It’s always worth a journey to Prestons of Bolton, the Diamond Centre of the North.’

Prestons was becoming one of the most famous jewellery stores in England, and couples travelled from all around to buy engagement rings and wedding rings.

Business was booming and an average Saturday in the 1970s would yield the sale of 40 diamond engagement rings.

The shop was so busy during this period that customers had to be seated in a special coffee lounge, where they were given a ticket and asked to wait until a sales advisor was free.

On one record Saturday in 1976, Prestons sold 168 wedding rings — a legendary moment for the firm.

The business started to suffer after Mr Duckworth’s retirement and it was bought in 2005 after going into administration.

The premises then went through a major facelift aimed at restoring it to its original Edwardian splendour.

However, the famous shop has not been able to keep up with changing conditions on the high street and the growth of internet shopping and is now set to close its doors for good — ending a major chapter in Bolton’s high street history.