Remembering the family whose gift transformed town's civic life

With the 'Harris Your Place' restoration work almost complete and the Harris Museum, Library & Art Gallery set to reopen in late September 2025 it is timely to recall the man and the family whose generosity made it all possible, writes Keith Johnson.

- Keith Johnson.

It was back in 1877 when Edmund Robert Harris our city's greatest benefactor died and gave to Preston his family's wealth. The link between the Harris family and Preston goes back to the year 1788 when the 24-year-old Robert Harris came to the town to take up the post of headmaster at Preston Grammar School. The son of a goods carrier, he was born in Clitheroe in 1764. An eager young man, he soon became a member of the inner circle of the gentry and by 1797 he had been appointed as the Vicar of St. George's Church, combining his duties with those of headmaster of the school in Stoneygate.

Around the turn of the century he wed local girl Ann Lodge. She was the sister of two of Preston's most prominent solicitors, Edmund and Jonathan Lodge. The marriage was a fruitful one and within a few years his wife had borne him four children. Sadly, the first child died in infancy. Happily, soon followed Edmund Robert born in 1803, his brother Thomas arrived a year later and a daughter Ellen Elizabeth was born in 1806.

The humbler classes had affection for the Rev. Harris and with his involvement in such things as the upkeep of Dr. Shepherd's library he was worthy of the loyalty shown him by the townsfolk. Intent on securing the future of his two sons he arranged for them to serve their apprenticeships with their uncle's firm of solicitors located in the Old Cock Yard. The placements were a success and both sons became partners once they had proved themselves. The firm then became known as Lodge and Harris and took over premises in Chapel Street.