Preston on the north bank of the river Ribble in Lancashire, is a city of around 125,000 people. The city has seen a lot of ups and downs in its economy which has at various times been an important centre for cotton and electrical goods manufacturing, engineering and defense. The defense and electrical sectors are still present in Preston, but as with many cities which experienced rapid growth in the Industrial Revolution and subsequent decline in the 20th century, its economy nowadays is based around more retail and services companies.
The housing stock in Preston comprises a great many terraced houses towards the city centre and post war semi-detached houses in the suburbs.