This construction had surprisingly good acoustic qualities but fell into disuse and was demolished in March 2006, although the Park is still used for many local and regional annual events.

These include Preston's Mela, which celebrates the culture of the city's large Asian community and on Easter Monday children have traditionally rolled decorated eggs down its grassy slopes since Victorian times.

Bands and musicians such as Oasis, The Spice Girls, Natasha Bedingfield, Sushi, Mark Owen, and Labyrinth have also performed in Avenham Park in more recent years.

[2] On 28 September 1867 The Preston Chronicle commented that the preparations were in place and that the expectation was that "... we shall have a gayer, a busier, and a more bustling town than we have had on any previous occasion, excepting, perhaps, at some of our Guilds".

It was a civic event of considerable size and importance and when the opening ceremony for the Town Hall was concluded, a procession was formed which made its way to Avenham and Miller Parks.

The Duke of Cambridge, cousin of Queen Victoria, was in attendance and the band of the Third Royal Lancashire Militia entertained the crowds.

[4] As part of a multi-million pound Heritage Lottery-funded restoration project, both Avenham and Miller Parks have undergone a facelift over the last few years.

), improved lighting and footpaths, vehicle controls and a new Pavilion incorporating a café, public toilets and a police post and acting as a base for dedicated park staff.

The Council intends to open this path onto the Fishergate Centre car park, to allow direct pedestrian and cycle access from the railway.