Town’s iconic jewellery store to close
ONE of the North West’s most iconic jewellery stores – Presons of Bolton – is to close after more than 150 of years of trading.
The store – referred to in a TV advertisement as “The Diamond Centre of the North” – will close permanently following a final closing down sale.
Prestons, which has been ever present in Bolton town centre since first opening in 1869 – closed temporarily last night, but will reopen for an “everything must go sale” from 9.30am on Saturday, September before closing for good, said The Bolton News.
Sue Meade, who has been store manager of the famous shop for the past 20 years, told the local newspaper changing conditions on the high street has led to the decision to close.
She said: “Prestons of Bolton is one of the longest-standing businesses in Bolton and sadly it has succumbed to the decline of the high street.
“This is not a decision we have taken lightly, the store has always competed with other high street retailers and the internet, but sadly it is no longer possible to continue trading from the Bolton store.
She added: “This is bad news for Prestons of Bolton, however it is good news for lovers of diamonds as we launch into a final closing down sale.”
The closure is another body blow Bolton’s town centre, which once attracted coach trips from all over the UK because of the strong reputation of its shops.
It follows following news earlier this month that department store Beales — formerly known as Whitakers — will be closing down.
The British Home Stores unit in Victoria Square has also closed its doors after 50 years in operation — a victim of financial problems at its parent company.
Preston’s of Bolton was founded by goldsmith James Preston in 1869.
The business was inherited by James’ niece, Gertrude Duckworth in 1905 following his death.
The store moved to its current in location 1913 and was the only jewellery store outside of London to trade on four floors and feature the novelty of a customer lift.
