Harris Museum, Preston
Preston, UK
Visitor Information
Museum Address
Market Square, Preston PR1 2PP, UK
Preston, UK
Ticket Prices
Free
Featured Artists
2 artists in database
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The Harris Museum in Preston opened in 1893, funded by a £300,000 bequest from local lawyer Edmund Robert Harris. His vision was a free public library, museum, and art gallery, and construction began during the 1882 Preston Guild celebration. The Grade I listed building dominates the city center.
The fine art collection holds over 800 oil paintings, including works by Lawrence Alma-Tadema, George Frederick Watts, Stanley Spencer, and Lucian Freud. Decorative arts, costume, textiles, and local history collections fill out the broader holdings. The Shepherd Collection of rare books, donated in 1761, predates the museum itself by over a century.
Harris Museum, Preston in Preston, UK houses 2 masterpieces in our database, including works by William Holman Hunt and Lawrence Alma-Tadema. Notable works include The Sphinx at Gizeh and Pastimes in Ancient Egyupe 3 000 Years Ago.
Visiting Harris Museum, Preston
The Harris Museum is in Preston, Lancashire, England. Its imposing Greek Revival building (1893) on the Market Square houses fine art, decorative art, and local history collections.
The museum holds 19th-century British paintings, Pre-Raphaelite works, and contemporary art. Its decorative arts collection includes glass, ceramics, and textiles from Lancashire's industrial heritage.
Edmund Robert Harris was a Preston lawyer who left his fortune to found the museum and library. His bequest created one of the finest cultural institutions in northern England.
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Browse Our CollectionPlease note: Artwork locations and display status may change. Some paintings may be on loan, in restoration, or moved to different galleries within the museum. We recommend contacting Harris Museum, Preston directly to confirm specific artwork availability before your visit.
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