Against this background The Preston Scientific Society flourished spawning many offshoot sections each developing a “specialism” such as a Photographic section, Astronomical section, Records and Survey’s Committee and the Natural History section. The various sections used to meet on specific nights of the week at the Society’s own meeting rooms based in Ellesmere Chamber on Church Street until the 1970’s.
Many of the sections have devolved into separate societies over the years, and as time progressed the society adapted its name to become “The Preston Society”.
The Natural History section is the only active section still remaining, which enjoys regular meetings during the autumn, winter and spring season supplemented by a series of summer walks.
The Society meets every Monday evening at 7.30pm from late September through to March to enjoy a syllabus of talks, usually illustrated by slide shows or exhibits, on a variety of subjects. Most talks have a natural history theme be it birds, flowers, insects but these are usually supplemented by subjects as diverse as the ecology of earthworms to the formation of Supernova’s. A copy of the current year’s syllabus programme can be found on the what's on page.
Since vacating Ellesmere Chambers the Society has met in a number of Town Centre venues such as the Blue Bell and Stanley Arms and currently meets at St. Mary’s Hall, Cop lane, Penwortham, directions can be found on the Location page.