HISTORIC HANGING TOWN
LANCASTER
I
have an opportunity to explore Lancaster – as I have a group of
cousins (Alice Tan & family) who have been residing in this historic town, for decades.
They had migrated here, and started restaurant business or sundry
shop.
Due
to their presence in Lancaster, I was able to visit them four times
in a row of ten years.
I
can say my visit to Lancaster has been 'fruitful' – as I get to
detour the town as well as writing a memoir on Lancaster.
Lancaster
is the historic heart of Lancashire and famous for links with English
royalty. It is located about 40 minutes drive from Preston.
Lancaster is called "The Hanging Town" - between 1782 - 1865, over 200 people were sentenced to execution by hanging at Lancaster giving it the grisly reputation as the hanging town outside of London were more people were sentenced to death at this Court and anywhere else in the country. Crime - ranges from murder, burglary and arson to sheep theft and cattle stealing. From the turn of the 19th century, these execution took place on the Castle Hill, drawing vast crowds who were eager to watch the drama unfold. At centre stage - was often Edward "Old Ned" Barrow. A local hangman and conflict himself, he was responsible for carrying out many of the executions.
I
recalled the longest stay I had in my cousin's house was in May 2015
– where I got a chance to cover the city of Lancaster – using a
map.
Firstly,
I start off with Lancaster Castle sits on a hill where the Romans had
once built a fort to defend against rebellious tribes. It seems the
Castle has been owned by the monarch as Duke of Lancaster, since
1399. It has been a crown court since the Middle Ages, a role it
still fulfills today, until recently it was a working prison.
Obviously, I stop over to capture a photograph with this historic
castle.
Take
a tour through time to find out how the majestic castle has served as
courtroom and prison for centuries including its part in the
Lancashire Witch Trails of 1612.
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| LANCASTER CASTLE |
Next
stop, is the Lancaster Priory Castle founded in the 11th
Century was located at the top of the hill by the Priory showcase the
sense of importance of this piece of land. It is a pity successive
building has buried all but scant Roman remains. There is evidence of
Christian worship here in Roman times, and there may have been a
church building here since AD 630.The Priory was founded in the 11th
century – after the Norman Conquest Roger of Poitou built an
earthwork fort where the castle is now and made the castle an outpost
of one in Normandy. Don't miss the Norman Keep, outside the castle
mainly Roman Bath.
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| LANCASTER PRIORY CASTLE |
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| ROMAN STATUE |
The
Roman Bath House is an excavated site which is part of the historic
Roman cavalry for at Ribchester, known to the Romans as Bremetennacum
– started 100AD with various changes resulting in its final form –
in 160AD.
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| ROMAN BATH |
At
the Castle Hill, one can come across a few historical places such as
The Dispensary, Cottage Museum and The Srigley and Hunt building. The
Dispensary is an elegant building with a fine doorway is the old
dispensary established in the late 1700s in response to a typhus
epidemic which infected 500 people, here.
On
the right of the building – there is a signboard for “Shrigley
and Hunt” painted near the roof line. This was the firm of renowned
stained glass manufacturers.
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| THE DISPENSARY AND COTTAGE MUSEUM |
The
Cottage Museum showcase a humble 18th
century house and discover the lives of those who lived here. One can
be transported to a life without piped water, central heating or even
a toilet. Discover gadgets and utensils used in the 18th
century and get a glimpse of Victorian life in Lancaster.
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| JUDGES' LODGINGS |
Another
interesting stop – is the Judges' Lodgings located at China Street.
It is the oldest town house in Lancaster where one can explore fine
Regency rooms and beautiful Gillows furniture, toys of 1700s to the
present day within the museum.
The Lodging once provided accommodation for visiting judges who came to the town each Spring and Autumn when the Assize Courts were in session of the Castle. The Assizes were periodic criminal courts that trailed prisoners across the County. Until 1835 Lancaster's Assizes included the growing industrial towns of Manchester and Liverpool were a grand affair. The influx of the judges brought wealth and the spectacular of the law to this town.
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| LANCASTER JOINT STOCK BANK |
Former
Lancaster Joint Stock Bank located at Church Street – is the oldest
city's street – one can find out about another essential component
for commerce and managing financial wealth – a sound banking
system.
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| LANCASTER AND SKERTON EQUITABLE INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY LTD |
Opposite
the bank – is the main shop of the former Lancaster and Skerton
Equitable Industrial Society Limited, which was built in 1901.
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| MUSIC ROOM |
The
Music Room was built in 1730, located at Sun Street. It was built bu
a rich local family, the Martons. Father and son were both Lancaster
MPS. The Music Room was built in the garden of their town house at 75
Church Street – it was a place for the family to entertain and be
entertained – a public sign that the household had significant
wealth.
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| WRITER POSING AT THE ST GEORGE'S QUAY |
St
George's Quay is a must visit area – where one can see the River
Lune here is tidal. After years of inconvenient flooding this
defensive wall on the landward side was completed in 2003. As trade
increased at St George's Quay as expanded to New Quay further down
the river.
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| MARITIME MUSEUM |
Continue
along the quayside with the river of your right for about 200 metres
until you reach the Lancaster Maritime Museum – a Georgian Custom
House on historic St George's Quay to discover the rich maritime past
of this ares of Morecambe Bay, from merchants, canals and fishing
traditions to the darker side of the transatlantic slave trade.
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| CONVERTED WAREHOUSE |
As
you walk further, you will come across the converted warehouses on
the quayside. The warehouses have been converted into riverside flats
and offices. Though they no longer hold goods transported on the
River Lune, they are still a source of wealth as desirable sites of
regeneration.
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| LANCASTER CITY MUSEUM |
In
the city centre – one can explore the Market Square and the City
Museum. The right to hold a market here was granted by Charter of
Edward in 1337. This market place was vital for farmers to buy, sell
and exchange to improve their resources. Here, there are buildings
such as town hall, museum, library and shops.
The
market also holds dance performances during summer holidays.
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| PERFORMANCES AT MARKET SQUARE |
Lancaster
City Museum – showcase the city's rich history from its earliest
settlers and its Roman forts to this 19th century
industrial successes and its darker side. Stories of local soldiers
and their families within the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum.
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| DALTON SQUARE |
Dalton
Square exudes wealth and confidence completed in 1907. The square
itself was originally a money-making venture. Local John Dalton
wanted to develop his family's land to increase his wealth, In 1784,
he sold off plots of his land for building, but he imposed rules
about the size and look of the houses built here.
On
the north corner of the square, there is the Palantine Hall (1799) –
is the first purpose-built church for Catholics since the
reformation. On the next corner in Sulyard St was Lancaster's first
Methodist Church built soon after. In the centre was the Queen
Victoria Memorial and Town Hall Clock Tower.
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| PENNY STREET |
Penny Street - the first Roman Road north through Lancaster, links via Church Street to Lancaster Castle and the site on which a Roman Fort was built in 79 AD.
Lancaster is also the home to the 9th best universities in United Kingdom, Lancaster - is listed in the "Complete University Guide 2013".
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| LANCASTER UNIVERSITY |
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| POSING WITH MY COUSIN BROTHER, NORMAN |
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| POSING WITH MY RELATIVES IN LANCASTER |
AUG 2003, AUG 2007, MAY 2015, NOV 2018
