Lancaster Leasing

Did You Know?

The Romans invaded Britain in 43 AD. Lancaster began when the Romans built a fort in the area about 80 AD. A small town grew up alongside the fort because the soldiers provided a market for the townspeople's goods. However Roman civilization declined in the 4th century and in the 5th century the Romans abandoned Britain.

Lancaster has a fascinating, varied and ancient history, with royal connections. The Romans established a garrison on the hill by the river. The city’s first recorded name, Lancastre, meaning ‘Roman fort on the River Lune’ is recorded in the Domesday book in 1086.

Roman baths were discovered in 1812 and can be seen near the junction of Bridge Lane and Church Street. There was presumably a bath-house belonging to the 4th-century fort. The Roman baths incorporated a reused inscription of the Gallic Emperor Postumus, dating from AD 262–266.

The Normans built a castle on the site of the old Roman fortress at Lancaster. The stone keep was built in 1170. Early in the 13th century, King John built a wall with towers and a massive gateway around the keep.

Lancaster, the county town of Lancashire, lies on the River Lune, three miles inland from the coastal resort of Morecambe, easily accessible from the M6 motorway and en route to the Lake District, 20 miles to the north. The Forest of Bowland, an area of outstanding natural beauty, lies to the east of the city.

Of national importance is Lancaster Castle, a Grade 1 listed building which sits in the centre of the city on a hilltop on the site of three successive Roman forts. It is a must for any visitor. The Normans began its construction in the 11th century for defence against the Scots.

The Crown Court is the oldest working courtroom in Britain, and is still a working court and prison – opening times depend on when the Crown Court is sitting.

George Fox, founder of the Quakers was imprisoned in Lancaster castle for 2 years. But the persecution of religious sects had largely ceased by the end of the 17th century.

It is a small city, and, being compact, easily explored. There are a variety of museums – the City Museum in the Market Place (in the old Town Hall), the Judges Lodgings, Doll Museum and the Maritime museum.

It was first recorded in the Doomsday Book in 1086 as Loncastre. ‘Lon’ refers to the River Lune, that lovely river that flows beneath the blue Millennium Bridge, and ‘castre’ to both the Old English word cæster and the Latin castrum, which means ‘fort’ in reference to the Roman fort that stood where the Castle now resides.

What you might not know is that this seemingly idyllic spot has a dark history; prior to the 1800s, Gallows Hill, where the memorial stands, was the site of executions. It was here that nine out of the ten Pendle witches were hanged in 1612, with the tenth meeting her fate in York. The same hill that offers clear views over Morecambe Bay once echoed with the sombre sounds of so called justice and punishment. It’s a stark reminder of the human stories woven into the fabric of this picturesque park.