The river Lune makes nearly an acute angle on the north side of the Lancaster, whence several regular streets proceed to the south, leaving the church and castle in some measure detached. Many of the old streets are narrow, but the houses are generally good, being constructed of free stone, and covered with slate. Besides these there are several handsome mansions occupied by persons of independent fortune. The streets are generally paved, and the new buildings successively added, are such as will keep up the credit of the county town.

Lancaster is situated on the south bank of the Lune or Loyne, on a gentle eminence. It is distant fifty-two miles from Manchester; fifty-three from Liverpool; and twenty-two from Kendal, in Westmoreland.

Lancaster is a place of great antiquity, and during the occupation of the country by the Brigantes, was called Caer Werid, the green town. It afterwards became a Roman station, which occupied the eminence where the castle and church now stand. Antiquaries have been accustomed to describe this station as the Longovicum of the Romans; but Mr. Whitaker’s opinion appears to us more correct, that it was the Alaunum inserted in the Itinerary of Richard of Cirencester; to support his conjecture, the learned historian observes, that "The county of Lancaster is intersected from end to end by four great roads of the Romans. Two run from east to west, and two from north to south. One of the latter, the knowledge of which we owe entirely to Richard’s Itinerary, enters the county on the northwest, and traverses a good part of it, even till it meets with another that is given us by Antonine, and comes in on the north east. And from the point of coincidence both proceed in the same route, which is given us by both Itineraries, and prosecuted to and beyond Manchester.

The most remarkable ancient buildings in Lancaster are the Church and the Castle, which were probably erected about the same time, being constructed of the same materials (a beautiful siliceous grit), and bearing marks of the military and ecclesiastical architecture of the same age.

The commanding and elevated situation of the castle, and the magnificence of its front, strike the imagination with the idea of a place of much strength, beauty, and importance; and such it has been ever since its first foundation. On the arrival of the Romans in these parts, an eminence of difficult ascent, commanding the ford of a great tiding river, would not be neglected by so able a general as Agricola; and accordingly he took possession of the spot in the summer of his second campaign, and of the Christian era 79; and here erected a station to secure his conquests and passes on the river, while he proceeded with his army across the Bay of Morecombe into Furness. This station communicated with Overborough by exploratory mounts, some of them still remaining. On the banks of the Lune, which also answered the purposes of guarding the fords of the river, and overawing the natives, the mounts of Halton, Melling, and others at the east end of the bridge of the Lune, near Hornby, are still entire.

The station at Lancaster was connected with that at Water-crook, near Kendal, by intervention of the beacon in Warton Crag, and the castellum on the summit of a hill that rises immediately over Water-crook, at present called Castle-steads.

The town that Agricola found here belonged to the western Brigantes, and in their language was called Caer Werid, i.e. the Green Town, as before mentioned; the name is still retained in that part of the town called Green-caer, the British construction being changed, and Werid translated into English. The green mount on which the castle stands appears to have been artificially raised by the Romans. In digging into it a few years ago, a Roman silver denarius was found at a great depth, and the eminence has been surrounded with a deep ditch, which is said to have been made by command of the Emperor Adrian in the year 124, when a garrison was placed here by him. They also erected a tower towards the west for their better security. In the year 305, Constantine Chlorus, father of Constantine the great, built another handsome tower, facing the town, both of which are still standing. The present structure is generally supposed to have been built by Edward III. but some parts of it seem to be of a higher date, as there are three styles of architecture very evident in the present edifice. 1st. Round towers, distant from each other about twenty-six paces, and joined by a wall and open gallery. On the western side there remains two entire; and from their distance, and the visible foundation of others, it appears there have been seven in number, and that the form of the castle was then a polygon. One of these towers is called Adrian’s Tower; being that before mentioned to have been built by his garrison: they are two stages high, the lights are narrow slits, the hanging gallery is supported by a single row of corbels, and the lower stages communicate by a close gallery in the wall; each stage was vaulted with a plain pyramidal vault of great height; those in the southern towers are entire, and called John of Gaunt’s Ovens, but the calling them so is as ridiculous as groundless. Taillebois, baron of Kendal, was the first after the Conquest who was honoured with the command of this castle; and William Taillebois, in the reign of Henry If. obtained leave to take the surname of Lancaster; it is therefore probable that the barons of Kendal either built or repaired the ancient castle in which they resided, until they erected, upon the summer site of the station of Concangium, their castle at Kendal; for the remains of some of the bastions there agree in style with the towers here.

The second distinct style of building in Lancaster Castle is a square tower of great height, the tower part of which is of great antiquity: the windows are small and round-headed, or ornamented with plain short pillars on each side. The upper part of this magnificent tower is a modern addition; as appears from the masonry; and a stone in the battlement on the northern side, inscribed:

E R

proves that the repair was made in the time of Queen Elizabeth; it is evident that two towers with the ramparts have been removed to give light to the lower windows on the outside of the great square tower, and it is joined by a wall of communication to Adrian’s Tower. These could not be there when the other two round towers were standing. There are two smaller square towers on the opposite side of the yard or court. —The third style of building is the front of the gateway, which may be given to Edward III. or to his son John of Gaunt. It faces the east, and is a magnificent building in the Gothic style: it opens with a noble and lofty pointed arch, defended by overhanging battlements, supported by a triple range of corbels, and on each side rise two watch-towers; immediately over the gate is an ornamented niche, which probably once contained the figure of the founder. On one side is still to be seen, on a shield, the arms of France quartered with England; and on the other side the same, with a label ermine of three points, the distinction of John of Gaunt duke of Lancaster, fourth son of Edward III. the first English monarch that quartered France and England on a shield. On the north side of the hill, below the church-yard, are some of the remains of the wall that encompassed the station; it retains part of the ancient name of the place, being called Wery-wall, a cemented mass, which nothing but great violence can injure.

At the Bridge-Lane this wall makes an angle, and runs along the brow of the hill behind the houses in a line to Church-street, which it crosses about Covet Cross. This is attested by the owners of the gardens, who have met with it in that direction, and always found blue clay under the foundation stones.

Though the station was one of the first which the Romans had in these parts, and from its importance the last they abandoned, yet but few Roman-British remains have been discovered at it. The Caledonians, the unconquered enemies and constant opponents of the Romans in Britain, were particularly galled and offended by the garrison at Lancaster, it being always the first to check them as often as they invaded the empire by crossing the Solwayfrith; for, taking advantage of the spring tides, and the darkness of the nights at the change of the moon, they escaped the garrisons of Virosidium, Ellenborough, Arbeia, and Moresby; and skulking along the Cumberland coast, they crossed the Morecombe Bay, and were first discovered on the banks of the Lune. Here they were opposed by the townsmen, who kept the garrison; and if they did not return by the way they came, the alarm brought upon them the garrisons of Overborough, Watercrook, and Ambleside, who surrounded and cut them off. Hence arose a particular hatred against the Lancastrians, which time and repeated injuries contributed to increase. In the end the barbarous clans, following close upon the helpless Lancastrians, deserted by the Romans, sacked and destroyed their town and fortifications, in order that they might at no future time oppose their invasions; But the Saxons arriving soon after, raised on the ruins the town that remains to this day. Hence it is inferred, that the present town of Lancaster stands on a magazine of Roman-British antiquities; and this is often verified by digging under ancient houses, where Roman remains are frequently found, and where it appears that the earth has been removed; besides what Dr. Leigh mentions, there are many recent instances that prove the conjecture. In the year 1792, in digging a cellar where an old house had stood, in a street or lane called Pudding Lane, almost in the centre of the town, there was found reversed, in a bed of fine sand, about five feet under ground, a square stone, of tour by two and a half dimensions, with the following inscription:

DIS MANI

BVS

LIVL APOL

LINARIS

REVteR AN

XXX EQ AI

AE AI

IV.

A foot and two inches were broken off the lower corner on the right hand side, so as to render the inscription obscure; but the remaining letters were very evident, elegantly formed, square, and about three inches long. The inscription had consisted of eight or nine lines, of which six are entire, and of easy explanation; the loss of the seventh is readily supplied, but the eighth must be made out by the common style of such votive stones. The elegance of the characters pronounces them to be the work of the best times; but the two small letters in the third and fifth lines reduce it to the age of the Emperor Gordian, as it is known, by inscriptions found at Olenacum (Old Carlisle), that the Augustan wing mentioned on this tablet was stationed there in the time of Gordian; and now, from this inscription, it seems also to have been at Lancaster. This memorable stone was in the collection, of Sir Ashton Lever, Knt. at Leicester-house, London; and was afterwards removed to the Leverian Museum, near Biackfriar's-Bridge.

A few years ago, in sinking a cellar in an old house in Church-Street, great quantities of fragments of Roman earthenware were thrown out, many of them finely glazed, and elegantly marked with emblematic figures; also some copper coins were found, and an entire lamp, with a turned-up perforated handle to hang to it, the nozzle of which was black from use. At the depth of two yards were likewise discovered a great number of human bones, with burnt ashes, a wall of great thickness, and a well filled with rubbish of the same kind; probably leading to a vault where other human remains were deposited: but the curious must ever regret that no further search was made into its use and contents. In addition to the numerous Roman antiquities which have been discovered within the site of the station and the neighbourhood, must be mentioned the Roman pottery found by the Honourable Edward Clifford, on his estate at Quarmoor, near Lancaster. That these works were very considerable, was apparent from the space discoloured with broken ware; the holes from whence the clay was taken, and the great variety of bricks, tiles, and vessels, that were found about them. Amongst these was a tile with turned-up edges, impressed on each end with the words Ale Sebusia, which points out a wing of cavalry not heard of before. The same inscription is found on bricks, but the label smaller, and the letters Ale Sebusia. The shape of the second letter in the first word is like that in the inscription on the rock near Brampton, in Cumberland, supposed to have been cut in the time of the Emperor Severus, A. D. 207, and is the fifth l in Horsley’s Alphabet. On the brick the letters are square, from which it may be inferred, that this wing was long stationed at Lancaster.

The Castle at present serves the purposes of the County Prison and the Assize Courts. The alterations and repairs were upwards of sixteen years in effecting, and forty thousand pounds consumed in the work before it was near completed. "Nothing can exceed the beauty and convenience of the Crown and Nisi Prius courts, which are in the chastest gothic style; the wood-work oak, the furniture crimson moreen. The latter is the moiety of a space formed by fourteen equal sides, and capable of holding seventeen hundred people, whose roof is supported by five clustered columns, with plain capitals forming gothic arches; the groins which spring from them ramify into a stone ceiling of open work of singular beauty and fashion. In a passage adjoining to this court is a Roman votive altar, found under the castle wall at the north side; it is about two feet high, has a thurebulum on the top for incense, and bears the following inscription on one of its sides:

DEO SANCTO MARTI COGDIOVIBINI

IVCIVSBI. ES V. S. P. M.

But the plan and arrangements of the Castle court, now formed into a prison, are still more interesting. The area being divided into separate compartments, the different gradations of crime are here judiciously distinguished from each other, and villains of a greater or lesser dye confined to their proper society, which prevents at least that amalgamation of the more with the less heinous degrees of vice that takes place in prisons where the criminals promiscuously mix together; to avoid also that deterioration which idleness naturally encourages in the mind of the ignorant or the vicious, the magistrates wisely employ the prisoners in weaving coarse calico and other easy labours; and to encourage the spirit of industry, and teach them to relish the toils of honest employment, a proper proportion of their earnings is always given them, to be expended in what manner they please. The allowance of the felons is at once judicious and liberal; on Sundays, half a pound of solid beef without bone, one quart of broth, and half a pound of bread; on other days one ounce of mutton and one pound of bread.

The magnificent Castle, which has been alternately the terror, glory, and safeguard of the town, is spacious in plan, and commanding in situation.

As it occupies the summit of a high hill, and is built of strong materials with massive walls, and several guard towers, bastions, &c., it must have been comparatively a very safe residence. The encircling walls still embrace an area of 380 feet from east to west, by 350 feet from north to south; this space includes a large court yard and various towers. At present, as before observed, the whole is appropriated to the County Gaol with its necessary appendages of Gaoler’s house, Prisoners’ rooms, Cells, Workshops, Courts of Justice, &c. Nearly facing the east, and communicating with the town, is the strongly fortified tower gateway, or chief entrance, consisting of two semi-octangular projections, perforated near the bottom with loop holes. The summit has bold machicolations with embrasures. The walls of the keep on the opposite side of the yard, are of an amazing thickness; the apartments are commodious, and the floors are of stone and composition. The summit commands several extensive diversified and sublime views, in which the winding river Lune, with its bridges and aqueduct, the bay of Morecombe, the mountains of Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Yorkshire, and the beautiful vale of Lonsdale, constitute the most prominent features. A little north of the keep are the Shire Hall and County Courts, with offices and apartments, mostly modern. The jury room was most tastefully decorated by Mr. Joseph Gandy; over the judges’ seats are two full length portraits of Col. Stanley and Mr. Blackburne, members for the County; the grand picture between them, of his late Majesty, seated on a charger, was painted by Mr. Northcote; in the back ground of this is Lancaster Castle and Church. John of Gaunt's Oven is a circular tower, and contains a collection of rolls, records, &c. The Crown Hall is another spacious and appropriate room. On the north and south sides of the Castle are raised terraces, which are very pleasant and interesting places for promenades; and it is supposed that this prison will now contain 5000 persons within its Avails: contiguous to the Castle, and on the same eminence, is the Church, a large plain gothic fabric, with a lofty square tower at the west end, rebuilt several years since. No ornaments of ancient arms, &c. are any where to be seen, excepting a few turn-up seats carved when this church belonged to the Priory of St. Martin, of Sayes, in France; the aisles, however, are divided from the nave by eight pointed arches on each side, the mouldings of which spring from clustered columns, and at the east end is a wood screen of elegant carving, enriched with crockets, pinnacles, &c.: here are very few monuments, but one of them to the memory of William Stratford, L. L. D. was executed by Roubiliac; here is also an epitaph, in a very quaint style, upon a Thomas Covell, who was six times mayor of the town, forty-eight years keeper of the Castle, forty-six years captain of the freehold band of the hundred of Lonsdale on this side of the sands, &c. and died August 1st, 1639. Besides the house, for the Prior and five Benedictines placed here by Roger of Poictiers in 1094, with three priests, two clerks and servants, there was a Franciscan Convent near the bridge, and a house of Dominican or Black Friars, founded in the reign of Henry III. with an hospital dedicated to St. Leonard, founded by King John while he was Earl of Morton.

Nearly in the centre of Lancaster is the Town Hull, a large commodious building, ornamented with a bold portico; in the council room is a full length portrait of the gallant Admiral Nelson, and another of the late Mr. Pitt, as a proper companion. The Custom House is a small neat building, with a portico supported by four Ionic columns; each of these is fifteen feet and a half high, and consists of a single stone; it was designed by Mr. Gillow, architect; to this we ascend by a double flight of steps, and it has also a rustic surbase.

There are meeting-houses in Lancaster for the Presbyterians, Quakers, and Methodists, and a Roman Catholic Chapel.

The following are among the principal charitable institutions:

Common Garden Street Hospital, built and endowed by the donation of Mrs. Ann Gillison, of Lancaster, who died the 1st of January, 1790. It comprises eight houses for unmarried women, to each of whom is paid three pounds, besides a new gown, value 20s. yearly.

Twelve Alms-houses in Back Lane, founded by William Penny, alderman of Lancaster, March 2, 1715, for twelve poor men, who are allowed 16s. 8d. per quarter each, and a new coat every year, to the value of 13s. 4d. There is also a neat Chapel, and a Charity School by subscription, where fifty boys are clothed and educated: they are also apprenticed out, and six pounds given with each of them. The school-master has a house to live in, and 351. per annum.

Six Alms-houses in Penny Street, founded by George Johnson in 1651. Nothing is allowed besides the houses.

There are four other Alms-houses, called Gardner’s Chauntry, founded in 1485, and rebuilt 1792.

A Free School, for the education of sixty boys, which Bishop Pilkington rebuilt by subscription in 1682.

And a Charity School in High Street, where forty girls are clothed and educated by subscription.

Among the other public buildings must be mentioned a handsome Theatre in St. Leonard’s Gate, and an Assembly Room in Back Lane.

A new Bridge has also been erected near the site of one that anciently stood at Skerton town end. It was built after the design of Mr. Harrison, consists of five equal elliptical arches, and is 549 feet long. The expence of the erection, which was paid by the county, amounted to 14, 000l. It is considered as one of the handsomest bridges of its size in Europe, and does honour to the taste of the architect, and to the public spirit of those who promoted the work on so liberal a plan.

The Butcher’s Shambles were built in form of a street at the public expense. Every Butcher hag his shop, and his name painted over the door.

The markets are on Wednesday and Saturday.

Lancaster, on account of its loyalty, had its charter confirmed by Charles the Second, with additional privileges; but this town perhaps derived its greatest lustre and importance from the title it gave to Edmund, second son of Henry III. and to his issue, Dukes of Lancaster, and kings of England in the Lancastrian line. In the end, however, it suffered much by supporting their title to the crown in the contest with the house of York; and so little hall it retrieved itself, when Camden visited it in 1609, that he speaks of it as not populous, and that the inhabitants were all husbandmen. Since that time, however, it is much enlarged; the new houses are peculiarly neat and handsome, the streets are well paved and thronged with inhabitants, busied in a prosperous trade to America, the West Indies, and the Baltic. The extensive quay and spacious warehouses, present accommodations which would be of much greater value were the shoals in the river removed or deepened, so as to admit vessels of large burthen to come up to them; at present none above 250 tons can reach this part of the river. The principal exports are hard-ware, woollen goods, &c.

The town of Lancaster was made a borough in the fourth year of Richard I. and sent representatives to parliament in the 23rd, 26th, 33rd, and 35th of Edward I. the 8th and 9th of Edward II. and 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th of Edward III.; it then omitted to make any return until the reign of Edward IV. when the right was resumed.

The borough contains at this time about two thousand houses. By the charter, freemen only have a vote; but great corruption has been practised in making those freemen. A freeman’s son, or a freeman’s apprentice, within the borough, is entitled to take up his freedom whenever he pleases, on paying into the hands of the mayor or bailiff, 1l. 7s. 6d. This sum is most generally paid by the opposing candidates, and the greatest number of freemen, thus made, turns the scale of the election. Hence, as ship building, and the cabinet business ore the only manufactories there, he who has most ships to build or repair, or he who will lay out a few hundreds in mahogany furniture, is most likely to carry his election. The journeymen are at the command of their masters; they get intoxicated during the canvass, and having five shillings to eat and drink on the day of election, they give a shout, and go quietly to work again. The returning officers are the mayor and the two bailiffs. The corporation consists of a mayor, a recorder, twelve aldermen, two bailiffs, twelve capital burgesses, twelve common burgesses, a town clerk, and two sergeants at mace. King John confirmed to the burgesses all the liberties he had granted to those of the city of Bristol; and King Edward III. granted to the mayor and bailiffs the privilege of having the pleas and sessions here, and no where else in the county. This town has given the title of duke to many branches of the royal family.

According to the returns under the late population act, the number of inhabitants amounted to 9, 247.

By means of inland navigation, Lancaster has communication with the rivers Mersey, Ribble, Ouse, Trent, Danwent, Severn, Humber, Thames, Avon, &c. which navigation, including its windings, extends above five hundred miles into the counties of Lincoln, Nottingham, York, Westmoreland, Chester, Stafford, Leicester, Oxford, Worcester, &c. All the country from Kendal, in the course of the Lancaster canal, for sixteen miles, is full of lime-stone; and from Chorley to West Houghton, there are immense mines of sea and cannel coals. By this new navigation, the lands, manufactures, and commerce of this part of the kingdom have been materially improved.

The manufactories of this town, since the late war, have been inconsiderable; but they are principally employed in cabinet making, spinning of twine, cotton-printing, and weaving of sail-cloth. Shipbuilding has formerly met with great encouragement, as some of 450 tons burthen have been built here, and sent hence to London. Vessels of seventy tons have traded from Lancaster to America, and several are engaged in the Norway trade. Besides cabinet goods, a considerable quantity of candles have been sent from this port to the West Indies.

About one mile north-east of the town, is the grand Aqueduct Bridge, which conveys the Lancaster canal over the river Lune. This stupendous fabric was designed, and successfully executed, by the late Mr. John Rennie, and is justly considered the most magnificent structure of the kind that has ever been erected in Great Britain. At the spot where the present bridge is built, the architect had to encounter and surmount the depth of water in the bed of the river, and also a soft muddy bottom. He was consequently obliged to lay a foundation at the depth of twenty feet below the water’s surface. This consists of a flooring of timber, supported by piles thirty feet long. The foundation alone cost and the superstructure double that sum.

The bridge consists of five circular arches springing from rusticated piers, with gothic ends. Each arch is of seventy feet span, and rises thirty-nine feet above the surface of the river. The whole bridge has a handsome cornice, and every part of it is designed with regard to strength, durability, and elegance. The total height from the surface of the river to that of the canal, is fifty-one feet, and barges of sixty tons burthen pass over it.

In the vicinity of Lancaster is a salt marsh, adjoining the banks of the river Lune, of which about 500 statute acres, belong to 80 of the oldest freemen of Lancaster, or their widows, being held in trust by the corporation. This marsh is pastured and divided into what are called orl grasses; that is, a privilege of turning one horse or two cows of any size, to summer upon this common. The number of grasses or gates is equal to that of the privileged burgesses, with two more for the trustees, 82 in the whole. These, when let in the summer, have fetched from 1l. 10s. to 1l. 11s. 6d. for that season.

The air of Lancaster is remarkably healthy, and the surrounding country particularly pleasing. — About a quarter of a mile beyond the third milestone, on the road from Lancaster to Hornby, there is a field on the left, the station from whence Mr. Gray had his noble view of the Vale of Lonsdale, which he describes in these words: "This scene opens just three miles from Lancaster, on what is called the Queen’s Road. To see the view in perfection, you must go into a field on the left. Here Ingleborough, behind a variety of lesser mountains, makes the back-ground of the prospect; on each hand of the middle distance rise two sloping hills: the left clothed with thick wood, the right with variegated rock and herbage. Between them, the richest of valleys, the Lune serpentizes for many a mile, and comes forth, ample and clear, through well wooded and richly pastured fore-ground. — Every feature which constitutes a perfect landscape of the extensive sort, is here not only boldly marked, but also found in its best position."

About five miles from Lancaster, near the village of Kellet, is a remarkable natural curiosity called Dunald-Mill-Hole, a cave at the foot of a mountain, into which the water of a large brook turns, after it has driven a mill near the entrance. It continues its course about two miles underground, and then re-appears at Carnford, a small village on the road to Kendal in Westmoreland.

The entrance to this cave, in dry seasons, is by a rugged passage from the mill, which descends about ten yards perpendicular, through chinks in the rocks and clumps of trees. Having entered this subterraneous region, you proceed through natural vaults of rocks, sometimes so high, that they seem to resemble the roof, and in other parts so low that you are obliged to creep on all fours. Keeping still along the sides of the brook, you are agreeably entertained with the water dropping on the rocks; the noise of which seems to resemble something of music, whilst the echo occasioned by the falls is pleasingly terrible. In the hollow parts of the cavern, are beautiful little lakes, formed by the brook, and the falls of water from the rock frequently diminishing the rays of the lights you take with you, make the roof appear as if variegated with all sorts of colours. The sides, too, appear not less remarkable for tine colouring—the damps, the creeping vegetables, and the seams in the marble and lime-stony parts of the rock, make as many tints as are to be seen in the rainbow, and are covered with a perpetual varnish, from the first weeping springs that trickle from the roof.

This cavern, like those at Wokey, Somersetshire, at Castleton, Derbyshire, and others in lime-stone hills, consists of several large and small apartments, or open spaces, with intermediate chasms; and its root is hung with various stalactites and incrustations.

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LANCASTER, the county town of Lancashire, is a municipal borough and port, market, union and assize town, and extensive parish in the Lancaster division of the county, Southern division of the hundred of Lonsdale, rural deanery and archdeaconry of Lancaster and diocese of Manchester, distant from London 231 miles, Accrington 37, Ashton-under-Lyne 59 ½, Bacup 62 ¼, Barrow-in-Furness 34 ½, Blackburn 31, Blackpool 38 ¾. Bolton 41, Oldham 56, Preston 21, Rochdale 54, St. Helena 44 ¾, Southport 3.9, Stalvbridge 58 ½, Stockport 55 ½, Warrington 47 ¼, Wigan 36.

The town, pleasantly seated on an eminence on the south bank of the Lune, and crowned with the stately towers of the castle, has a singularly picturesque appearance, to which the handsome stone bridge of five equal elliptical arches, erected in 1878, effectively contributes. The aqueduct for conveying the Lancaster canal over the river, about three-quarters of a mile north-east of the town, was erected at an expense of £4,000 in 1797; it consists of five semi-circular arches, each 70 feet span, and the total length is 664 feet.

The name of the town is derived from its situation as a fortress near the river Lune or Loyne, on which account it was called by the Saxons “Loancaster.” The borough dates its origin from the charter granted by Prince John, Earl of Moreton (afterwards King John), in the fourth year of Richard I. (11921193), which charter was confirmed with various additional privileges by several subsequent sovereigns. By the Municipal Corporations Act of 1835 (5 and 6 Wm. IV. c. 76) the borough was divided into three wards, with two aldermen and six councillors to each, and in 1888 was extended by the addition of 189 acres from the parishes of Scotforth and Skerton, and the town divided into six wards, with one alderman and three councillors to each. By Local Government Board Order No. P. 1,586, confirmed by Local Government Board Provisional Orders Confirmation (No. 12), is was further enlarged in Nov. 1900, by the addition of 1,930 acres, viz.: 624 from Bulk, 657 from Scotforth, 636 from Skerton and 13 from Halton, and then divided into tight wards with one alderman and three councillors to each. The borough has also a commission of the peace and a police force. The elective franchise was first exercised here in the twenty-third year of Edward I. and the borough continued to return members to Parliament until the first of Edward II. when the exercise of this privilege ceased until the reign of Edward VI. from which time it regularly returned two members until 1867, when it was disfranchised upon petition after a royal commission of inquiry.

The assizes for the Northern division of the county and the general quarter sessions are held here.

The Corporation, under an Act obtained in 1852, established a system of works for supplying water from springs forming the source of the Grizedale brook, on the fells about twelve miles from Lancaster; the water is conveyed through earthenware pipes to a covered reservoir at High Crossmoor, whence it passes by gravitation through iron pipes to the town. In 1876 a further extension took place, the work, including a compensation reservoir at Abbeystead, being completed in May, 1881. A storage reservoir was constructed in 1886 at Damas Gill, in the township of Quernmore, opened in 1891, capable of holding 30,000,000 gallons; the total daily supply is now 2,000,000 gallons, and the water is of great purity.

The Gas Works, St. George’s quay, established in 1826 and incorporated in 1856, were acquired in 1880 by the Corporation, and are capable of producing 250 millions of cubic feet yearly; a siding from the London and North Western railway was constructed to these works in 1881. The Corporation made an installation of the electric light in 1892, at a cost of about £25,000, for lighting the streets and public buildings, and for the supply to shops and private houses. The works and plant have since been enlarged at an additional cost of £36,000. Two lines of electric tramways were opened in 1903 from Dalton square to Scotforth and Williamson Park, both of which are now (1904) being extended to the Castle station of the London and North Western railway.

The port of Lancaster is inaccessible to vessels of large burthen through the accumulation of sand in the channel of the Lune, which renders navigation difficult: but there is a dock at Glasson, 5 miles down the river, constructed in 1787, where vessels discharge their cargoes into lighters, to be brought up to St. George’s quay: in 1881 the London and North Western Railway Co. constructed a line to Glasson dock, and large additional quay space, with other facilities in connection with the railway, has been provided by the Fort Commissioners.

The total value of all imports in 1903 was £76,547; the principal articles being paper making materials, £25,642, and iron ore, £22,727. The number of sailing and steam vessels that entered the port in 1003 with cargoes and in ballast, including their repeated voyages, in the general coasting trade was 577 of 51,718 tons and cleared 626 of 73,353 tonnage. In the trade between Great Britain and Ireland 280 vessels entered of 67,025 tons and 265 vessels cleared of 64,710 tonnage. The number of sailing and steam vessels that entered from British possessions was 51 of 26,641 tons; from foreign countries 49 of 25,613 tonnage; the number cleared was one British, 700 tons, and 5 foreign of 2,219 tonnage.

The number of sailing and steam vessels registered under part I. of the “Merchant Shipping Act, 1894,” as belonging to the port, on December 31, 1903, was 34 of 2,427 tons.

The number of fishing boats registered under part IV. of the same Act, as belonging to the port at the same date, was 84 of 193 tonnage, employing 110 men and boys. Fishing boats and their implements are distinguished by the latters “L.K.”

The Lancaster canal opens a communication with the mining districts, and supplies the neighbourhood with coal and other necessaries. There is also railway communication by means of the London and North Western and Midland railways and the Lancaster and Morecambe railway, 3 miles in length: the first of these has a large station near the castle, the Midland station is on the Green Ayre.

Lancaster was a Roman station of the first order, and many Homan antiquities have been found here. Here the northern English princes were seated after the Roman power had passed away, and the Norman baron Roger de Poitou selected this as the site for his baronial castle.

The most brilliant period in the history of Lancaster was in the days of the ancient Earls of Lancaster and during the early years of Henry V. who caused the gateway tower to be erected. The town, which had previously received a charter from King John, was favoured with additional privileges in the reign of Edward III. who conferred the Duchy of Lancaster upon his son John of Gaunt, then Earl of Richmond, in 1342, and in whose favour the county was also made a county palatine.

In the wars between the houses of York and Lancaster, the town was nearly depopulated, and was again the scene of contest during the Civil war. In 1698 an accidental fire destroyed a considerable portion of the town, and in the rebellions of 1715 and 1745 it shared largely in the tumults which disturbed the peace of the northern part of the kingdom.

The erection of the magnificent castle, which occupies the site of the Roman “castrum,” is generally ascribed to Roger de Poictou: from the age of the Norman accession to the year 1322, it is probable that no important change was made in this edifice, but at that period it suffered much from the invasion of the Scots, by whom the town was also burned and plundered: it was, however, restored by John of Gaunt, who endowed it with more than its original strength and splendour. The next era of renovation was during the reign of Elizabeth, when Philip of Spain threatened England with invasion, at which time the castle was rather a fortress than a baronial residence; and it has ever since served as the county prison and the seat for the administration of public justice: it was enlarged between 1786 and 1819 under the provisions of the Act for improving Prisons, the county and crown courts being completed in 1796. The Shire Hall, which is semi-circular in shape, will contain 2,000 persons; in the year 1822 a full-length figure of John of Gaunt was placed in the niche of the Gateway Tower, and in 1881 a portion of the structure was set apart for the reception of military prisoners, but is now used only for civil prisoners on short sentences, and those for trial or on remand 321 prisoners in all can be confined here.

The parish church of St. Mary, to which the privilege of sanctuary was anciently attached, was originally erected by Roger de Poictou, who founded a Benedictine priory here in 1094, as a cell to the Abbey of St. Marlin de Seez, in Normandy; which, on the suppression of alien priories, was annexed by Henry V. to the Abbey of Sion, in Middlesex: the present edifice, situated on the north side of the castle hill, forms a commanding object high above the town, and is an edifice of stone chiefly in the later Perpendicular style, consisting of chancel, clerestoried nave of four bays, aisles, extending the whole length of the church, north chapel, south porch and a lofty western tower, built in 1759 and containing 8 bells, the gift of James Williamson esq. (now Lord Ashton), and first rung on his entry into the town as High Sheriff in July, 1886; a clock chimes the quarters on the full peal of 8 bells: the chapel on the north side of the nave was erected in 1903 at a cost of £40,000, as a memorial to the officers and men of the King’s Own Royal Lancaster regiment, and a new south porch was erected in 1902 to the memory of Mr. and Mrs. Langsbaw: the chancel is separated from the nave by a screen with a large centre arch and a smaller one on either side; under the chancel arch are displayed the colours of the 1st Battalion North Lancashire regiment (47th); the chancel contains 14 stalls with lofty canopies, all most beautifully carved, and some fine screen work, said to have been brought from Cockersand Abbey: there is a piscina in the south wall and a fine brass eagle lectern: the font was erected in 1848: the east window is stained and was erected by subscription; there is also a memorial window to the Rev. John Manby, 37 years vicar, who died in 1884; one inserted by Richard Newsham esq. of Preston; and on the south side seven memorial windows, to E. G. Hornby esq. who died in 1857; to the Rev. William Whewell D.D. tutor and afterwards master of Trinity College, Cambridge, d. 1866, erected by his sisters; to Mrs. Chippendall, placed by her son Edward in 1859; to Charlotte Augusta Gladstone, in 1858; one to George Hornby esq. who died in 1865; to the Rev. Joseph Turner M.A. placed in 1870; and to Lancelot and Agnes Sanderson and their daughter Elizabeth, in 1876; on the north side are five memorial windows to Mrs. Henrietta Harrison; George Richard Marton esq. of Capernwray, and Anne his wife, who both died in 1834, erected by their son in 1857; Joseph Dockray, d. 1855; the Bight Rev. William Higgin D.D. Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, d. in 1867, erected by his widow and three sons; and one to the late Sir Thomas Storey, d. 1898; to George Marton esq. and Sarah his wife, placed in 1873; and to William Storey esq. placed in 1880: the church contains a large number of monuments and several brasses, including a marble monument by Louis Francois Roubiliac, to William Stratford LL.D, commissary of the archdeaconry of Richmond, who died in 1753; another to Thomas Bowes, of Lancaster, his wife and only son; a finely-carved marble monument, with bust, to Sir Samuel Eyre, one of the justices of the King’s Bench in the reign of William III. who died in 1698; and tablets to William Fenny, who died in 1716, and William Heysham, who died in 1727, erected by the trustees of their respective charities: on the north side is a marble monument with a group of statuary in bas-relief, to Sibyl Elizabeth, daughter of George Wilson esq. and Anna Sibyl his wife, who died 1773; and in the chancel is a brass, dated 1639, to Thomas Cowell, six times mayor, and 48 years keeper of the castle; there are other memorials to the Rev. Seth Bushell S.T.P. vicar of Lancaster, ob. 1684; to Richard Johnes, Or Jones, of Caton, who died in 1733, and to the Rev. Joseph Rewley M.A. 64 years incumbent of Stalmine, in this parish, during 54 of Which he was chaplain of Lancaster Castle: a new vestry has been built at a cost of about £300: there are 1,500 sittings, about half of which are appropriated by the churchwardens to particular families. The register dates from the year 1599. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £1,350, including 20 acres of glebe, with residence, in the gift of Lieut.-Col. George Blucher Heneage Marton D.L., J.P. of Capernwray Hall, and held since 1893 by the Rev. William Bonsey M.A. of St. Johns College, Cambridge, rural dean of Lancaster, hon. canon of Manchester, hon. chaplain to the Manchester union, chaplain of Lancaster Castle and of the forces at the barracks, proctor in convocation for the archdeaconry of Lancaster, and surrogate.

Christ Church is an ecclesiastical parish, formed Jan. 30, 1874, from St. Marys: the church, situated on Lancaster moor, is a cruciform building of stone in the Early English style, erected in 1857, by the late Samuel Gregson esq. and consists of chancel, nave, south aisle, transepts, baptistery, north porch and two small turrets with spires at the west end. There are several memorial windows: the church was restored in 1874 at a cost of £900, and in 1889 was enlarged at a cost of £1,175, and now affords sittings for 700. The register dates from the year 1874. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £410, with residence, in the gift of trustees, and held since July, 1894, by the Rev. Melbourne Ker Cooper M.A. of Jesus College, Cambridge. A Mission church for this parish was built in 1891 at a cost of £1,250.

St. Anne’s is an ecclesiastical parish, formed Aug. 16, 1842, from St. Mary’s: the church, in Moor lane, built in 1796, was formerly a chapel of ease, and is a plain rectangular building of stone, consisting of nave with apse and a small turret containing one bell: in 1878 it was restored at a cost of £1,270, and during the year 1894 a porch with vestibule was built, the organ removed from the south to north side of choir, the pulpit brought forward and the church thoroughly renovated, and decorated: a handsome brass, jewelled and engraved altar cross, together with brass, pulpit lights, have been presented by lady members of the congregation: within the church are inscribed marble tablets, to the memory of the Rev. Robert Housman, the first incumbent of the church, and to the Talbot Baines family; there is also a brass to the memory of a daughter of the Rev. Dr. Hawthornthwaite, late vicar of the parish: the church affords sittings for 600 persons. The register dates from the year 1842. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £167, with residence, augmented by offertories in lien of pew rents, in the gift of the vicar of Lancaster, and held since 1883 by the Rev. Robert Park M.A. of St. John’s College, Cambridge.

St. Thomas’ is an ecclesiastical parish, formed in 1844 from St. Mary’s: the church, in Penny street, is a building of stone in the Early English style, consisting of chancel, nave, aisles and a tower on the north-east with spire containing 6 bells: there is a memorial window to Mrs. Campbell, widow of a former incumbent, the Rev. Colin Campbell, sen. M.A. who presented a valuable organ, and a brass erected by members of the congregation to Christopher Baynes, d. 5 Sept. 1885 and for 21 years churchwarden: the brass eagle lectern was presented by Alderman Hatch, for upwards of 30 years churchwarden: during the year 1894 the church was entirely renovated: and there are 1,010 sittings, of which 373 are free. The register dates from the year 1841. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £180, with residence, in the gift of the Church Pastoral Aid Society, and held since 1873 by the Rev. John Bone Assoc.K.C.L., F.R.A.S, and surrogate.

St. John’s is an ecclesiastical parish, formed Aug. 16, 1842, from St. Mary’s; the church, on the Green Ayre, and consecrated in 1755, at which time it was the parochial chapel of Lancaster, is still the Corporation church of the old town, and is an edifice of stone in the Italian style, consisting of apsidal chancel, nave, aisles and a western tower, built in 1784 by Thomas Bowes esq.: the clock was the gift of Miss Baldwin, of Green Ayre, the hours and quarters being struck upon two bells from the old parish church: the beautiful Italian font was presented by Elizabeth and Dorothy Bowes in 1858: there is a handsome monument to Corney Tomlinson esq. d. 1813, and Margaret, his wife, d. 1843, and a benefactress to this church: in 1871 a memorial window was erected to Mrs. Hall, d. 1870, and another was presented at the same time by the late Canon Pedder: there are also several other stained windows: the church was restored in 1889 at a cost of £700, and has about 800 sittings, of which 350 are free. The register of baptisms dates from 1755, and of burials from 1758. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £200, with residence, in the gift of the vicar of Lancaster, and held since 1881 by the Rev. William Harris Ewald M.A. of Wadham College, Oxford.

The church of St SKERTON, erected in 1833, is a building of stone in the Gothic style, consisting of nave, aisles embattled western tower with pinnacles, containing one bell: the stained east window is a memorial to Jonathan Dunn, late of Rylands, and there are four others and a brass in the south aisle, placed in 1844, to Charles Lawson Whalley esq,: in 1882 and 1896 this edifice underwent complete renovation at a cost of about £1,400, when the old square pews were removed and replaced by open benches, a chancel formed at the east end and the organ restored: the church affords sittings for 600 persons. The separate register dates from the year 1834 only; all earlier entries relating to this place are included in the registers of Lancaster. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £268, with residence, in the gift of five trustees, and held since 1902 by the Rev. John Edgar Jelly M.A. of Wadham College, Oxford.

The Catholic church, East road, dedicated to St. Peter, Prince or the Apostles, and erected at a Cost of £15,000, was consecrated on the 4th October, 1859, and is a building in the Decorated style, from designs by Mr. E. G. Paley, architect, and consists of apsidal chancel, clerestoried nave, aisles, transepts, five lateral chapels and a tower with spire at the north-west angle 240 feet in height and containing 8 bells, presented in 1881 by John Gardener, esq. of Lancaster: the organ was provided by the late B. Leeming esq, at a cost of £2,000: there are numerous stained windows, and in every chapel an elaborately-denorated altar: south of the chancel, and separated from it by an elegant iron screen, la the convent chapel: a cloister connects the presbytery with the church, which has 1,000 sittings. The Very Rev. Richard N. Billington is missionary rector and dean. Contiguous to the church are the cemetery, the convent of the Sisters of Mercy and schools.

The new Catholic church, at Skerton, erected in 1900, and dedicated to St. Joseph, will seat 500 persons.

The Centenary Congregational church in St. Leonard gate, opened in 1879, at a cost, including site, of £7,600, is a building of atone in the Romanesque style, with a tower and spire 120 feet high: there are, including the galleries, 820 sittings. The Sunday schools are conducted in the building in St. Leonard gate formerly used as the chapel.

The Congregational church, in High street, founded in 1770, will seat 700.

The Friends’ Meeting House, in Meeting House lane, erected in 1670, is a plain stone building, and will, seat 400 persons: there is a burial ground attached.

A Friends’ hall is now (1904) in course of erection in Fenton street, for mission and Sunday school work, and is estimated to cost 62,000.

The Wesleyan Methodist chapel, situated, at the corner of Sulyard and Bryer streets, off Dalton square, and erected in 1877—8, at a cost, including site, of £8,046, is an edifice of stone in the Romanesque style, from designs by Messrs. Austin and Paley, architects, with an octagonal turret at the south-east angle: there are sittings for 1,060 persons: new day and sunday schools, adjoining the chapel, were erected in 1895.

The Baptist church, Nelson street, erected in 1896, is a building of local stone in the Gothic style and contains a memorial window to G. L. Shaw, one of the founders of the Baptist, church in Lancaster the chapel has 460 sittings.

The Cemetery, on Lancaster moor, opened in 1855, contains 21 acres and has three chapels, for the Church of England, Catholics and Dissenters. The Scotforth Cemetery, near the Ashton road, comprises 1 ¼ acres, to which 8 ½ acres are at present (1904) being added; there are two chapels. A third cemetery of 4 1/7 acres is now (1,904) being laid, out at Skerton, and will have one chapel. The Corporation, who in 1900 were constituted, the Burial Board, control the cemeteries.

The Town Hall, erected in 1781—3, on the site of the former one, and abutting on the Market place, Market, and New streets, is an edifice of stone, with an octostyle portico; above which rises a small clock tower: the building was enlarged in 1871—2 by the erection of a new wing: the interior contains a spacious court room, council chamber, mayor’s parlour and other apartments and offices: in the corridor are two full-length oil paintings by Henderson of George III. and the Duke of York; in the council chamber are two by Lonsdale of Pitt and Nelson: the mace, weighing 14lbs. is dated 1702: there is a mayor’s staff, presented by Thomas Fanshaw in 1613; and quart, gallon and bushel standard measures bearing date 1601: here are also preserved 17 charters granted to the borough, the earliest dating from the reign of King John; adjoining the Town Hall are the borough Police and Fire Brigade stations.

The Palatine Hall, in Dalton square, formerly a Catholic church, was reconstructed in 1884 from the designs and under the direction of Mr. G. D. Oliver, of Carlisle, and will seat about 1,000 persons; it is used for concerts, lectures and temperance meetings.

On St. George’s quay is a building formerly serving as the Custom House and still in part used for inland Revenue purposes; it was erected, in 1764, and is an edifice, of stone with a portico and plain pediments, supported by four Ionic columns, 15 ½ feet high, each cut from a single stone.

The Inland Revenue and Customs office is in Church street. The gross amount of customs revenue in 1903 was £99,218.

The Barracks, at Bowerham, are the depot of No. 4 Regimental District, The King’s Own Lancaster Regiment, 4th foot regiment, and of the 1st Royal Lancashire Militia, which forms the 3rd and 4th battalions of the regiment.

The head quarters of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion and of the A, B, C and D Companies of the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment are in Phoenix street.

The head quarters of the 3rd and 4th Batteries 5th Lancashire Royal Garrison (Volunteers) Artillery (Heavy Artillery) are in Dallas road.

The Public Baths and Washhouses, in Cable street, were erected in 1863, on a site given by the Corporation, at a cost of about £7,000, wholly defrayed by the late Samuel Gregson esq.: there are private baths for males and females; and public swimming baths, 70 by 30 feet and 40 by 25 feet, and Turkish and other baths were added in 1894 at a cost of about £6,000; the washhouse is arranged for the use of 24 persons at one time: these baths are under the entire control of the Corporation.

The Market, which extends from Market street to Common Garden street, was erected in 1880 upon the site of a former one: the main avenue is appropriated to shops, the centre to stalls, the western side being reserved for the corn market, and the sale of eggs, butter and poultry: the market is open daily for the sale of meat, poultry, fish and vegetable produce.

The firm of Gillow and: Co. (now Wirings and Gillow Lim.), of Oxford street, London, has long made, this town celebrated by its manufactories of cabinet furniture, much of which is exported: the works, established prior to 1720, and enlarged in 1880 by the erections of show rooms and offices near the Green Ayre station, are the largest of their kind in the United Kingdom, and the firm has separate establishments on a large scale both in London, Liverpool and Manchester. Messrs. James Williamson and Son, and Storey Brothers and Co. Lim. have several mills here for the spinning and manufacturing of oilcloth table covers and linoleum. There are extensive works on the Bulk road, carried on by the Metropolitan Amalgamated Railway Carriage and Wagon Co. Limited, for the production of railway carriages and wagons. There are also several corn mills, stained glass and church decorating works and marble works, besides many smaller branches of industry.

The premises of the Lancaster Banking Company Limited are on the north side of Church street, opposite New street.

In Market street are the premises of the London City and Midland Bank Limited, late the Preston Banking Co.; the building is of freestone on granite foundation, the woodwork is of carved oak and the windows are filled with stained glass.

The Bank of Liverpool Limited, rebuilt in 1900, is situated in Market street.

The County, Club, Church street, was formed in 1873 for gentlemen residing in the county, or within 20 miles of Lancaster. Officers of the army and members of the bar belonging to the Northern circuit are admitted as members; Col. G. B. Heneage-Marton is the president.

The Conservative Club, Church street, founded in 1884, has about 380 members: the club-house comprises committee rooms, and news, reading, billiard, smoking and refreshment rooms.

The Reform Club, Great John street, numbers about 260 members.

The Storey institute and Art Gallery, erected on the site of the old Mechanics’ institute, was founded by the late Sir Thomas Storey kt. of Lancaster, and four times mayor of this borough, in commemoration of the 50th year of Her late Majesty Queen Victoria; the building, of stone, is in the Queen Anne style, and was handed over to the Corporation in; July, 1893; it comprises a school of science and art, art gallery, municipal technical school and public free library.

The Merchants’ Subscription News. Boom, in Market street, established about 1750, was in 1897 formed into a Chamber of Commerce, and has about 100 members.

The Amicable Sooiety’s Library, in Dalton square, was instituted in 1769, and contains both reference and lending departments, comprising about 14,500 volumes of a general character, and is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Law Library is in Bank chambers, Market street.

The Lancaster and Skerton Co-operative Society has a good library of about 7,300 volumes and a well supplied reading room.

The Athenaeum, in St. Leonard gate, is used for every kind of amusement, but chiefly as a theatre; Mr. Henry Wilkinson is sole proprietor and manager.

The County Lunatic Asylum, on Lancaster moor, opened in 1816 and since much enlarged, now possesses land to the extent of 116 acres, and is a stately quadrangular building of stone, with a handsome front, relieved by pillars of the Doric order, and will hold 1,200 patients. The annexe, completed in 1882 from the designs of Mr. A. W. Kershaw, architect, of Lancaster, at a cost of £125,000, occupies a site on Lancaster moor to the extreme east of the borough boundary, comprising an area of about 41 acres, purchased chiefly from the Corporation of Lancaster in June, 1878, for a total sum of £8,763 3s. 9d. The buildings are of stone, and consist of a centre block with two principal wings on each side and other portions: in the centre over the main entrance is a clock tower about 100 feet in height, and there are smaller ones at the front extremity of each wing: the building also includes a fine dining hall 120 feet long by 60 feet wide and 60 feet high: this annexe provides additional space for about 900 patients: David Mackay Cassidy M.D., D.Sc. resident medical superintendent.

The Ripley Hospital, on the Ashton road, is a very extensive and handsome pile of buildings, standing in its own grounds of nearly 40 acres, the foundation stone of which was laid by the late Mrs. Julia Ripley, 14th July, 1856, the opening talking place 3rd November, 1864, the anniversary of the birthday of the munificent foundress: the building is constructed of local sandstone in the Early Pointed Style of the 12th century, from designs by Mr. J. Cunningham, architect, of Liverpool: extensive alterations and additions, at a cost of £17,000, were made to the original buildings in 1886, from designs by Messrs. Paley and Austin, architects, of Lancaster these consist of now school rooms for both boys and girls, swimming bath, laundry and washhouse, wardrobes, dormitories and lodge: the central block includes a spacious house for the principal: the chapel, opened Nov. 3rd, 1888, at a cost of £7,500, is in the Early English style and consists of chancel, nave, south aisle, north porch, and a turret above the chancel with a graceful spire and containing one bell: the chancel roof is groined, and there are stalls of carved oak and a carved oak screen at the west end of the nave: the organ was erected in April, 1890, at a cost of £815: there are 150 seats open to the public. In 1899 further additions were made to the hospital at a cost of £5,000, consisting of a gymnasium, fives courts a domestic economy school for girls and a manual instruction school for boys: the object of the foundation is the maintenance and education of 300 fatherless children (150 boys and 150 girls): candidates for admission must be between 7 and 11 years of age, free from any chronic complaint or infirmity, the children of poor and respectable parents who have resided for at least two years, immediately preceding the death of the father, either in, or within 15 miles of Lancaster, or in, or within 7 miles of Liverpool, in each case in the county of Lancashire only: no question is asked as to the religious opinions of the parents but the children are all required to be educated in the principles of the English church: the income of the foundation arising entirely from endowment, is between £9,000 and £10,000 yearly; the present principal and chaplain is the Rev. Walter Langley Appleford M.A. who was appointed in 1882; the trustees in whom the charity is vested are the Bishop of Manchester, the Bishop of Liverpool, the vicar of Lancaster, W. Garnett esq. J.P. Edward Storey esq. J.P. C. John Clark esq. J.P. and George D. Killey esq. the first three being ex-officio.

The Royal Albert Asylum, standing on a commanding site 150 feet above the sea level, about half a mile to the south of the town, and adjoining the London and North Western railway, was erected in 1868—73 at a cost of £80,000, and is a building of local freestone in the Geometrical Gothic style from designs by the late Mr. E. G. Paley, architect: the form of the building is that of the letter E, fronting westward to the Cockerham road: facing the entrance is the handsome dining hall, on the south side of which are five memorial windows to munificent benefactors James Brunton esq. of Lancaster John Bairstow esq. of Preston; Rev. Richard Brooke and Mrs. Brooke, of Gateforth House, Selby; The Very Rev. G. Waddington D.D. dean of Durham; and Henry Kelsall esq. of Rochdale: at the back of this hall are the kitchens, laundries and workshops: to the right of the entrance hall is the boys’ wing; and to the left is the girls’ wing: a detached infirmary has been erected by the munificence of the late Edward Rodgett esq. of Darwen Bank, Preston, and a fine recreation hall, called the “Winmarleigh Hall,” has also been added. A new wing, named the “Ashton Wing,” the cost of which was defrayed by Lord Ashton, was opened on Sept. 26, 1801, for 100 additional patients; and on June 24th, 1904, “The Herbert Storey industrial Schools and Workshops” were presented to the trustees of the institution by Herbert L. Storey esq. then high sheriff of Lancashire (1904). Brunton House, near the asylum, has extensive private grounds, and is a home for private pupils attending the schools &c. The institution received its name by sanction of H.M. the late Queen Victoria in the year 1866, and is intended for the care and training of feeble-minded children and young persons belonging to the seven northern counties: the boys’ wing was formally opened by the late Duke of Devonshire K.G. Sept. 14th, 1870, and in honour of the munificent donor of £30,000 to the funds of the asylum, has been called “The Brooke Wing.” On the 8th October, 1873, the completion of the asylum was celebrated. The Storey Home for 40 feeble-minded girls was built and furnished by Sir Thomas Storey, and opened by the Countess of Bective in Sept. 1898. A sustention fund has been formed from special donations and legacies, but the institution is largely dependent for support upon annual subscriptions. The views from the asylum estate (which consists of about 185 acres) are fine, and include the course of the Lune for many miles, Morecambe bay, and the principal Cumberland and Westmorland Mountains. In 1904 the asylum contained 620 patients, of two classes-(1) those admitted, for seven years by the votes of the subscribers; (2) paying patients. The institution is not intended for epileptic, paralytic, tuberculous, or insane persons, nor for those who are incurably hydrocephalic; imbecility which is complicated with blindness or deafness is also a disqualification. Application forms may be had, from the principal and secretary, Mr. James Diggens. The resident medical officer is Archibald Robertson Douglas L.R.C.P. & L.R.C.S.Edin., L.F.P. & S.Glas.

The Royal Lancaster infirmary, on the Ashton road, and adjoining Springfield Park, which it overlooks, was opened by T.R.H. the Prince and Princess of Wales, then Duke and Duchess of York, in March, 1896. The present building, erected to replace the former premises in Thurnham street, used as a hospital since 1833, is in a modified form, of the Renaissance style, from designs by Messrs. Paley and Austin, architects, and is estimated to have cost over £26,000: it provides 60 beds, and of these 45 are now open. The principal front, in Ashton road, comprises the administrative block, with a tower, the lower stage of which forms the chief entrance, and the building comprises a large waiting hall, consulting room, ophthalmic room, dispensing department, operating room, Finsen and X-ray light room and other apartments: the children’s ward, at the south end, has 10 beds, and a verandah on the south side: the male and female wards each afford 20 beds, and there are smaller wards for single and double beds. During the year 1903, 621 patients were admitted, the average duration of stay being 25 days per patient, and there were also 3,043 dispensary patients; 28 patients were sent to convalescent homes at Southport, Buxton and Cheadle; 822 were visited at their own homes; the total number of visits being 6,080.

The Sanatorium, erected in 1891 by the Corporation, on the river side near Freeman’s Wood, consists of several buildings of local stone, covering upwards of 3 acres of ground, 350 yards from the nearest works, and 850 yards from the nearest dwelling; the buildings are divided into four blocks, for fever cases, isolated cases, convalescent cases and for the administrative section respectively.

Nazareth House, erected in 1902. on the Ashton road, for the Order of the Sisters of Nazareth, as a home for girl waifs and strays, and for aged persons of both sexes (irrespective of creed), is a large handsome rectangular building of Yorkshire stone, with stone mullioned windows in the Tudor style, from the designs of Messrs. Austin and Paley, architects, of Lancaster, and cost about £16,000. The ground floor consists of school rooms, a refectory, small temporary chapel and rooms for the aged people, and the Upper floors are devoted to the rooms for the sisters and dormitories for the children: in rear of the building there is a large laundry and stables.

Charities: John Gardyner, by indenture dated 12th June, 1485, founded and endowed four almshouses, adjoining the vicarage grounds, for four poor men: this charity has been augmented by seven legacies, amounting to £1,662 10s.; the total yearly income is now about £75: the inmates of these almshouses, under the scheme of 1870, are four poor widows, each of whom, receives 6s. a week, with gas, water, two tons of coals, and clothes not exceeding £2 yearly. Sir John Harrison kt. by will dated 21st September, 1669, gave the sum of £100 to be laid out in land, the income arising from which is distributed to the widows inhabiting Gardner's almshouses. William Penny, by will dated 2nd March, 1715, founded 12 almshouses in King street and also left land to endow the same: this charity has since been augmented by a legacy of £200 (less duty) from Miss Tatham; the annual income is about £474: the inmates of these almshouses, as provided by a scheme of the Charity Commissioners, dated 27th May, 1870, are fourteen poor and aged persons, 12 men and two women, the former receiving the weekly sum of 7s. and the latter 6s. with gas, water, two and a half tons of coals, bedding when required, and clothing not exceeding £4 each yearly. William Heysham, by will dated 22nd April, 1725, gave estates, the proceeds of which are distributed to ten pensioners, 9 men at 12s. per week and one woman at 10s. per week. Anne Gillison, in 1781, founded and endowed, 8 almshouses in Common Garden street: this charity has been largely augmented since by various legacies and the total annual income is about £126: the eight inmates of these almshouses, who are unmarried women, receive the weekly sum of 6s. each, with gas, water, two and a half tons of coals and clothes not exceeding £2 annually. Miss Betsy Jane Bradshaw, by will dated 22nd October, 1889, bequeathed a capital sum, the income of which was to be paid to four male pensioners, to be elected in the same manner as the out-door pensioners are chosen; of the sum received, £2,400 has been lent on mortgage, and the income arising from the investment allows of the payment of 8s. per week to the four pensioners. Miss Elizabeth Paget, of Greenfield, Lancaster, in May, 1893, gave a capital sum of £500 to found an annuity to be held by an aged widow, who receives 6s. per week. In January, 1897, a sum, of £525 was given to found an annuity as a continuous thanksgiving for the life of Christopher Johnson F.R.C.S.: the pension of 6s. per week is to be held by aged widows. The number of additional pensioners depends on the income which, remains after the payment of the Heysham pensions and the pensions to the alms people. The number in 1904 was 46, of whom 6 men receive 7s. per week and 40 women receive 6s. per week.

The Williamson Park, so named from the late James Williamson esq. who bequeathed the sum of £12,000 for its formation and presented it to the town, comprises about 40 acres, laid out by Mr. McLean, of Castle Donington, completed in 1881, and is situated on a hill 355 feet above the level of the sea, from which, on a clear day, a grand panoramic view may be obtained: it was originally a barren moor with, deeply quarried gorges, and although still retaining much of its wild grandeur, the surfaces of the hills and mounds have been cultivated, the upper portions being planted with shrubs: a labyrinth of walks winds round the bases of cliffs and hills, and towards the southern entrance is a lake, lying at the base of a huge rock. Lord Ashton is now (1904) erecting on a high plateau in this park a fine statue in bronze of Her late Majesty Queen Victoria. The plinth is of granite, with four panels in bronze depicting over 40 of the leading statesmen, artists, scientists &c. of Her Majesty’s reign. The statue itself is 13 feet in height, and the total height from the base is 36 feet. A sum of £13,000 has been given by Lord Ashton, of Ryelands, as a maintenance fund. In a prominent position within the park is the observatory, built by the Corporation at a cost of £400 to receive an equatorial telescope, presented to the town by Albert Greg esq. of Caton: it was opened in July, 1892, by Sir Robert Ball, Astronomer Royal, Ireland.

The estates of the Duchy are vested in the Crown, the reigning sovereign being also Duke or Duchess of Lancaster.

The area of the civil parish and borough is 3,444 acres of land, 62 of water, 73 of tidal water and 51 of foreshore; assessable value, £200,737; the population in 1881 was 20,664; in 1891, 31,038; and in 1901, 40,329.

The population of the ecclesiastical district is as follows: St. Mary’s, 8,825; St. Anne’s, 3,294; Christ Church, 12,844; St. John’s, 1,825; St. Thomas’, 2,845; and St. Luke’s, Skerton, 6,340.

Included in the total population of the borough was 330 in Ripley Hospital, 256 officials and their families and 2,000 inmates of the County Lunatic Asylum, 119 officials and their families and 578 inmates of the Royal Albert Asylum, 205 military and 96 other inmates of Lancaster Barracks, and 13 officials and 21 inmates of the Workhouse.

Skerton adjoins the town of Lancaster on the north; it is in the Lancaster division of the county; in 1888, 160 acres were merged into Lancaster, including St. Luke’s church and schools, and was made a ward called Skerton ward. In 1900, on the further extension of the borough of Lancaster, 636 acres of this parish were added to it, and the remainder attached to Slyne. The ecclesiastical parish is partly urban and partly rural. A sum of about £30, derived from Money's and Kendal’s charities, is distributed yearly in money. Ryelands is the seat of Lord, Ashton and Lune Villa that of Richard Smalley esq. The land is all freehold. The principal landowners are Lord Ashton, Capt. H. B. Gaskell, of Beaumont Hall, Edmund Geoffrey Stanley Hornby esq. J.P. of Dalton Hall, and Christopher John Clark esq. The land is chiefly grass land. The names are included in the Lancaster list.

Petty Sessions are held in the Castle, on sat. morning at 11 a.m.The places in the petty sessional division are:-Aldoliile, Ashton-with-Stodday, Bolton-le-Sands, Borwick, Cornforth, Caton, Cockerton, Ellel, Halton, Heaton-with-Oxcliffe, Heysham, Nether Kellet, Middleton, Overton, Poulton Bare & Torrlsholme, Priest Hutton, Quernmoce, Scotfarth, Silverdale, Slyne-with-Hest, Thurnham, Warton-with-Lindeth, Wyresdale Over, Yealand Conyers, Yealand-Redmayne.

LANCASTER UNION

Board day, Saturday fortnightly, at the Board offices, Dalton square, at 2 p.m.

The Union embraces twenty-two townships, namely: Aldclifte, Ashton-with-Stodday, Bolton-le-Sands, Cornforth, Cockerham,Cockersand Abbey, Ellel, Heaton-with-Oxcliffe, Heysham, Lancaster, Middleton, Over Wyresdale, Overton, Poulton, Bare.

PLACES OF WORSHIP, with times of Services

St. Mary’s Parish Church, Castle hill, Rev. William Bonsey M.A. vicar; Revs. F. H. V. Paton, J. D. Elwell & M. S. Courtauld, curates; 8 & 10.30 a.m. & 3 & 6.30 p.m.; Mon. tues, Thur. & sat. 8 a.m. & 5 p.m.; Wed. & Fri. 11 a.m. & 8 p.m.

Christ Church, Lancaster moor, Rev. Melbourne Ker Cooper M.A. vicar; Rev. Arnold Hutchinson B.A. curate; 8 (communion) & 10,30 a.m. (1st & 3rd Sunday in month) & 3 & 6.30 p.m.; daily, 8 a.m. & 6 or 8 p.m.

St. Anne’s, Moor lane, Rev. Robert Park M.A. vicar; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.

St. John’s, Chapel street, Rev. William Harris Ewald M.A. vicar; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; Thur. 3 p.m.

St. Luke’s Skerton, Rev. John Edgar Jelly M.A. vicar; 8 & 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.

St. Thomas’, Fenny street, Rev. John Bone A.K.C. vicar; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.

Penny Hospital Church, King street, clergy of St. Mary; Thur. 6 p.m.

Mission Church, Dale street, clergy of Christ Church: 8 & 10.30 a.m. (childrens, 2 p.m.) & 6.30 p.m.

St. Peter’s (Catholic), East road, The Very Rev. Dean R. W. Billington & Revs. Francis Cosgrave, John Austin Richmond & Louis Green, priests; 8.30, 9.30 & 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; daily, 7.30 & 8.30 a.m.; Thur. 7.30 p.m.

St. Josephs Catholic, Skerton, Rev. Thomas Patrick Murphy, priest; 8.30 & 10 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.

Society of Friends’, Meeting House, Meeting House lane; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; thurs, 7,30 p.m.

Baptist, Nelson street, Rev. Jonathan Baxandall; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; Tues. 7.30 p.m.; seats 450.

Church of Christ, Balmoral road, Rev. Thomas Herbert Bates; 10.30 a.m. & 8.30 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.

Congregational, (Centenary), St. Leonard gate, Rev. Henry William Smith, minister; Rev. John Davidson, assistant; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.; seats 850.

Congregational, High street, Rev. Joseph Freeman Cowley; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.

Independent Methodist, Nelson street; 10,30 a.m. & 6,30 p.m.; Tues. 7.30 p.m.; seats 300.

Methodist Free Church, Brock street, Rev. W. Edmondson; 10.30 am, & 6.30 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.; seats 600.

Presbyterian Church of England (Trinity), Queen street, Rev. James Hay Colligan; 10.30, a.m. & 6.30 p.m.

Primitive Methodist, Moor Iane 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; Thur. 7.30 p.m.; seats 450.

Primitive, Methodist, Skerton: 10.30 a.m. 6 p.m.

Unitarian, St. Nicholas street, Rev. J. Channing Pollard; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; seats 400.

Wesleynn Methodist, Sulyard street; 10.80 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.

Weleyan Methodist, Main street, Skerton; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.

Marsh Wesleyan Mission, Lune road; 10.30 a.m. & 6,80 p.m.

The Royal Grammar school, Bast road, founded in 1472, was rebuilt in 1851—3, at a cost, including the headmaster’s house, of £4,000, & is a building of stone in the Tudor style; in 1875 the school was enlarged at a cost of £5,000; other new buildings recently erected consist of a laboratory for the teaching of practical chemistry & physics, a gymnasium & covered playground, swimming bath, sanatorium, a carpenters shop & extensive playing fields. Attached to the school are three Victoria scholarships of £30 yearly, tenable for three years at Oxford or Cambridge; one Storey scholarship of £50, tenable for three years on the same conditions as the Victoria scholarships; one Blades scholarship of £40, tenable for three years; one Booker scholarship of £32, tenable for three years; one Bradshaw scholarship of £48, & a Queen’s prize of £16, awarded to certain boys upon commencing their career in some trade or profession: there are also two house scholarships of £15 & £20: the endowment, amounting to upwards of £500 yearly, is administered by a governing body, appointed under a scheme of the Charity Commissioners; Chairman, W. Bell esq.; the school is now a secondary school; Rev. Herbert Armstrong Watson M.A. St. Peter’s College, Cambridge, headmaster, with 7 assistant masters & visiting tutors.

Friends’ Grammar, Meeting House lane, founded in 1690, & managed by a committee of five gentlemen of the society, who appoint the master: there are about 100 boys.

Ripley Hospital (The); Rev. Walter Langley Appleford M.A. resident principal & chaplain; Miss L. McLeod, matron; Charles Grime, headmaster; S. Wolstenliolme, T. Nowell, A. Gleave, assistant masters; Miss M. Snalam, headmistress; Miss K. Headlam & Miss L. Headlam, assistant mistresses; Miss F. Ashburner, domestic economy teacher; T. Nowell, organist.

Borough of Lancaster Education Committee; William French M.A., F.I.C. 85 Church street, director of education.

Lancashire County Council Education Authority, No. 2 Sub -District; James Lewis, 82 Church street, clerk to committee.

The Municipal Technical school, Storey institute, Meeting House lane; William French M.A., F.I.C. principal; Charles Ripper, School of Art headmaster; James M. Dowbiggin, secretary.

Council Schools

Bowerham (mixed & infants), erected in 1895, & enlarged 1899 & 1904 for 800 boys & girls; average attendance, 780; & for 376 infants; average attendance, 360.

Marsh (infants), erected in 1896 for 316 children; average, attendance, 220.

Skerton (mixed & infants), built in 1902, for 900 children; average attendance, 460 boys & girls & 250 infants.

Denominational Schools.

St. Leonard gate (boys), founded in 1817; present school, erected 1850, for 500 boys; average attendance, 436 boys; this school has an endowment of £2,100, left by Matthew Pyper in 1817, the interest of which is devoted to general educational purposes; a second endowment of £1,050, the interest of which, is applied to the clothing of about 15 poor boys.

Fenton street (girls), built in 1820 on a site given by John Fenton Cawthorne, for 195 girls; average attendance, 190.

Christ Church (mixed & infants), Moor gate, erected at a cost of £1,200, opened in January, 1875; reorganised enlarged at a further, cost of £1,600, in 1882, to hold 448 boys & girls & 244 infants, & further enlarged in 1886; average attendance, 420 boys & girls & 202 infants.

St. Anne’s (girls & infants), Edward street, erected in 1853, for 186 girls & 200 infants; average attendance, 180 girls & 140 infants.Stolen from Fore bears

St. John’s (girls & infants), Cable street, built in 1868, for. 120 girls & 120 infants; average attendance, 100 girls & 80 infants.

St. Mary’s (mixed & infants), St. George’s quay, opened, in July, 1880, for 250 boys & girls & 90 infants; average attendance, 170 boys & girls & 60 infants.

St. Thomas’ (mixed & infants), Marton street, built in 1843, for 350 boys, 200 girls & 200 infants; average attendance, 380 boys &. girls & 140 infants.

Skerton (mixed & infants), erected in 1836, enlarged in 1839 & further enlarged in 1887, is supported in part by an endowment, of £27 yearly, left by, Henry Williamson in 1767, for education in the doctrines & principles of the Church of England, the trustees, by a recent scheme of the Charity Commissioners, are the vicar churchwardens of St. Luke’s Church, Skerton; the school will hold 500 children; average attendance, 280 boys & girls & 140 infants.

Catholic (boys, girls & infants), East road, built for 400 boys, 300 girls & 340 infants; average attendance, 230 boys, 280 girls & 250 infants.

Catholic, Skerton, built in 1896, for 260 children.

Wesleyan Upper Class (mixed & infants), Sulyard street, for about 600 children; average attendance, 130 boys, 160 girls & 160 infants.