A Virtual Tour of Lancaster
Lancaster, the historic county town of Lancashire, is situated on the River Lune at its lowest crossing point. The town owes its existence to this strategically important location.
The town has a rich history. Neolithic and Bronze Age artifacts have been found around the Castle, indicating that the area has been settled since early times. A Roman fort was situated on Castle Hill from the AD/CE 70s until the end of the Roman occupation. There is evidence for an Anglo-Saxon church on the same site and the settlements of "Loncastre" and "Chercaloncastre" (i.e. the church site) are mentioned in the Domesday Book. Following the Norman conquest the Manor of Halton, to which Lancaster then belonged, was given to Roger of Poitou who built a Castle in Lancaster and founded the adjacent Priory in 1094. The town was granted its borough charter in 1193 by John of Mortain, later to be King John. The town was notable for religious institutions in the Middle Ages - as well as the Priory, there was a Dominican friary and a Leper hospital. The nearby abbeys of Furness and Cockersands also owned property in the borough.
In the 16th and 17th centuries the town was host to the twice-yearly assizes (courts) held in the Castle. Lancaster expanded in the 18th century when it was a thriving port, trading with West Africa, North America and the West Indies, including aspects of the slave trade. After a decline in the first half of the 19th century, the town entered a period of prosperity and expansion in the later 1800s based on the oilcloth industry and engineering. Lancaster became a City in 1937. The latter half of the 20th century saw a decrease in the city's fortunes as manufacturing industries declined. While some industry remains, the service sector, in particular education (including two universities) and healthcare, is the major employer today in a thriving and expanding city.This tour, covering the historic centre of Lancaster, visits sites associated with all periods of Lancaster's history. There are a few visible Roman remains and the Castle and Priory are the major surviving medieval structures. There are, however, many fine 18th century buildings and much evidence of Lancaster's maritime and industrial history. This is a walking tour, so please allow 2-3 hours for the full tour, or you can follow the tour virtually at home. Clicking on most of the photographs will bring up a larger version in a new window. Unless otherwise stated, photographs are copyright LAHS. They may be used freely for non-profit and educational purposes. Some interesting features from Lancaster's past have been destroyed and nothing visible remains above ground. These features are indicated by the 
logo. A map of central Lancaster, courtesy of Lancaster City Council, covering the route, can be found here.
Acknowledgements
I am indebted to A History of Lancaster, edited by Andrew White, Edinburgh University Press, 2001 for much of the historical information in this tour. Other valuable sources were:
- The Buildings of Georgian Lancaster by Andrew White, Lancaster University Centre for North-West Regional Studies
- Railways Around Lancaster by K Nuttall and T Rawlings, Dalesman
- Industrial Lancaster by James Price, Lancaster City Museum Local Studies no. 12.
- Lancaster Priory web site.
- Lancaster City Museum
I thank David Shotter, James Price and Rachel Newman for their contributions and helpful suggestions. Original text and photographs by Alan Shirras. Revised 2026.
The Tour
The tour is circular and may be started from any of the locations.
