Most students living in IPM managed properties are in their second year plus of living in Lancaster and should be nicely settled into their Lancaster student home. However, how many of you actually know anything about Lancaster itself and the history of the beautiful city you live in. Lancaster is one of England’s Heritage Cities and whilst it may be a very small city, it has a lot to offer with a fascinating past and a diverse present.
Lancaster’s Dark History!
You can’t live in Lancaster and not know anything about Lancaster Castle! It’s one of the most recognisable pieces of architecture in the city and its grizzly history is something Lancaster is famous for! The castle itself can be seen from almost anywhere in the town, and some of you in Lancaster town centre student accommodation may be able to see it from your home. The castle dates back to the roman times, and has seen it all, including the Pendle Witch Trials, over 200 executions and was a working prison up until as recent as 2011. To go up to the castle and have a wander around the grounds is completely free, they also have a café serving one of Lancaster’s most popular coffees, Atkinsons. If you wish to learn a more in depth history of Lancaster Castle, you can book yourself on a guided tour, it costs £6.50pp for students with a valid student card and is certainly worth a visit to learn more about Lancaster’s darker history.
Lancaster’s Heritage
Located right in the centre of Lancaster in Market Square, the former town hall pays tribute to Lancaster’s history with a wonderful interactive museum. The museum was founded in 1923 and is home to a varied collection of exhibits and dioramas telling the stories of the people who have made Lancaster what it is today. The same building is also home to the King’s Own Royal Regiment Museum, which gives an interesting insight into the military heritage of Lancaster’s regiments from as early as the 1600’s.
The city centre hosts a range of heritage plaques, which you may be able to spot when you’re walking round Lancaster! If you wish to find out more about Lancaster heritage plaques and the history behind all of them, click here.
Walks around Lancaster
Lancaster museum also runs a program called ‘Walks with Stories’, which involves guided walks around iconic places in Lancaster city centre and the history behind it. These are really popular with both locals and tourists, and they often do themed walks depending on the time of year, for example, during autumn they offer spooky Halloween ghost tours. These ‘walks’ are a perfect way to learn more about the city’s history, plus you may even end up walking past your Lancaster town centre student home! To find out more about ‘Walks with Stories’ click here.
If you want to be more involved in everything Lancaster offers and learn more about its wonderful history, visit the Visit Lancaster website here. To keep up to date with all things IPM, Lancaster student living and Lancaster student accommodation, visit the IPM blog page here.