Lancaster is a city lying close to the River Lune and the Lancaster Canal and is the traditional county town of Lancashire.
The city has long been known as a commercial, cultural and education centre.
It has many ties with Royalty, the House of Lancaster was part of the English Royal Family and the Duchy of Lancaster holds large estates for Queen Elizabeth.
The Emblem of Lancaster is the red rose and it was the Lancastrians that fought with those from Yorkshire in the War of the Roses.
The city is home to Lancaster University that is one of the top research universities in the UK. It is one of two that has a 6 star research rating. Also in Lancaster is the University of Cumbria offering under and post-graduate courses in the arts, business and teacher training along with health care and nursing.
Lancaster Castle was partly built in the 13th century and expanded by Elizabeth I. The castle in infamous for the Pendle witch trials and became known as the ‘Hanging Town’ because of the number of people sentenced to hand by the court.
Many city and quay side buildings date from the 1800’s when it was one of the busiest ports in the UK and the fourth most important in the UK slave trade. But its importance was not to last long as the river silted up. Heysham now is the areas main port.
The main trades of the city include animal feeds, textiles, chemicals, paper, farm machinery, HGV trailers and more recently high technology has come to the fore with Information Technology and Communications companies investing in the city.
Until quite recently Reebok had their foreign headquarters in Lancaster but since their merger with Adidas they are relocating to Bolton.
Lancaster has a large shopping centre with two undercover centres, Marketgate Shopping Centre and St. Nicholas Arcades with shops that include, Pigtails Childrenswear, Tights Tastic, Adams, Jules, Margee, Temptation, Sienna, Vsix Clothing, Lapel Menswear and Verdi. There are also several independent shops plus two retail parks on the edge of the city.
If plans, submitted in 2005, are approved the city centre will be redeveloped to include a central piazza and would include a large Debenhams store, cafes, restaurants and apartments.
Property for rent is always available with average prices of £605pcm for a 2 bed flat, £555pcm for a 3 bed house and £1290pcm for a 4 bed house.
The M6 motorway is close by and West Coast railway serves Lancaster Railway Station.
Lancaster Castle, The Priory and the Edwardian Ashton Memorial are some important historical sites.
The city has many museums and holds various festivals throughout the year.
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