City of Lancaster, UK
Posted by: 
martlakes
N 54° 04.248 W 002° 48.069
30U E 513012 N 5991417
Lancaster is in NW England near the coast of Morecambe Bay and astride the River Lune. It gave its name to Lancaster in Pennsylvania, USA.
Waymark Code: WM3FZQ
Location: North West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 03/31/2008
Views: 60
Lancaster UK has a total resident population of 45,952, and together with a number of other towns, forms part of the wider City of Lancaster local government district, with a population of 133,914.
Long existing as a commercial, cultural and educational centre, Lancaster is the traditional county town of Lancashire, to which it gives its name. It has a history back to Roman times and beyond.
The 13th century castle, plus later additions, stands above the river. The Lune is tidal here and once it was a bustling, thriving port. Changes in the Bay lead to silting up of the river and shipping moved to easier, deeper ports. There are a lot of fine Georgian and Victorian buildings in the centre.
Lancaster was the fourth largest slave port in Britain and around 200 voyages left the city in the eighteenth century. Between 1750 and 1790 alone Lancaster merchants were responsible for the forced transportation of approximately 24,950 Africans across the Atlantic and into slavery in the West Indies and the Southern States of America. A lot of wealth came into Lancaster as a result.
In recent times quite a lot of manufacturing took place along the river. Lancaster also became well connected with a canal and later the railway. The main west-coast line still runs through the town and the M6 motorway just to the east, both of which provide good links to the rest of the country. The University is just to the south of the centre and has a large economic and cultural effect on the city. There is a thriving arts scene, especially the Dukes Playhouse theatre.
Lancaster has many sights to see for the visitor. One of the best is Williamson Park, built by millionaire James Williamson and is spread over 50 acres. The park is dominated by the Ashton Memorial, a huge folly built in the 1900s by Williamson in memory of his wife. It gives excellent views over the city as it is on the hill rising up to the east. A wide range of shops draws people in from a large area. It is also one of six Cycling Demonstration Towns and trying hard to get more people cycling by providing linked cycle routes around the city.
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