The county town of Lancaster in Lancashire is the most important city in the area. It has a rich history, dating back to the times of the Romans and Saxons, it is an important centre for education and culture, and has a strong commercial background. It is worth mentioning that the House of Lancaster was once a branch of the English Royal Family. The Duchy of Lancaster holds impressive estates in the behalf of Queen Elizabeth II. So, the city and its surrounding areas played and continue to play an important role in the history of the region and country alike.
The name of the city, Lancaster, comes from words in Old English and Latin. The word “Lon” makes reference to “river”, while “caster” comes from the old “cæster” in English or “castrum” in Latin, which means “fort”. The word “fort” wasn’t just borrowed for the making of the city’s name, but actually comes from a Roman fort that existed in the area. It is believed that this fort was built in the last part of the 1st century, AD. It was positioned on the same hill where you can see the Lancaster Castle in present days. Several Roman coins found at this site led to these conclusions, also making experts believe that the fort was not inhabited in a continuous manner.
In 1812, several Roman baths were also discovered in Lancaster, in the proximity of the junction formed our of the Church Street and Bridge Lane. It was believed that this bathhouse served a fort from the 4th century. But, in spite of the numerous findings dating back to the times of the Romans, very little is known about the ruling of the Romans in Britain during that period. Details missing from the period between the 5th century and 11th century when the Norman Conquest took place. But, even so, it is believed that the city was inhabited during this period, even if solid proof was not found.
In 1066, after the Norman conquest was completed, Lancaster ended up in the rule of William I. This detail was mentioned in the Domesday Book, in the year 1086, which is also the first written evidence where the name of the city was mentioned. In 1193, it was controlled by King Richard I. And, in the 13th century, the construction of the Lancaster Castle started, which was, later on, continued and expanded by Elizabeth I. As mentioned earlier, this castle stands on the former site of a Roman garrison. But, only in 1937 it officially became a city. Many of the old buildings that can be seen in the center of Lancaster date back to the 19th century, being built in a period when the port in the city was one of the busiest in the country.
In present days, Lancaster is focused mainly on the service industry. Besides the fact that the city manufactures a wide range of goods, such as paper, textiles, chemicals, and livestock, a top-notch technology sector started to emerge as well. Many IT and communications companies chose to invest in Lancaster, which explains the development of this new activity domain. Until 2007, Lancaster was the headquarters for the famous company Reebok. Since 1880, when the Bowerham Barracks were completed, military forces are permanently present in the city.
Having worked in and around Lancaster Fixing TV Aerials I have noticed a lot of very interesting older buildings. As an Aerial Installer in Lancaster I am often at an advantage to get a good look at things because I often work on roof tops. For more info on Aerial Installation work go to https://digitec-aerials.co.uk/tv-aerial-installation/lancaster/
Read … Places to Visit in Lancaster