Last week I spent the whole day in Lancaster, a place I’m not that familiar with (hailing as I do, from the exact other end of the county). So, when an Irish journalist, on one of our familiarisation visits to the area, needed to meet up with the communications representative of the tourist board – I was delighted to spend some time there.
First stop was Lancaster Castle, where the journalist and I took the organised tour which started at 10.30am. Peter Leeson was our tour guide who made the 12 or so guests feel very welcome, especially those for whom English was not their first language. He explained that the Castle was still a working prison and court, the oldest in England and that a fortress (of varying shapes and sizes) had existed there since Roman times. For a comprehensive history of the castle, click here.
I’m not going to go into the history here but just offer my opinion on the tour – which was just fascinating! From amazingly decorated formal rooms, full of heraldry and colour, to some of the most sinister environments that I’ve ever experienced. Peter shared interesting details about the craftsmanship and architecture– I was particularly struck with an amazing ceiling that we all thought was wood panelling, but was indeed painted by Italian fine artists. Some of the finest carved furniture, created by the famous Gillow family is also found here, which must surely be valued in the millions (it’s obviously in a very safe place!)
As we visited some of the more spine-tingling rooms like Hadrian’s Tower, the old cells and the Drop Room, Peter told us tales that had us hanging on his every word (apologies for the pun). The youngsters in the group seemed even more interested as the stories got more gruesome! However, the worst for me was being closed in one of the old cells. Today we enjoy light at the flick of switch, so, to be encased in complete darkness, the normal state for prisoners unlucky enough to be condemned to these cells - was just horrific. Not one for confined spaces anyway, I had to put my hand on the wall to keep steady. Peter, I’m guessing, knows precisely the amount of time he can keep 12 people in one of these small cells before they start screaming for help – I was literally one second away!
The tour of Lancaster Castle was just brilliant – as was Peter (I’ve just about forgiven him for my trauma in the cell). I don’t want to go into too much detail and spoil your own visit but it really is worth it and took about an hour (though this can vary as some of the rooms may be in use with real court cases). For details of opening times and prices - click here.
The rest of my day was spent looking around the beautiful Priory and Parish Church, arranging press photographs and a BBC Radio Lancashire interview at the new Visitor Information Centre in the Storey (what a wonderful place that is.....visit the gallery, there’s some great work in there at the moment). Having enjoyed the outdoor market and one or two shops, I rounded off the day with a visit to Dukes for a quiet drink with a friend on her way to see a film, before I headed back to the other end of the county - with every intention of making many return trips to Lancaster !
Anna Izza
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