Fascinating Lancashire Stories and Secrets

Lancashire is steeped in history, fascinating stories and secrets.

We thought we would share with you some of our fascinating facts to show you what is waiting for you to discover in Lancashire #WhereLifeFeelsGood.

Did you know?

• Lancashire was established in 1182 – making it one of the youngest historic counties in England
  
  
• The Preston Bypass / M6 was the first motorway to be constructed in the country which opened 5 December 1958
  
  
• Lancashire is 80% rural and covers an area of 3,075 sq km - making it one of the larger shire counties
  
  
• Dunsop Bridge in the Ribble Valley is the centre of the British Isles
  
  
• Lancashire has two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty – Forest of Bowland AONB and Arnside & Silverdale AONB
  
  
• The Forest of Bowland AONB covers 802 square km - making it the same size as New York City in terms of land mass. This includes over 500 listed buildings and 18 scheduled monuments
  
  
• Pendle Hill is only 165ft shy of also being called a mountain
  
  
• Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II is also the current Duke of Lancaster. Since 1399, the title Duke of Lancaster has been held by the reigning Sovereign
  
  
• Lancaster Castle belongs to the Queen. The Shire Hall (within Lancaster Castle) has the country’s largest display of coat of arms shields on view to the public.  Visitors can take an award winning guided tour of the castle
  
  
• Lancaster Castle was the location for the famous witch trials of 1612 which saw 10 people hung for crimes associated with witchcraft
  
  
• The 40 mile Lancashire Witch Driving trail goes from Pendle Hill to Lancaster Castle – and follows the route taken by the accused witches from their home villages to the prison and court in Lancaster
  
  
• Queen Street Mill Textile Museum in Museum is the last surviving, operational steam powered mill in the world
  
  
• Europe’s largest collection of Tiffany Glass can be found at the Haworth Art Gallery in Accrington
  
  
• Still fighting after 200 years, the Tiger & Python, at the Whittaker Rossendale Museum & Gallery in Rawtenstall is considered to be on the world’s finest piece of taxidermy. It’s so famous that there’s a painting, inspired by it, hanging in The Louvre, Paris
  
  
• The Lancaster Canal has forty one miles of waterway without a lock. Making it the longest lock-free stretch of man-made waterway in the country
  
  
• Stonyhurst College and the surrounding Ribble Valley is said to be the inspiration for Tolkien’s Middle-earth from `Lord of the Rings` – his son boarded at the college which he visited regularly
  
  
• Iconic British film Brief Encounter, staring Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson, was filmed on Carnforth station early in 1945. The film was voted the most romantic film of all time and the film’s location was Carnforth Station & Heritage Centre and celebrates its 70^th anniversary on 26 November
  
  
• The Blackpool Tower is half the size of its Parisian cousin, the Eiffel Tower, at 518ft 9in. It takes 7 years to paint Blackpool Tower using 9 tons of paint
  
  
• Britain’s first electronic tram, which revolutionised transport in the whole county, made its debut appearance on the streets of Blackpool on 29 September 1885
  
  
• 1879 was the first year of the world famous Blackpool Illuminations with just eight arc lamps
  
  
• In 1965 the first UK Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant opened its doors in Preston
  
  
• There are 10 Lancashire Cheese Makers all situated within 10 miles of Forest of Bowland AONB. All the cheese makers make Lancashire Cheese in the traditional method using Lancashire milk
  
  
• Beacon Fell traditional Lancashire cheese carries the ‘Protected Designator of Origin’ marquee. (made by Grandma Singletons)
  
  
• The Sirloin cut of beef was created in Lancashire in 1617 when King James I stayed at Hoghton Tower and Knighted the beef he had enjoyed at dinner. Visitors can see the banqueting hall where James I dined and the menu from the famous ‘Sir Loin’ meal
  
  
• Baxters of Morecambe have been producing Morecambe Bay potted shrimps since 1880 – and have retained the Royal Warrant since 1967. The traditional dish is made with brown shrimps and nutmeg
  
  
• There are 23 breweries in Lancashire serving up a variety of award winning cask ales including Hen Harrier and Pendle Witches Brew. Real Ale fans can join the ‘East Lancashire Railway’s ‘Real Ale Trail’ sampling real ale at various stops along the route from Bury to Rawtenstall
  
  
• Fitzpatrick's 1890 - Britain's Last Original Temperance Bar is in Rawtenstall, Lancashire
  
  
• The town of Burnley sells the most French Benedictine per year in the world. They Burnley Miners social club goes through 1000 bottles a year. East Lancashire soldiers drank it in Normandy in First World War, they liked it that much they brought it home.