Lancaster in historic gazetteers

Gazetteer of the British Isles (Edinburgh: Bartholomew, 1887). John Bartholomew

Lancaster, mun. bor., seaport, par., township, and co. town of Lancashire, in N. div. of the co., on S. bank of river Lune, 51½ miles NW. of Manchester and 231 NW. of London by rail--par., 71,323 ac. (3350 water) and 11,726 foreshore, pop. 39,531; bor. and township, 1494 ac. (154 water), pop. 20,663; 2 Banks, 3 newspapers. Market-days, Wednesday and Saturday. Lancaster has a picturesque and pleasant situation on the acclivities of a hill, which is crowned by the Castle (now the co. gaol), said to have been erected on the site of the Roman castrum. In 1698 the town was nearly destroyed by fire; it also suffered during the risings of 1715 and 1745. The accumulation of sand in the river has made the port inaccessible for large vessels, but there is a dock at Glasson, 5 miles distant, where ships usually transfer their cargoes to lighters. (For shipping statistics, see Appendix.) The industries comprise the mfr. of cabinet furniture, fancy oilcloths for table-covers, &C., cotton and silk goods, railway plant, and machinery.