Lancaster

I lived a lot of my life in Lancaster but did not return for many years. This is from my trip to Lancaster on a sunny day, I had so much fun

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Lillies in the canal

Lancaster Canal is a 42-mile / 67 km waterway dug in 1826 linking Preston to the national network and formerly to Kendal, known as the ‘Black and White Canal’ for transporting limestone and coal. Now it is used for leisure and tourism offering scenic countryside walks and supporting diverse wildlife. This is a view near the city centre.

Barges will have carried goods and were a way of life for the “canal boat people” of boatmen and their families. Conditions were cramped and wages faced pressure with competition from railways. While barges are part of the tourist industry some are still a way of living and life, like the one here.

Bridges like this and others here frequently cross the canal. The arches frame what is beyond opening possibilties of connection and transition. What is waiting beyond?

In the two above photos we also see remnants of Lancaster’s industrial past. The hospital chinmey is in the background. I like the reflections of the far back in the canal.

Further south on the canal from Lancaster, I like the reflections of trees and clouds. But also see the figure appraoching on the upper right silhouetted in the patch of light. This towpath would once have been used by horses pulling barges. Now it’s a popular walkway

As well as the canal, Lancaster is on the River Lune with which the canal conects, both of which were important to Lancaster’s history. This included being a key port in the transatlantic slave trade. Below is a detail from Kevin Dalton-Johnson’s monument to Captured Africans” built in 2005.

I like the refelctions here too with the walkway spanning ther river. This was a beautiful summer’s day and the refelctions give a sense of depth and vibrancy.

Now apartments and Air B&Bs the quayside was once lined with warehouses, shown here.

This was a curious scene. The bench is on the quayside. The clock was placed at its centre and by the side (just visiable) was a holdall with more antique clocks. No one else was around. Surely hadn’t been dumped? Artistic statement?

The river sweeps round flowing towards Morecambe Bay. I’ve tried to capture the expanse (though a low tide not navigable) of the river where it’s still inland. Forer warehouses also visible

Back in Lancaster centre. Above is Queen Victoria’s statue off Dalton Square.

An evokative allyway in the centre – there are lots of fantastic allyways here. Like the canal bridges they pose for the viewer questions about what comes next. Lancaster is a very photogenic city!

A doorway into more allyways. Opposite the castle.

Sun Studios with intricate metalwork

City centre approaching the Grand Theatre, below. Al the classical buildings and pavements in Lancaster are stone-built.

The Grand Theatre. I like the dappled effect os reflected light early in the morning. Built in 1781 it is billed as the ‘third oldest working theatre in the UK’