Lancaster

English royal house, a branch of the Plantagenets.

It originated in 1267 when Edmund (died 1296), the younger son of Henry III, was granted the earldom of Lancaster. Converted to a duchy for Henry of Grosmont (died 1361), it passed to John of Gaunt in 1362 by his marriage to Blanche, Henry's daughter. John's son, Henry IV, established the royal dynasty of Lancaster in 1399, and he was followed by two more Lancastrian kings, Henry V and Henry VI.

Lancaster

City in Lancashire, northwest England, on the River Lune; population (2001, Lancaster Urban Area) 47,160. Until 1974 it was the county town of Lancashire (now Preston is the county town). Industries include the manufacture of paper, furniture, plastics, chemicals, textiles, and wall and floor coverings (linoleum). Manufacturing accounts for 12% of employment, while tourism accounts for 10%. The service sector is the largest employer, and there is an important livestock market. Education facilities include the University of Lancaster (1964) and St Martin's College. The city's castle was originally established in the 11th century on the site of a Roman fort.

Features There are Roman remains; a bath house was discovered and excavated in 1973–74, and there are fragments of a wall of a 4th-century fort. The Norman keep was built in about 1170 and restored in the late 16th century. The castle was enlarged by John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster from 1362, and father of Henry IV. It was a parliamentary stronghold during the Civil War. Now much altered it is used as a court and prison. Some of the early structure survives, including the keep and the 13th-century Hadrian's Tower. The priory church of St Mary was founded as a Benedictine priory in 1094. It has a Saxon doorway, but dates mainly from the 15th century. Many of the city's buildings are Georgian, reflecting the period of prosperity in the 18th century when Lancaster was an important port for trade with the West Indies. Other features include St George's Quay, and Custom House (1764) which now houses a museum. The old town hall, now a museum, dates from 1781 to 1783. The Catholic cathedral (1859) has a spire 73 m/239 ft high. The Lancaster Canal which weaves through the city is 200 years old and is used for towpath walks, cruises, and regattas. The maritime museum, opened in 1985, occupies the 18th-century riverside custom house and tells the story of the port of Lancaster. The Anglo-Italian baroque-style Ashton Memorial (1906–09) in Williamson Park was built by Lord Ashton, whose family were linoleum manufacturers. The University of Lancaster contains the Ruskin Library (1996), housing a collection of works by the 19th-century art and social critic John Ruskin. The River Lune Millennium Park was under construction by the City Council in 2000.

Environs The nuclear industry at nearby Heysham provides significant employment in the area.

Lancaster

The Avro Lancaster B2 on a Battle of Britain Memorial flight. The Lancaster was probably the most effective heavy bomber used by the Royal Air Force during World War II.

British heavy bomber of World War II made by the Avro company. It was first flown in June 1941 and developed into the RAF's best heavy bomber of the war. Lancaster bombers were responsible for the sinking of the Tirpitz and the ‘dambuster’ raids in 1944.

A heavy four-engine bomber, it was capable of carrying up to 6,350 kg/14,000 lbs of bombs at a speed of 462 kph/287 mph for 2,575 km/1,600 mi. Highly adaptable, it could carry the 5,500 kg/12,000 lb Tallboy bomb and took the bouncing bomb used in the ‘dambuster’ raids on the Ruhr dams.

Lancaster

City in Los Angeles County, southwest California, 72km/45mi northeast of Los Angeles in the Antelope Valley, at the western edge of the Mojave Desert; population (1994 est) 119,000. It is a commercial centre for an irrigated agricultural area producing alfalfa, cotton, citrus fruits and nuts. Employment is also provided by Edwards Air Force Base and several aerospace research and manufacturing companies. The city is home to Antelope Valley College (1929).

Lancaster was first laid out as a town in 1884, taking its name from Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Lancaster

City in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, 115 km/70 mi west of Philadelphia; seat of Lancaster County; population (1992 est) 57,200. It is the centre of a rich agricultural region; industries include the manufacture of textiles, machinery, health-care products, watches, and electrical goods.

Lancaster was laid out in 1730, was capital of the USA briefly in 1777, and was the state capital 1799–1812; it was incorporated as a city in 1818. It is the seat of Franklin and Marshall College (1787), Lancaster Theological Seminary (1825), and the Lancaster Bible College (1933). Lancaster was the home of US president James Buchanan.

Much of the character of the surrounding Pennsylvania Dutch region comes from the farming practices and cultural traits of the Amish and other ‘plain folk’ communities who make up the majority of the population.