Lancaster Lunatic Asylum 2

Derelict building, obsolete term. Here is the building commonly known as 'Lancaster Lunatic Asylum' since its completion in 1816.

In the background is Morecambe Bay. The town of Morecambe is Lancaster's neighbouring seaside resort (click on the photo to enlarge).

Lancaster Lunatic Asylum

Islamic school, Lancaster (The Royal Albert aka Jamea Al Kauthar)

The Royal Albert building on Ashton Road, Lancaster. This impressive structure currently houses an Islamic girls' madressah and boarding school, Jamea Al Kauthar. The school caters for 440 girls who study:

"the traditional sciences concurrently with secondary and further education, offer[ing] the 'Tahfeez Ul Quraan' programme (committing the whole quran to memory) and a two year abridged version of the Islamic Teaching programme in the English medium."

I know little about the school beyond what can be found on their website, although it's a building I'd dearly like to visit. I'll contact them and ask for a tour at some point when school is out, perhaps during the summer.

Custom House, Lancaster

Custom House, Lancaster, originally uploaded by Lancaster Today.

The Custom House, Lancaster Quay, built in 1765 and restored as Lancaster Maritime Museum in 1985.

The building has played a role in Lancaster's slave trade history, both as the place where merchants taxes would have been paid during that period, and today as a place where those links are presented for discussion.

NOTE: I'm on hols until Wed and having probs uploading pics, so unless I can get it sorted there will be a short hiatus on the blog.

More Edwardian Hats, Lancaster Unlocked

Edwardian Day, Lancaster Market 53, originally uploaded by Lancaster Today.

And another set of three for you this evening. Hats seems to be the order of the day.

Edwardian Day, Lancaster Market 51, originally uploaded by Lancaster Today.

Edwardian Market, Lancaster - Bowler Hat, originally uploaded by Lancaster Today.

And you might also remember this Edwardian gent - or his work - from a previous post. Meet Alvin of Lancaster Pottery, whose creations some of you so admired in this earlier post.

Sambo's Grave, Sunderland Point

Sambo's grave sign, originally uploaded by Lancaster Today.

Note: This is the first of three posts in which I'll discuss things I enjoy doing in England. The first is exploring places of historical and political interest close to home. For more ideas on the theme of 'Exploring England', see the Guardian's Enjoy England pages.

For Sambo, originally uploaded by Lancaster Today.

There are often fascinating places on our doorstep which we don't take the time to explore. Perhaps it's because they are so close that we don't make the effort? They are not 'exotic' enough - something like that?

Anyway, I set out to Sunderland Point yesterday to see what it was all about, and, particularly, to visit Sambo's grave. Sambo? Who is Sambo? Surely you've heard of him, educated reader? But just in case you haven't, let me show off my newly-acquired knowledge to save you from your ignorance.

Sambo's grave is a memorial to a young, black slave who is believed to have arrived at the port in Sunderland Point by ship in 1736. He was an African stolen into slavery and first brought to the West Indies before beginning the long journey to Lancaster with his master. Unfortunately for Sambo (as if his life was not tragic enough), shortly after arrival he was taken ill and died near a local inn. Perhaps his immune system was not prepared for the infections carried by the North West Englanders?

Sambo was buried in an unmarked grave, until, in 1795, a certain Rev Watson led an effort to have a memorial erected. It is believed that this teacher penned the following elegy found on the grave:

Full sixty years the angry winter's wave

Has thundering dashed this bleak and barren shore

Since Sambo's head laid in this lonely grave

Lies still and ne'er will hear their turmoil more.

Full many a sandbird chirps upon the sod,

And many a moonlight elfin round him trips

Full many a summer's sunbeam warms the clod

And many a teeming cloud upon him drips.

But still he sleeps - till the awakening sounds,

Of the Archangel's trump new life impart,

Then the Great Judge his approbation founds,

Not on man's colour but his worth of heart.

In the picture below, you'll see that people lay little gifts and stones with messages on them beside the grave. Perhaps it's the overwhelming sense of guilt we should rightly feel that prompts people to pay homage to this single African slave? Or perhaps it's just the love of a sentimental story that pushes these little showings of affection and compassion for a boy who died so long ago. Whatever individual reasons people have for visiting and caring for Sambo's grave, they've prompted my own small scream of indignation into the wind at Sunderland Point.

More tomorrow about the wondrous place that is Sunderland Point. I have much to share about it, but refuse to spoil Sambo's post with such mundaneness tonight. But if you have any interest in reading more about Lancaster's links with the Slave trade, see my previous post on William Lindow.

p.s. Yesterday's post (what are they?) contained a picture of stones on sticks, onto which people have written little messages to Sambo and placed near his memorial. An example I saw there was: You left no footprints but we found you in our hearts. Diane.

Flag-waving city

Flag-waving city, originally uploaded by Lancaster Today.

Last night's toilet revelations must have put nationalism on my mind; everywhere I looked this evening, flags were.

Well, one flag - dominating the city centre above Lancaster Castle.

But not the sky. The sky always wins.

The cross. The crown. The flag. The castle:

All diminished.

The sky is bigger, originally uploaded by Lancaster Today.

Toilet Recruitment

Poster in pub toilet, originally uploaded by Lancaster Today.

Went looking for a city scene to shoot.

Needed a pee so popped into a pub.

If I'd been broke - and very drunk - I might have been recruited.

Or maybe not.

Eagles and virgins

Eagle lectern in Lancaster Priory, originally uploaded by Lancaster Today.

More photos from Lancaster Priory, this time focussing on two objects of art on the floor (see earlier Priory photos here and here).

The eagle's head is from the church lectern. You can see the full piece in this photo on the Priory's homepage, where you'll also read that the lectern was presented to the Priory by E.G. Paley in 1870. (Edward Pale was a Lancaster architect - you can see his Wiki profile here).

The photo below shows a partial view of a large modern statue of Mary situated at the back of the church. My guess is that it is the most recent artistic addition to the priory's collection, but will have to confirm this after the next visit the priory - a good excuse to take more photos.

Mary in Lancaster Priory, originally uploaded by Lancaster Today.

This historical time-line of Lancaster Priory is worth scanning. The first building on the site dates back nearly 2,000 years, and you can find details of various additions, donations and other church-related events as well as the historical context in which they happened. Unfortunately, no mention of that statue of Mary though!

House of Lancaster

Divine right?, originally uploaded by Lancaster Today.

Royal coat of arms on the balcony of Lancaster Priory, looking down on the congregation.

The House of Lancaster was a branch of the English royal family, ruling England for more than 60 years under Henry IV, Henry V and Henry VI. The Duchy of Lancaster still holds large estates in the city (including Lancaster Castle) which provide a primary source of income for the monarch. The current Duke of Lancaster is Queen Elizabeth II.

Translation of the insriptions (more info by clicking on the links):

DIEU ET MON DROIT = God and my right (motto of British monarch)

HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE = Shame on him who thinks evil of it (motto of the Order of the Garter)

William Lindow

William Lindow's grave, originally uploaded by Lancaster Today.

William Lindow was buried in the Rawlinson family grave, pictured above, in the north-west corner of Lancaster Priory churchyard (next to Lancaster Castle). By marrying Abigail Rawlinson, William - a sea captain for the family - joined Lancaster's principal merchant dynasty in the late 18th/early 19th century. (Inscriptions on the grave detailed here - see entry 435 under Rawlinson, Henry).

The Rawlinson family ships were involved in the slave trade, departing from Lancaster to trade slaves between islands in the West Indies and transport the fruits of slave labour. The slave trade's contribution to the fortunes of families like the Lindows and the Rawlinsons is the subject of Melinda Elder's book The Slave Trade and the Economic Development of 18th Century Lancaster.

According to Global Links' notes on their Lancaster Slave Trade town Trail , William and Abigail had a black servant - probably a slave - called John Chance who worked at their home in Queen Square. The home that 'John' served now houses a doctor's surgery and can be seen in this photo.

In reference to yesterday's post, it seems likely that William Lindow once owned the land now occupied by that area where his name is prominent on street signs. If you view the street map here, you can see the proximity of Lindow Square / Street to their house on Queen Street. I will verify this when I can.

See a portrait here of Mr and Mrs William Lindow 1772 by George Romney.

THANKS TO: Eric Wilkinson, archivist at Lancaster Castle, for the useful pointers yesterday.