County in England
Lancashire
Lancashire's red rose recalls the Wars of the Roses, its witches became Britain's most famous trial, and the monarch is always its Duke, even a queen.
Key information
- County
- Lancashire
- Nation
- England
- Known for
- The red rose, the Pendle witches, Blackpool, cotton mills, hotpot and cricket
- What locals are called
- Lancastrians, or Lancashire folk
- Famous people
- Eric Morecambe, Richard Arkwright, Tom Finney
- Football clubs
- Preston North End, Blackburn Rovers, Burnley, Blackpool, Accrington Stanley
About Lancashire
The county whose ruler is always a Duke
Lancashire has an odd claim: its ruler is a man, whoever sits on the throne. The monarch holds the title Duke of Lancaster, and that remains true when the monarch is a queen. In Lancashire the loyal toast is traditionally to "The King, Duke of Lancaster". The title comes from the medieval Duchy of Lancaster, which passed to the Crown in 1399 when Henry Bolingbroke became Henry IV. The Duchy still exists as a private estate that supports the monarch. Its emblem is the red rose, which is why Lancashire is the Red Rose County. The rose was a symbol of the House of Lancaster, which fought the white rose of York for the crown in the Wars of the Roses in the fifteenth century. Lancashire and Yorkshire have been trading friendly insults ever since.
Ten hangings and a hill that still casts a shadow
Pendle Hill rises above the Ribble Valley, and in 1612 it gave its name to one of the most famous witch trials in English history. Nine defendants associated with the Pendle witch trials were hanged at Lancaster on 20 August 1612, after being tried at Lancaster Castle. A tenth, Jennet Preston, was tried at York on 27 July 1612 and hanged there on 29 July. The accused included Elizabeth Device, Alizon Device and Alice Nutter. The case rested heavily on the testimony of a child, Jennet Device. Today the story is everywhere: in the hill's walking trails, in the villages of Barley and Newchurch in Pendle, and in the buses and beers named after the witches. Lancaster Castle, where the trial took place, was a working prison until 2011.
Spindles, looms and the machines that changed the world
Lancashire's damp air and fast streams suited cotton spinning, and the county became a powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution. Richard Arkwright, born in Preston in 1732, helped create the factory system with his water-powered spinning frame. James Hargreaves, who is linked with Oswaldtwistle and Blackburn, is credited with the spinning jenny. Mill towns such as Blackburn, Burnley, Preston and Accrington filled with chimneys and terraced streets. Burnley once claimed more looms than anywhere else on Earth. Preston still celebrates its Guild, a civic festival held every twenty years since 1542. The 1942 Guild was postponed until 1952 because of the Second World War. Processions and parties mark each one, and the next is due in 2032.
Britain's seaside, built on a Lancashire beach
When the mill towns got their annual holidays, the workers headed for the coast, and Blackpool grew to meet them. Blackpool Tower opened in 1894, modelled on the Eiffel Tower, and its Tower Ballroom is famous for the Wurlitzer organ and for ballroom dancing. The modern autumn Illuminations began in 1912, were interrupted during and after both world wars, and resumed in 1925 and 1949. Blackpool Pleasure Beach, meanwhile, is a roller-coaster landmark in its own right. When The Big One opened in 1994, it was the tallest roller coaster in the world. Further north, Morecambe Bay offers huge skies, sand flats and a long tradition of shrimping. Morecambe also gave its name to the comedian Eric Morecambe, who was born there in 1926 as John Eric Bartholomew. His statue on the promenade shows him in mid-dance.
Football's first champions and cricket's fiercest rivalry
Lancashire's football roots run deep. In 1888-89 Preston North End won the very first Football League title without losing a single match, and also won the FA Cup without conceding a goal. They were nicknamed the Invincibles. Tom Finney, the "Preston Plumber", later became one of the club's greatest players. Blackburn Rovers, Burnley, Blackpool and Accrington Stanley all have proud stories too. Blackpool won the 1953 FA Cup final, known as the Matthews Final after Stanley Matthews. Blackburn won the Premier League in 1994-95. Lancashire County Cricket Club was founded in 1864 and plays at Old Trafford. The Roses Match against Yorkshire is one of the oldest rivalries in English sport.
Hotpot, cheese and a Lancashire accent
Lancashire hotpot is a slow-cooked stew of lamb or mutton topped with overlapping slices of potato. Tradition says it suited mill families because it could be left cooking all day. Lancashire cheese, which is crumbly, creamy and good on toast, is another local favourite. Black pudding and Morecambe Bay potted shrimps also have their devotees. Lancashire Day on 27 November celebrates the county's identity, with flags and pageantry across its towns. The county's dialect and its dry, self-mocking humour have given British comedy a great deal, from Eric Morecambe to generations of northern entertainers.