Some years ago, I’d
guess about forty, I was on my own in Lancaster where a work commitment had
gone awry. Instead of packing up and heading home, I decided to spend time
looking around, enjoying the sunshine. Lancaster is the first place I properly
remember from my childhood with memories I hold close to my heart including the
birth of my sister. Our family, at this point just my parents and a three year
old me, moved from our Manchester pub to one in Lancaster. I went to nursery
then infant school there. At some point, my maternal grandparents left their
pub in Sale to move in with my aunt and uncle, also running a pub in Lancaster.
Pure nostalgia, but I had hours to please myself.
Leaving the
workplace, I headed towards the city centre. Aimlessly wandering, but
comfortable amongst the old stone buildings that felt familiar to me, I
realised I was on Church Street and started to look out for The Nag’s Head, a
special place of my extended family. It remained unchanged so much that I could
almost hear the sounds of the Saturday morning street market which always woke
me up early when I’d stayed overnight. Someone was handing out leaflets
promoting historical walks and places of interest. The Judges’ Lodgings was
open to the public and close by. I went to look round.
From Lancashire
County Council,
“Nestled below
Lancaster Castle, the Judges' Lodgings dates back nearly 400 years on a site
that has been at the centre of Lancaster's history for nearly 2000 years. The
current house was built around 1625 by Thomas Covell, Keeper of the Castle and
famous for locking up the Pendle Witches during the infamous Lancashire Witch
Trials. From 1826 the house became a lodgings for the travelling 'Red Judges'
of the Assizes Courts. Dressed in their scarlet robes, the Judges decided the
fate of murderers, forgers and highwaymen at Lancaster Castle. Today the house
is home to beautiful Georgian furniture by Gillows of Lancaster, elegant period
rooms and the popular Museum of Childhood.”
It was more
fascinating than I expected. Travelling judges were treated like royalty, the
lodgings were like a mini palace.
Still nostalgic, I
ate my bought lunch in Williamson Park where I used to play after school and on
Sunday afternoon family gatherings. I already knew that the pub which had been
my home, The County Hotel, was demolished and some soulless building had taken
its place near the railway station.
My unexpected
Lancaster trail concluded with a visit to Auntie Vi. Not a real Auntie but a
family friend from the old days we’d always kept in touch with – she used to
look after me a lot when I was little. We drank tea and reminisced in her cosy
back living room, where I used to play. Time flies.
Time passed to when I
was working at our local infant school. I was attached to Year One. We were
having a school trip to The Judges’ Lodgings in Lancaster. I didn’t need asking
twice. It was a fabulous visit. The children learnt a lot about bygone times
and the ‘Upstairs, Downstairs’ lifestyle of the people who used to live or stay
in the building. They dressed up as staff or gentry and had lots of fun trying
to spin tops and work other old-fashioned toys. I loved every minute.
Apologies for no
poem, I had a few lines in my head but nothing came to fruition. Everything has
been hectic since I returned from my extended travels yesterday. And tonight I
had to go to a football match.
Thanks for reading,
Pam x
1 comments:
I hadn't realised the Lodgings were that old. Did you dress up. Upstairs or Downstairs?
I used to use the County Hotel way back. What a daft thing to do in knocking it down.
I went to the Maritime Museum about a month ago and that is brilliant as well.
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