Lancashire (including Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, Burnley, Chorley, Fylde, Hyndburn, Lancaster, Pendle, Preston, Ribble Valley, Rossendale, South Ribble, West Lancashire and Wyre) is in the North West of England. It has a population of around 1,460,000 and covers approximately 307,000 hectares. Here is a list of nearby or neighbouring counties: Cumbria, Derbyshire, Greater Manchester, North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire.
Lancashire is named after the city of Lancaster, which is its county town, although the county council is in Preston. The area was once home to a Celtic tribe called the Brigantes and during the Roman Period towns such as Lancaster and Manchester were Roman forts. During the following centuries the land formed parts of various kingdoms and counties, until it came into existence as a county in its own right during the twelfth century. The Industrial Revolution began in Britain during the late eighteenth century and Lancashire became an important industrial and commercial region. The counties location, growing population and natural resources, such as fast flowing water and coal mines, fuelled the growth of textile production in the Lancashire Mill Towns and by the 1830s they manufactured more than eighty percent of the worlds cotton. Today visitors to Helmshore Mills Textile Museum can see demonstrations of carding and spinning and learn how raw wool and cotton were made into into yarn, to then be woven into cloth. During the Victorian era and the growth of the railways, the coastal town of Blackpool became a tourist resort for the counties workers and the town remains famous for attractions such as Blackpool Tower, the trams, piers, beaches and the illuminations, which are switched on each autumn. Away from the industrial areas, farming and fishing were important parts of the local economy. Performing arts venues in Lancashire include the Grand Theatre in Blackpool, the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, Lowther Pavilion in Lytham St Annes, Thwaites Empire Theatre in Blackburn, Preston Guild Hall and the Grand Theatre in Lancaster.
Lancashire ports were part of Britains global trade network in raw materials and manufactured goods, but with industrial decline the once busy docks have mostly been converted to none commercial uses and other industries have replaced them. Following boundary changes during the twentieth century, the borders of Lancashire shrank and the county no longer includes cities such as Manchester and Liverpool or areas that are now within Cumbria or Yorkshire counties. The Harris Museum is located in Preston and in addition to housing important local historical and archaeological artefacts and decorative arts, has an art collection which includes works by artists such as Stanley Spencer, George Frederic Watts and Lucian Freud. The artist perhaps most associated with Lancashire is L.S. Lowry, who painted scenes of local life peopled by figures often called matchstick men, though he was born and mostly lived and worked in Manchester which is no longer part of Lancashire. Visitors to Lancashire can also travel along the Irwell Sculpture Trail, which is Englands largest public arts scheme, running for thirty miles from Salford Quays to the Pennines and includes twentyeight works of art created by British and International artists. Other places you might like to visit in Lancashire include Samlesbury Hall, Lancaster Castle, the Museum of Lancashire in Preston, Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery, Astley Hall in Chorley, Pendle Heritage Centre, Gawthorpe Hall, the Ribble Valley and the Trough of Bowland.
Lowther Gardens, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire
Saturday, 10 June 2023 (2 day event)
Lowther Gardens, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire
Saturday, 10 June 2023 (2 day event)
Mercure Hotels, Greater Manchester, Castleton, Lancashire
Sunday, 11 June 2023
Scorton Steam Rally, Scorton, Preston, Lancashire
Saturday, 17 June 2023 (2 day event)
Great Eccleston and District Agricultural Show, Great Eccleston, Lancashire
Saturday, 15 July 2023 (2 day event)
Lowther Gardens, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire
Saturday, 22 July 2023 (2 day event)
Lowther Gardens, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire
Saturday, 26 August 2023 (3 day event)
Lowther Gardens, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire
Saturday, 26 August 2023 (3 day event)
Bedford Methodist Church, Leigh, Lancashire
Saturday, 9 September 2023
Lancashire Game Fair, Hazelhead lane, Scorton, Lancashire
Saturday, 9 September 2023 (2 day event)
Brockholes visitor village, Samlesbury, Preston, Lancashire
Sunday, 15 October 2023
Brockholes visitor village, Samlesbury, Preston, Lancashire
Sunday, 15 October 2023
Lowther Gardens, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire
Friday, 27 October 2023 (3 day event)
Wigan, Lancashire
I make herbal infusions using organic materials. Beard oils, stretch oil, salves for ...
Preston, Lancashire
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Bowness on Windermere, Lancashire
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Charnock Richard, Lancashire
Here at Captivate we specialise in producing unique personalised designs in epoxy Resin. ...
Blackpool, Lancashire
I create gemstone and fashion jewellery and design silver jewellery which is created ...
Manchester, Lancashire
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All items are hand turned by myself at home in the village of Ribchester. These items ...
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St Annes, Lancashire
I studied fashion design and embroidery in the sixties so I have been creating clothes ...
Lytham St Annes, Lancashire
I founded The Customs Project Ltd in January 2021. Creating the most unique and personalised ...
Blackpool, Lancashire
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Skelmersdale, Lancashire
Silly Goose Crafts and Gifts develops small gifts really for any occasion. At the moment ...
StAnnes, Lancashire
THE SKITLETS story books are proving very popular with the younger children. These friendly ...
Carnforth, Lancashire
I had to take early retirement from being a Cancer Nurse and having being used to be ...
Bolton, Lancashire
I produce fabric collages on canvas with heat bonding. These are framed under glass. ...
Colne, Lancashire
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Weir, Lancashire
Lit and Lifestyle has emerged from Number 10 Literature + Lifestyle, an independent bookshop ...
Lytham, Lancashire
I am a beginner in the arts and crafts trade but I have loved drawing since i was a little ...
Blackpool, Lancashire
Hello I’m Michelle and together with my partner Ray we offer a variety of bespoke gift ...
Leyland, Lancashire
As a kid I was always drawing or copying images, doing O and A level at school, but not ...
Blackburn, Lancashire
Acrylic fluid creations specialise in contemplate abstract art pieces. I use either acrylic ...
Whitefield, Lancashire
The Wick and Wax Co was set up by me, Aisha. I’m a mum of three first and foremost, I ...
Darwen, Lancashire
Hi everyone, my name is Lisa and I live in Lancashire with my family and 3 dogs. I am ...
Buckshaw Village, Lancashire
A home run, hand crafted business offering home decor, jewellery, bags and accessories, ...
Clitheroe, Lancashire
I began wood turning a few years ago, introduced to it by a friend who is a professional ...
Bury, Lancashire
We are a father and daughter run business and have been making soft furnishings for many ...
Chorley, Lancashire
Hi I decoupage many different items such as slate coasters and placement mats. Vases. ...
Rawtenstall Rossendale, Lancashire
Silver Spring Jewellery - I’m a Silversmith creating individual, handmade and bespoke ...
Poulton le fylde, Lancashire
I personally prepare, bake and sell a range of homemade chocolate brownies. The range ...
Ormskirk, Lancashire
Stained Art produces bespoke, handcrafted artwork in stained glass. I make ornamental ...
Wigan, Lancashire
I have been making individual Christmas decorations for over a year now. These range ...
Leyland, Lancashire
Hi my business was initially form as an upcycling of handbags from old to new as a hobby. ...
Lytham St Annes, Lancashire
Creating unique pieces of art, crafts and jewellery from the finest paints, mediums and ...
Preston, Lancashire
We still have a limited number of stalls available to book so get in touch is you wish ...
Lytham St Annes, Lancashire
If I was told about where we are today when I was handed the first pair of shoes in lockdown ...
Lytham St Annes, Lancashire
Angelus is a California based company and has been supplying leather paint since 1907 ...
Lytham St Annes, Lancashire
The first COVID lockdown gave me time to sit down and work on art more than I had been ...
Warton, Lancashire
Street food is a delicious and healthy food option at a much cheaper price than restaurants ...
Skelmersdale, Lancashire
LewisPendants is expanding by offering bespoke pendants. The other day someone asked ...
Blackpool, Lancashire
I am so pleased to announce the arrival of my new ladies fragrance range, Carramea, Goddess ...
Leigh, Lancashire
We are holding a Craft Fair at Bedford Methodist Church in Leigh, Lancashire. This will ...
Leigh, Lancashire
This will be our fourth Craft Fair, previous ones have proved to be successful for our ...
(Born 1893 in Blackburn in Lancashire), Fiction
Whipple was a popular author, writing around eighteen novels. Two of which were made into film just after the Second World War 1945/46 - They Were Sisters highlighting marital abuse - They Knew Mr. Knight dealing with crime and dealing with coming out of prison.
(Born 1712 in Preston in Lancashire), Painting
Born in 1712 he was an English portrait painter and is known for a type of portrait called a conversation piece. In 1735 his first commission was Hoghton Towers from Duxon Hill, Lancashire. This showed his interest in landscape but two years later he became established as a portrait painter having a studio in Great Queens Street London.