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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Lancaster
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(44,000 in 1991) City and county town of Lancashire, at the head of the estuary of the river Lune. The castle, on the site of a Roman camp, was strengthened in the 14C by *John of Gaunt, through whom the duchy of Lancaster became a royal possession (its importance at that time still being reflected in the office of the *chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster); much altered inside, the castle contains the Shire Hall of 1796 in which assizes are held. The church of St Mary (mainly 15C) belonged to a *Benedictine priory founded in the 11C. The Roman Catholic cathedral, St Peter's, was consecrated in 1859. Lancaster was the home of the *Gillow family of furniture makers, whose wares are displayed in two museums occupying historic houses – the Judges' Lodgings (17C) and the Old Town Hall (1781–3).
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