The Ruskin - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

The Ashton Memorial is a folly in Williamson Park, Lancaster, Lancashire, England. This Grade 1 listed Ashton Memorial was commissioned by Lancaster industrialist Lord Ashton as a tribute to his late wife Jessy. It was designed by John Belcher and completed in 1909. Today, the memorial serves as an exhibition space on the upper floor and a venue for concerts and weddings.

Williamson Park comprises 54 acres of beautiful parkland with enchanting walks and play areas and breathtaking views. Its attractions include the Butterfly House, small animal zoo and a fully licensed cafe with free wifi. The park is extensively wooded, with many pathways winding among the trees.

A majestic museum which was situated in the heart of this historic cultural city of Lancaster in an elegant Georgian building is where to discover more about Lancaster’s past from the Romans to the present day. The museum itself was founded in 1923 and its collections illustrate the history and archaeology of the city of Lancaster. It is also home to the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum.

The Judges’ Lodgings is Lancaster’s oldest townhouse, standing on the site of an earlier hall. It was built around 1625 and was the residence of wealthy Lancaster citizens and visiting judges for nearly 200 years. Today the house is home to beautiful Georgian furniture by Gillows of Lancaster, elegant period rooms, and the popular Museum of Childhood.

Lancaster Castle, often known as John O’ Gaunt’s Castle is one of the most historically fascinating surviving buildings in the country. The castle has witnessed scenes of significant historical, cultural, and political impact throughout the centuries. These include incidents of religious persecution, the trials of the ‘Lancashire Witches’ and 200 executions for everything from murder to stealing cattle.

This beautiful church was a 15th-century building and it contains several pre-Conquest reminders of an earlier building, including a Saxon doorway and fragments of Saxon crosses. It is in the deanery of Lancaster, the archdeaconry of Lancaster, and the Diocese of Blackburn. Its benefice is combined with that of St John and St Anne. The present building holds Viking ornaments, crusaders’ coffins, and part of Jacobean ‘three-decker’ pulpit.