On top of famous landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, and Sandringham, Her Majesty owned property across Lancashire. In fact, during his time as Chairman of the Duchy of Lancaster, Lord Shuttleworth claims that he often heard the Queen remarking on what a wonderful part of the world Lancashire was and how she believed she could happily live in the area.
Amongst Her Majesty’s portfolio were castles, countryside estates, a famed countryside pub, a stretch of motorway, a portion of Lancastrian shoreline, and expert seaside guides. Most fall under the Duchy of Lancaster, the private estate of the Duke of Lancaster which falls under the ownership of the Crown and whose principal purpose is to provide a source of independent income to the sovereign.
As of March this year, the Crown Estate had £16.5bn-worth of net assets as per its annual report and, while the Duchy of Lancaster is administered separately, it still consists of more than 45,000 acres. The Duchy’s holdings are administered in eight units known as surveys which have been acquired over seven centuries through marriage, inheritance, gifts, and confiscation.
Here we take a look at a few areas in the county formerly owned by Her Majesty.
As of March this year, the Crown Estate had £16.5bn-worth of net assets as per its annual report and, while the Duchy of Lancaster is administered separately, it still consists of more than 45,000 acres. The Duchy’s holdings are administered in eight units known as surveys which have been acquired over seven centuries through marriage, inheritance, gifts, and confiscation.
![In 1980, the Abbeystead Estate, which totals some 18,000 acres and which includes the house itself, was purchased by a trust relating to the family of the Duke of Westminster. As a result, the Queen is understood to have stayed at the property occasionally and considered it one of her favourite places to visit whilst away from Buckingham Palace.](https://www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmM2MjUzYzU0LWNlMWUtNDk1Yi05MGI2LWM0Y2JkMzk5ZDQ5MzoxOWVjZWM5ZS1lMjFhLTQ4MDMtODU3NS1lMjg5ZDE1NmFhYTg=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
5. Abbeystead (credit Explore Bowland)
In 1980, the Abbeystead Estate, which totals some 18,000 acres and which includes the house itself, was purchased by a trust relating to the family of the Duke of Westminster. As a result, the Queen is understood to have stayed at the property occasionally and considered it one of her favourite places to visit whilst away from Buckingham Palace. Photo: Explore Bowland
![Part of the Duchy of Lancaster incorporates a stretch of the M6 motorway near Lancaster as well as land near the Moto services at Bay Horse to the south of Galgate.](https://www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjBhZjhlOWExLWUyYWItNDA3Yy1hZjI5LTJmZTdiOTlhMjZjYTozM2YzNDgxOC0xZGU5LTQ1ODktOWQ4ZS04ZGNhZWQwZGIxNTc=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
6. The M6
Part of the Duchy of Lancaster incorporates a stretch of the M6 motorway near Lancaster as well as land near the Moto services at Bay Horse to the south of Galgate. Photo: National World
![The Lancashire Foreshore: The foreshore, which is the part of the shoreline between high and low water marks, between the midpoint of the River Mersey in the south to Barrow-in-Furness in the north technically belongs to the Duchy of Lancaster.](https://www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjFiZTljZWIyLTJiNDgtNDk3Mi04Y2Y3LWQwOThlMDYyODRhYjpjODczZTJjMi00ZmZlLTRiMTctOTAxMS0yY2I3Nzk4NjYzMTI=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
7. Blackpool (credit Visit Blackpool)
The Lancashire Foreshore: The foreshore, which is the part of the shoreline between high and low water marks, between the midpoint of the River Mersey in the south to Barrow-in-Furness in the north technically belongs to the Duchy of Lancaster. Photo: Visit Blackpool
![Morecambe Bay: Part of the Lancashire Foreshore coastline incorporates Morecambe Bay, which is famous for its dangerous quicksand and aggressive tides. On hand to offer help, guides have been appointed by the Duchy of Lancaster since 1538 as well as being given homes and a small salary by the Duchy for hundreds of years.
Today, the Crown’s estate has passed on the responsibility for appointing guides to the Charity Commission.](https://www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmZhYmVjYTU4LTgwZjAtNDE3MS1iZWQzLThiOGYxODIyYTNmMzo0OTNkMTM3Zi0xOWE2LTRkZWItYWIzMy0wNTNlNTUwMGJlMmE=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
8. Morecambe Bay
Morecambe Bay: Part of the Lancashire Foreshore coastline incorporates Morecambe Bay, which is famous for its dangerous quicksand and aggressive tides. On hand to offer help, guides have been appointed by the Duchy of Lancaster since 1538 as well as being given homes and a small salary by the Duchy for hundreds of years. Today, the Crown’s estate has passed on the responsibility for appointing guides to the Charity Commission. Photo: National World