New plaque erected to mark origins of Lancaster University
A new plaque has gone up in Lancaster marking the origins of Lancaster University 62 years ago.
It is on the newly-refurbished St Leonard’s House in St Leonardgate, now providing 179 “Homes for Students” in three linked buildings across five floors.
This was where, in November 1964, a procession weaved its way to Lancaster Town Hall for a special congregation to install HRH Princess Alexandra as inaugural Chancellor, a post she held for 40 years.
The former Waring and Gillow furniture factory for 80 years until 1961 was bought by the city council and converted into a first base for the university with rooms for a library, teaching, arts and administration space and research laboratories.
There were 300 students at first and the Grand Theatre opposite was used for lectures.
The university vacated St Leonard’s House in 1970 and established the new campus at Bailrigg.
Subsequently, the city council turned St Leonard’s House into factory units for new small firms to use as “seed beds” - a project called Enterprise Lancaster.
The plaque, unveiled on Tuesday June 16, is the latest to be installed on a heritage building by Lancaster Civic Vision.