Emerging Profession & Workforce Education

The Storey Gardens originally belonged to 20 Castle Park, built 1720. The east garden (nearer The Storey) was the family garden, and the west one was the kitchen garden. An 1890 map shows small buildings in the latter along the dividing wall, possibly a glass house, fruit trees and an aviary by the west wall, probably for pigeons to feed the family. Gardeners in the 19th century worked 60 hours a week for low wages but it was a respected career. Most were able to read and studied to improve their knowledge of botany, chemistry and mechanics. The head gardener may have been assisted by a garden boy and jobbing gardeners who worked independently across several local gardens.
The Storey, formerly The Storey Institute was financed by Sir Thomas Storey a local oil cloth manufacturer. This, like the Mechanics Institute it replaced, provided free education for workers in scientific thinking and practical manufacturing and mechanics. The new building housed a reading room and library, a laboratory and lecture hall for the Science School, art and music rooms and an Art School on the top floor. In 1891 the librarian reported 8,181 books borrowed in one month. See the stained glass window on the first floor with medallions at the top and the names of distinguished people in science and the arts at the bottom.
Gardening volunteers will be present during the festival and there will be information boards in the garden workshed (folly) windows and by the stained glass windows in The Storey.

Timings

Friday 11 September:

0900 to 1700

Saturday 12 September:

0900 to 1700 Volunteer Gardeners present 1000 to 1600

Monday 14 September:

0900 to 1700

Tuesday 15 September:

0900 to 1700

Wednesday 16 September:

0900 to 1700

Thursday 17 September:

0900 to 1700

Friday 18 September:

0900 to 1700

Saturday 19 September:

0900 to 1700 Volunteer Gardeners present 1000 to 1600

Location & directions

The Storey & Gardens, Meeting House Lane, Lancaster, Lancashire, LA1 1TH

Directions:

Enter The Storey building from Meeting House Lane or Castle Hill. The stained glass windows are on the first floor and can be reached using the lift or the wide staircase. The gardens can be accessed from the first floor of The Storey or the steps in the courtyard outside the Printroom Café. Alternatively enter via the gates opposite Lancaster Castle in Castle Park. Follow the signs to the gardens.

Contact on day:

Events Team, The Storey

Telephone number:

+441524582226

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking not required

Accessibility details

Wheelchair access from Castle Park to reach the gardens and the first floor of The Storey is possible to avoid use of the lift.

Additional information

Check out our online channels

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