School gets a'¨cash boost for'¨archive plan

Pics in Lancaster's Williamson Park, including the Ashton Memorial, for story on work to improve the park (and update of stock pics). PIC BY ROB LOCK
14-1-2015 — Pics in Lancaster's Williamson Park, including the Ashton Memorial, for story on work to improve the park (and update of stock pics). PIC BY ROB LOCK 14-1-2015

Lancaster Royal Grammar has received a grant to help fund a new project, The Changing Face of Lancaster.

Lancaster Royal will receive £19,700 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The project focuses on three key 19th century former LRGS students credited with helping shape the fabric of the city of  Lancaster.

The histories of the school and the city are interlinked, and the archive at LRGS contains documents of each of the men

The Gregson Centre was founded in memory of Henry Gregson; James Williamson, Lord Ashton, created Williamson Park and Herbert Storey funded the Storey Institute and helped with the development of the Westfield War Memorial Village.

It is hoped the initiative will enable local children and adults to discover how these influential Victorian philanthropists invested in the town providing buildings and schemes for the local community.

Headmaster Dr Chris Pyle said: “We are thrilled to have received support thanks to National Lottery players.

“And we are confident the project will provide a greater understanding about our heritage and the part that these three notable men played in the lives of Lancastrians, past and present.”

Displays will be created and talks given about the three men to residents.

Volunteers will work alongside the project’s  archivist developing their skills in handling and cataloguing archives and help to create a resource centre that is widely available to  everyone.