City of Lancaster as Roman station

The aborigines were a Celtic tribe of idolaters, existing by the produce of the chase, and clothed in the skins of the animals which disputed with the dominion of the country. Celtics have been first settled there about five hundred years before the birth of Christ.

Gnaeus Julius Agricola in 79 AD in which he conquered the western Brigantes erected several stations in Lancashire, amongst which were those of Ribchester, Overborough, Manchester and Longovicus or Lancaster.

Lancaster was a Roman station, as may be concluded from its commanding situation, the numerous relics here discovered and its termination, cestre, which appellation was seldom given by the Saxons except to such places as had been occupied by the Romans. The first fortress to be constructed on the site use timber and turf in its construction, but in AD 102, a new fort was built, this time using stone.

Around the same time, a small village developed around the fort that would have housed the families of those garrisoned at the fort, as well as small businesses, industries and market.

The inhabitants of Longovicus were afterwards called Longovices ie.e a people dwelling on the river Lon. The present name Lancaster is from ‘Lon’, and ‘Castra’ a camp or fortress.
City of Lancaster as Roman station

Lancaster 1940