Bailrigg site

Aerial photo of the Bailrigg site in 1961, which would later become the home of Lancaster University. Notice Bailrigg House in the left of the image, now home to the School of Architecture.

St Leonard’s House

On 6 October 1964, the first student intake of 296 undergraduates and 36 postgraduates was admitted to Lancaster, at St Leonard’s House, a former furniture factory, in Lancaster city. While teaching moved onto the Bailrigg campus a few years later, St Leonard’s House has continued to be part of the university life, having recently converted into student accommodation.

Campus construction

Work commenced on the Bailrigg site in November 1964, with the first teaching buildings opening in 1966. The Chaplaincy building, shown during construction here was consecrated in 1969.

Sir Charles Carter

University’s founding Vice-Chancellor from 1963-1979. He was pivotal in setting up the Management School. Sir Charles was knighted in 1978 and was also the recipient of numerous honorary degrees. He was a ‘conscientious objector’ during World War II, and he refused “discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, politics or any other thing” here at Lancaster.

The Queen’s visit

HM Elizabeth II paid visits to each of the seven new universities whose foundation she had approved. Her visit to Lancaster took place on 17 October 1969. Lancaster has historic connections with the monarchy: the University was established by royal charter, HM The King is the Duke of Lancaster, and Princess Alexandra was the founding Chancellor of Lancaster University.

Under construction: Physics Building

The Physics Building, shown under construction in 1967, was officially opened early in 1971. Its planning was so successful that the research facilities designed in it are still in use today. The IsoLab was added in 2017 and the "low noise" laboratories housed here are isolated from the outside environment in multiple ways, providing a stable platform for experiments.

Underpass

Recently renovated, the University bus station or ‘underpass’ is many people’s first port of call at the University as buses provide regular transport from the city to campus, and further afield, such as London and Glasgow. If you visit the University bus station today, you will find a large mural welcoming people from all over the world to campus.

Faraday Lecture Theatre

The Faraday Lecture Theatre, with its two companion lecture theatres, was the first large-scale teaching facility in the University, and was equipped with the latest technology of the period. Lancaster University continues to be at the forefront of technology with a new state of the art Decision Theatre.

Gillow House

Gillow House was built in 1974 for business and management studies. In the early 1990s, an extension was added to the original building creating a further five lecture theatres and the first video conferencing facility on campus. Most recently, the West Pavilion - a five-storey extension - opened in 2021 incorporating staff offices, student learning and teaching space.

Alexandra Square and Bowland Tower

Alexandra Square is named after the University’s first Chancellor, HRH Princess Alexandra and remains at the heart of university life.Bowland Tower, constructed around the Boiler House chimney and completed in 1968, offers student residence and was the only exception permitted for a building above four storeys on campus at the time.

Chaplaincy

The unusual shape of the Chaplaincy Centre makes it an iconic part of the campus skyline and was part of the old 'swoosh' University logo – which you may still spot in some parts of campus. The Centre itself was designed in a way that avoided bias and exclusion because it does not favour one, specific religious denomination.

Alexandra Park

In 2004, a new area known as Alexandra Park - named after the University's first Chancellor - was built in the southwest of campus. This created a brand new accommodation park for students. The Park is home to four colleges: Cartmel, Graduate, Lonsdale and Pendle.

Wind turbine

Installed in November 2012, the turbine powers approximately 14% of campus electricity. Lancaster is one of the highest producers of renewable energy out of all UK universities and the Wind Turbine Community Benefit Fund donates £20,000 each year to sustainable projects in the local community.

Forrest Hills

Based next door to Lancaster campus in Bailrigg, Forrest Hills is an award-winning facility used for corporate events, team building activities and strategic planning away days. It was acquired by the University in 2016. The University also has facilities across the city at Lancaster Castle and The Storey.

UK partners

Lancaster’s regional partnerships enable the University to extend educational opportunities to students through levelling-up opportunities or specialist study models. Blackburn College, Blackpool and The Fylde College, Furness College, Lancaster University School of Mathematics, and University Academy 92 (UA92) – shown here – offer programmes as part of the Lancaster global family.

Health Innovation Campus

The Health Innovation Campus opened in September 2020 and has created a distinct health and wellbeing ecosystem at Lancaster. As well as business space, it houses the Lancaster Medical School and Division of Health Research in an inspiring setting designed to be a catalyst for tackling some of society’s biggest health challenges.

Global partners

Lancaster has four international teaching partnerships offering Lancaster University qualifications in China, Germany, Ghana and Malaysia (pictured here). We have recently launched a new partnership in Indonesia with Deakin University.

A sustainable future

The University continues towards its target of becoming carbon net zero by 2035. This is an architect's impression of the new solar photo voltaic farm coming soon at the Forrest Hills site. The 17,000 solar panels will reduce energy-related emissions on campus by up to 40% – generating enough electricity to power over 3,000 average households.

The Undertones

Performed 8 December 1980

Formed in Northern Ireland in 1974, they played at the University as part of the See No More tour and released a total of 13 singles before breaking up in 1983.

The Clash

Performed 23 January 1980

The Clash performed at Lancaster in support of their 1979 album London Calling which was awarded Rolling Stone magazine’s best album of the eighties.

New Order

Performed 14 March 1985

New Order became one of the most critically acclaimed and influential bands of the 1980s. Their Lancaster setlist included Thieves Like Us, Blue Monday and The Perfect Kiss.

Rory Gallagher

Performed 3 December 1971, 24 April 1975, 28 January 1977, 29 November 1981

Rory Gallagher graced the Great Hall stage for four classic Lancaster University concerts and is widely regarded as one of the greatest blues guitarists in UK and Irish history.

The Pretenders

Performed 14 October 1980

Fronted by American singer-songwriter Chrissie Hynde, the band first came to prominence during the punk and new wave movement of the late 1970s.

Rik Mayall

Performed 3 December 1984

One of the first alternative comedians in the UK, Mayall became a household name alongside Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders after writing and starring in sitcom The Young Ones (1982). He performed at the Sugar House in Lancaster.

Japan

Performed 11 January 1981, 6 November 1982

Fronted by David Sylvian, Japan played the Great Hall twice. They achieved nine UK Top 40 hits, including Ghosts which reached number five. Creative differences resulted in their last ever performance on 16 December 1982.

Dire Straits

Performed 12 December 1980

Dire Straits were already global superstars (following the release of Sultans of Swing) by the time they came to perform here at Lancaster to promote their 1980 album Making Movies.

Tina Turner

Performed 25 February 1984

Arguably one of the biggest stars to have performed at the Great Hall, rising to fame in the 1960s and going on to enjoy a highly successful career. Tina was also elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.

Elvis Costello and The Attractions

Performed 13 March 1981, 2 October 1982, 27 October 1984

Elvis Costello OBE very much enjoyed playing at Lancaster and his concerts were sell-outs. Audiences even witnessed the first known live performance of hit single Pump It Up.

Dr Feelgood

Performed 10 October 1975, 10 December 1979

This British pub rock band were known primarily for their high energy live performances and both University gigs lived up to that reputation.

Siouxsie and The Banshees

Performed 8 August 1981

Siouxsie and The Banshees played at Lancaster in support of one of their biggest selling albums Juju. By all accounts, this was a legendary Great Hall concert.

Scorpions

Performed 12 October 1980

One of the most successful rock bands to come out of continental Europe (with sales of more than 200 million worldwide). The volume level of their show apparently tested the structural integrity of the Great Hall’s foundations!

Joan Armatrading

Performed 22 June 1980, 5 December 1981, 17 April 1983

Joan Armatrading MBE is a British singer-songwriter who first appeared at Lancaster supporting Supertramp, following up with three headlining visits becoming a favourite of Great Hall audiences.

Echo & The Bunnymen

Performed 1 May 1981, 21 October 1984

Their first Great Hall concert featured songs from their second album. They returned to promote their fourth, Ocean Rain, proclaimed by the group as "the greatest album ever made".

Kid Creole and The Coconuts

Performed 9 October 1982

Kid Creole and The Coconuts are an American band incorporating big band jazz, disco, Caribbean and Latin American salsa into their music.

The Selecter

Performed 23 February 1980, 30 January 1981

The Selecter are a two-tone British ska revival band fronted by the enigmatic Pauline Black, adding her unique voice to the band’s edgy, politically themed sound.