Telling the stories of Lancashire’s past

Lancaster is known as a historic city; with its majestic castle and its beautiful buildings you can see that the streets will be full of stories from the moment you step foot on them. The streets can’t tell the stories themselves, however, which is where Gregory Wright comes in. Gregory is the owner and principal guide of Lancaster Walks, Talks & Tours, an independent company and Visit Lancashire Partner dedicated to exploring the rich history of Lancaster and the county beyond.

Lancaster Walks, Talks & Tours recently won the Visitor Attraction of the Year at the Lancaster BID Awards, an accolade that shows just how well-loved Gregory and the service he offers is. Gregory’s local knowledge, his passion for history and the arts, which was fostered from a young age, and his background in performance and heritage come together in his tours.

A Lancastrian by birth, Gregory spent a large portion of his childhood in Blackpool and West Yorkshire before his family relocated to Lancaster. His ancestors were from the city and its surrounding villages too, and he feels a close connection to the district, something that comes out during the tours he provides. Having spent time away from the county for university in Exeter, Gregory claims he has “always been drawn back ‘home’.” Perhaps due to Lancashire being so full of different things to see and do.

As a Blue Badge qualified guide, Gregory began offering tours of the city to visitors during his previous role at Lancashire Museums. He still delivers tours for the museums group and at the Castle, which is located in his favourite part of the city: “The area surrounding Lancaster Castle and The Priory Church of St Mary on Castle Hill is a great spot. It contains such an extraordinary wealth of history – education, executions, prisons, poisonings, Romans, radicals, railways, saints, slaves, stained glass, fantastic views of Morecambe Bay and the hills of the Lake District…. and an 18th Century multi-seat privy to boot!” His work also includes front of house duties at Lancaster Grand and juggling all the tours alongside this is a lot can be a bit of a challenge but possible with help from his trusty Filofax. When he’s not working, he admits his time off is like a busman’s holiday; exploring the county’s heritage sites, reading about the history of the county and stopping off at old bookshops.

Since starting public tours in 2004. and launching Lancaster Walks, Talks & Tours in 2013, Gregory has achieved so much. He is a member of the Institute of Tourist Guiding and as well as his recent award win, he was nominated for the Ambassador of the Year at the Love Lancaster BID Award. Earlier in 2024 the company was also in receipt of the Tripadvisor Traveller’s Choice Award too. The talks and tours have, so far, predominantly featured the city of Lancaster but are starting to branch out across the county, with coach trips and walking tours undertaken further afield in Lancashire. It is hoped that the next few years will see more of this exploration out into the wider Red Rose County and that Gregory can continue to provide the high-quality public and private tours that inspire an interest in the area and its past.

Marketing Lancashire attended one of Gregory’s recent Hauntings, Hangings and Horrid Happenings tours which took place over the Halloween period. Gregory’s recent Hauntings, Hangings and Horrid Happenings tours, over the Halloween period, and his Witchcraft 1612 tours are not only his favourite, but the favourite of many of his guests too.

The talk covers the stories of those sentenced to executions in the past, murders from the city and ghostly sightings that have been shared since and included key parts of the city such as Lancaster Castle, The Priory Church of St Mary, the Judges Lodgings, The Grand Theatre, The Golden Lion Pub and the houses around Dalton Square.

The tour is a fascinating opportunity to learn more about the history of Lancaster’s days as the judicial centre of the county and the people who found themselves in the stocks at hanging corner. Expertly delivered by Gregory in attire akin to what you would expect of an old-world ghost including top hat and white face paint, the talk takes around 2 hours and explores the stories of so many Lancastrians who have seen their demise in the city.

Gregory is hosting the Hauntings, Hangings & Horrid Happenings and the Witchcraft 1612 Tour on selected dates in December and has a special “Lancashire Day in Lancaster Walking Tour” on Wednesday 27th November. Find out more about the tours and book at https://www.visitlancashire.com/things-to-do/lancaster-walks-talks-and-tours-p1110690