100 Years, 100 Objects: Stories from the Collections of Lancaster City Museums

What connects a Lancaster merchant and the first President of the United states? More than you might think! In this episode we speak to Dr Mark McLay to find out about two radical figures separated by an ocean but connected by ideas, and one rather impressive medal. 

We're heading into Roman Britain and into the bodies of some ancient Romans as we talk to Bryan Rhodes about these Roman surgical forceps. What did the Romans believe about the human body and what can rare objects like this one tell us about what a Roman would face on the operating table over 1,500 years ago? 

How is the Lune Valley connected to Richard III, the Gunpowder Plot, 600 gallons of beer and 40 large cheeses? The answer lies in Hornby Castle. Join us was we explore the centuries of fascinating history behind this beautiful building in today's episode. 

In today's episode we're diving into the chaos of Georgian politics through this print created by the Lancaster-based Rembrandt Intaglio Company. Find out not only how Lancaster was the site of an innovation in printing, but also how to survive the 'treating', bribery, and out right riots of an election in the 18th Century. 

Hop on board for this episode to find out more about the history of ship building in Glasson Dock. We chat to Alex Pomeroy to find out more about this lost business which made and repaired dozens of ships at the heart of the community. 

This episode takes us into one of the least-understood centuries in the history of the Northwest. We talk to Carolyn Dalton, Museums Development Manager, about this beautiful but enigmatic silver mount which is part of a jigsaw of rare finds that are all we have to piece together the early medieval history of this area. 

Come with us on a journey down one of Lancaster's most notorious streets, China Lane. Find out if it really deserved this reputation, and who the real people were behind this street which was given such a bad reputation by local newspapers.

In this episode we find out more about this fascinating object which was only recent discovered by a local metal detectorist. A silver seal matrix, which depicts an enslaved African person. We find out more about this object and the sort of people in Lancaster and the surrounding area that might have owned it. 

We speak to Bill Froggatt from the Canal and River Trust to find out more about the history of Lancaster Canal, starting with this fascinating notebook from 1792, which lists the names of the people who bought shares in the new canal venture. 

Dive into the history of one of Morecambe's most iconic buildings with us in this episode as we talk to Barry and Lesley Guise about the Super Swimming Stadium, home of the Aqua Loonies, Aqua Lovelies, and Miss Great Britain between the the 1930s and 1970s. 

In today's episode we're following an object from Russia to Lancaster, and finally to the fields of Bentham. Emma Holborn tells us about this tiny lead flax seal which can shine a light on one of the biggest imports to Georgian Lancaster. 

Come on board with us in this episode where we look at the logbook from the ship Chatsworth with Dr John Worthington. We delve into the health of the sailors on board and take a look at some of the diseases and parasites they would have to deal with in 1783.

Today's episode delves into the little-known history of the enslaved people in small communities around the Lancaster and Morecambe area. Professor Alan Rice tells us about once such person who lived in Heysham in the 1760s and escaped from slavery.  

We're off to the theatre in today's episode. Join us to find out more about one of Lancaster's most prominent Georgian buildings as we speak to Adrian Taylor from the Grand Theatre and learn about the history both on and off stage. 

We're tracing a dangerous journey across the sands of Morecambe Bay in this episode to find out why people took this treacherous route for hundreds of years. Antoni Konieczny tells us about this beautiful painting and some of the sad stories behind this perilous journey. 

A photograph from 1930s Morecambe leads to a discussion about sun tanning and health. We talk to Professor Sarah Allinson to find out more about the risks of sun exposure and how attitudes have changed towards tanning since this photograph was taken. 

Come back with us to 1906, and walk with the working people of Lancaster as we chat to Professor Imogen Tyler about this postcard which shows a labour demonstration in Dalton Square. Find out about unions, working conditions, and Williamson's 'War on Workers'. 

We're viewing history through the photographers lens in this episode as we talk to Dr Patricia Prieto-Blanco about photographer Sam Thompson. We discuss his love for photography, the people he photographed, and his relationship with fishermen like William Townley. 

Today's object is a snapshot of northern comedy, a portrait of Victoria Wood. We delve into the life and magic of this will known and much-loved local figure. 

We're hunting down the history of stone age Lancashire to find out how people in pre-history used the materials around them to created this tiny but beautiful arrowhead, and how these objects survive to give a glimpse into lives lived thousands of years ago.