It’s taken 120 years of inspiration to create The Storey.
In the late 19th century Thomas Storey played his part in changing the world by gifting to the people of Lancaster, a place for art, science and education.
And if creativity is the road to the future, he’s still changing the world.
The Storey has come a long way, from the Mechanics Institute to the North West’s leading centre for creative enterprise.
The journey continues.
History
Philanthropy was a feature of the Victorian era and Thomas Storey, Lancaster oilcloth tycoon, was a man of his time. He commissioned the construction of the Storey Institute to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Golden jubilee, in 1891 gifting the building to the people of Lancaster for their cultural benefit.
The Storey Institute gave a major lift to the growing city, boasting an art gallery, technical and art schools, a museum and library and, in 1907, Lancaster Girls Grammar School was founded in the Institute.
The now famous art gallery opened with a bang, featuring work by Gainsborough, Constable, and Canaletto.
During WWII, the Institute played its part in the war effort, producing parachutes. Around that time the gallery came into use as a music venue, sometimes featuring Britain’s answer to Frank Sinatra – Frankie Vaughan.
The rest, as they say, is not yet hiStorey!
The Storey Institute in the early 1900’s
Pupils and staff of the Storey Technical College c 1900
Copies available from Lancaster City Museum, call 01524 64637