Judges' Lodgings

Judges' Lodgings is a historic building with elegant rooms furnished in Georgian style, displaying household items and furniture from several centuries of English domestic life. The rooms show how wealthy families lived and arranged their homes across different time periods.

The building was constructed in 1625 as the home of Thomas Covell, who served as Keeper of Lancaster Castle during a significant period in English history. Over time it became a museum that preserves how prosperous families in Lancashire lived across the centuries.

The Museum of Childhood section displays toys and games spanning multiple time periods, including rare wax dolls and vintage playthings that show how children played in earlier times. Through these objects, visitors see how childhood in England changed across generations.

The museum sits in the town center and is generally open Thursday through Sunday, though fewer days in winter months. Allow about two hours to comfortably view the different rooms and collections at a relaxed pace.

The building holds the world's largest public collection of Gillows furniture, handcrafted pieces made by the prestigious cabinetmaking workshop located in Lancaster. These items reveal the quality and style that made the workshop famous across England.