The Gregson Centre...

The Gregson Centre in Lancaster, Great Britain is an arts and community centre, music venue and bar which has been awarded the Cask Marque. It is one of the last medium sized music venues in the area, and is run by a charity; the Freehold Community Association. It has a micro-cinema and a fish and chip shop as part of the complex. It was previously known as the Gregson Institute.The Gregson Institute was founded in the 19th century by Henry Gregson as a Temperance Library. The Gregson family included his father Samuel Gregson, his brother Samuel Gregson Mayor of the City of Lancaster & Liberal MP 1847, co-founder of the Natural History Museum and the one of the Victorians responsible for giving the world the word “Dinosaur”. Following in the family tradition Henry himself was elected Mayor of Lancaster in 1850. The funds for the building came from many notable sources including James Williamson, later Baron Ashton and the Storey Brothers. It was designed by Paley and Austin.