Welcome.

This is the story of a remarkable family from Nidderdale in Yorkshire, England. Some now call themselves Lancaster and some Longster. Records of baptism, marriage and burial also call them on occasions Longcaster, Loncaster, Langaster, or Langster. They married into other families from the dale with names like Rayner (or Reynard), Lofthouse (or Loftus), and King. Family research has discovered much about their lives. The book ‘Lancasters of Pateley Bridge’ (taking its name from the main settlement in the dale where they lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries) recounts the history of the descendants of John Lancaster and Jane King. The final resting place of John and Jane, the graveyard of St Cuthbert’s church in Pateley Bridge, is depicted in the photograph above and on the cover of the book.

In the menu above, you will find their family tree dating from the middle of the 18th century until the first half of the 20th. You may also be interested to see photographs of their old haunts and of some of the historical artifacts that have been retained by the family. Or you might be interested in what they looked like.

If you would like to add something or make a comment, your contribution will be appreciated. You will find a contact form in the menu above.