The Gregson Centre - History

History

The Gregson Institute was founded in 1889 as a memorial to Henry Gregson. The Gregson family included his father Samuel Gregson (senior), his brother Samuel Gregson (Junior) Mayor of the City of Lancaster & Liberal MP 1847, co-founder of the Natural History Museum and 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. Henry also gave funds to establish the nearby Christ Church. A hall was added in 1912 called "he Bartlett Hall" named after the first vicar of Christ Church. The building was originally Temperance run by "The Lancaster Coffee Company" then used by Christ Church Primary School as the School Hall until becoming surplus when the new School was built on Derwent Road. After standing empty for several years a group of like-minded souls in 1984 created a charity called The Freehold Community Association and bought the building to run as a community Centre. the Charity has since changed its name to The Gregson Community Association, later still incorporating to form the Gregson Community Association Limited in 2006.

In the early 1990s, the Centre was close to bankruptcy. Even the valiant efforts of volunteers and the founding committees of the charity(FCA) since 1983 were not enough. Back then, in 1993, the Gregson had lost its entertainment license and could not pay its debts. The main priority therefore was to get the licenses back and reopen the centre as soon as possible. In discussions with the then committee it was decided that the centre needed professional management on a day to day basis to survive. Gregson Centre Ltd (GCL) was set up by Richard Dow and Graeme Kirk who were keen to save their favourite community centre and to preserve the future of what they believed to be a vital part of the community. This remains the case today. A contract was drawn up by both parties insuring that the new company (GCL) worked within the aims and objectives of the charity.

Richard Dow and Graeme Kirk (Bond) have connections with the Gregson which go back to the dawn of it all in 1984. They served on committees throughout the 80s at various times as Chair and Treasurer and had originally met and become friends at the Gregson. Both lived in the area and had young families. Graeme was a professional actor with an interest in the Arts and Richard a local businessman with a company involved in educational resources for schools. Currently Graeme is the Gregson Centre Manager on a daily basis and Richard is the financial and business manager.

Over the last couple of decades there have been notable fund raising successes both instigated and managed by Graeme and Richard and with the agreement and encouragement of the GCA charity. For example, the acquisition of the two properties next to the Gregson (formally a chip shop and off licence) has provided the larger downstairs bar area as well as the outside seating area. Other improvements were the provision of better toilets, baby changing and disabled facilities, kitchen, staircase, windows and two new bars. The two meetings rooms upstairs were also knocked through to provide an extra performance and meetings area. They were even inspired to raise funds and build the popular small cinema space. Most recently a lift has been installed to enable Disabled Access throughout the public areas of the building. Both GCL and the GCA charity continue to work together to promote and preserve the Centre for the community.

The Centre has received many accolades one being from the local paper (The Lancaster Guardian) who listed The Gregson in their 'top ten places to visit' and described the place as "exactly what a Community Centre should be"