The Storey (Institute)
Encyclopedia
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
, England 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.
The now famous art gallery opened with a bang, featuring work by Gainsborough
, Constable
, and Canaletto
. Subsequent exhibitions have featured work by, amongst others, Picasso, Matisse, Gillian Ayres
, Andy Goldsworthy
, Anthony Green
, Albert Irvin
, Michael Kenny, Sophie Ryder and Basil Beattie.
In the late 1990s the adjoining garden became the venue for The Tasting Garden, an environmental artwork by American artist Mark Dion.
The Storey Institute has its own, special place in Lancaster's history. Lancaster Girls Grammar School was founded in the Institute in 1907 and many of the town's tradesmen learned their craft in the technical college. Lancaster boasts a number of excellent artists, many spawned by Lancaster Art College, which was in the Storey Institute.
During World War II
, the Institute played its part in the war effort, taking evacuees from southern England. The gallery was used as a music and dance venue, sometimes featuring Britain's answer to Frank Sinatra
– Frankie Vaughan
.
In 1991 the Storey Gallery was re-launched by a group of Lancaster's artists.
Today sees a new chapter for the Storey Institute. Central to Lancaster's artistic, technical and scientific innovation for 130 years the grade two listed Storey Institute has been refurbished as a centre for the creative industries ensuring the building retains its prominent position while fulfilling the expectations of the 21st century.
The Storey Institute is in the heart of Lancaster's conservation area, opposite Lancaster Castle
, famed for many infamous cases, including the Pendle witch trials
and near to the Priory where George Fox
preached before his arrest.
Links
Storey Gallery
Lancaster
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
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
Lancaster, Lancashire
Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...
, England 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.
The now famous art gallery opened with a bang, featuring work by Gainsborough
Thomas Gainsborough
Thomas Gainsborough was an English portrait and landscape painter.-Suffolk:Thomas Gainsborough was born in Sudbury, Suffolk. He was the youngest son of John Gainsborough, a weaver and maker of woolen goods. At the age of thirteen he impressed his father with his penciling skills so that he let...
, Constable
John Constable
John Constable was an English Romantic painter. Born in Suffolk, he is known principally for his landscape paintings of Dedham Vale, the area surrounding his home—now known as "Constable Country"—which he invested with an intensity of affection...
, and Canaletto
Canaletto
Giovanni Antonio Canal better known as Canaletto , was a Venetian painter famous for his landscapes, or vedute, of Venice. He was also an important printmaker in etching.- Early career :...
. Subsequent exhibitions have featured work by, amongst others, Picasso, Matisse, Gillian Ayres
Gillian Ayres
Gillian Ayres, CBE is an English painter.-Early life and career:Ayres was born on 3 February 1930 in Barnes, London, the youngest of three sisters. Ayres started school when she was six. Her parents, a prosperous couple, sent her to Ibstock, a progressive school in Roehampton run on Fröbel...
, Andy Goldsworthy
Andy Goldsworthy
Andy Goldsworthy, OBE is a British sculptor, photographer and environmentalist producing site-specific sculpture and land art situated in natural and urban settings. He lives and works in Scotland.-Life and career:The son of F...
, Anthony Green
Anthony Green
Anthony Green may refer to:*Anthony Green , current lead vocalist of Circa Survive and ex-vocalist for Saosin*Anthony Green *Anthony Green *Anthony Green *Antony Green, election commentator...
, Albert Irvin
Albert Irvin
Albert Irvin is an English abstract expressionist painter.-Career:During World War II, he was evacuated from London, and upon returning, went to study at the Northampton School of Art between 1940 and 1941, before being conscripted into the Royal Air Force as a navigator...
, Michael Kenny, Sophie Ryder and Basil Beattie.
In the late 1990s the adjoining garden became the venue for The Tasting Garden, an environmental artwork by American artist Mark Dion.
The Storey Institute has its own, special place in Lancaster's history. Lancaster Girls Grammar School was founded in the Institute in 1907 and many of the town's tradesmen learned their craft in the technical college. Lancaster boasts a number of excellent artists, many spawned by Lancaster Art College, which was in the Storey Institute.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Institute played its part in the war effort, taking evacuees from southern England. The gallery was used as a music and dance venue, sometimes featuring Britain's answer to Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
– Frankie Vaughan
Frankie Vaughan
Frankie Vaughan, CBE, DL was an English singer of traditional pop music, who issued more than 80 recordings in his lifetime. He was known as "Mr. Moonlight" after one of his early hits.-Life and career:...
.
In 1991 the Storey Gallery was re-launched by a group of Lancaster's artists.
Today sees a new chapter for the Storey Institute. Central to Lancaster's artistic, technical and scientific innovation for 130 years the grade two listed Storey Institute has been refurbished as a centre for the creative industries ensuring the building retains its prominent position while fulfilling the expectations of the 21st century.
The Storey Institute is in the heart of Lancaster's conservation area, opposite Lancaster Castle
Lancaster Castle
Lancaster Castle is a medieval castle located in Lancaster in the English county of Lancashire. Its early history is unclear, but may have been founded in the 11th century on the site of a Roman fort overlooking a crossing of the River Lune. In 1164, the Honour of Lancaster, including the...
, famed for many infamous cases, including the Pendle witch trials
Pendle witch trials
The trials of the Pendle witches in 1612 are among the most famous witch trials in English history, and some of the best recorded of the 17th century. The twelve accused lived in the area around Pendle Hill in Lancashire, and were charged with the murders of ten people by the use of witchcraft...
and near to the Priory where George Fox
George Fox
George Fox was an English Dissenter and a founder of the Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as the Quakers or Friends.The son of a Leicestershire weaver, Fox lived in a time of great social upheaval and war...
preached before his arrest.
Links
Storey Gallery
Lancaster
City of Lancaster
The City of Lancaster , is a local government district of Lancashire, England, with the status of a city and non-metropolitan district. It is named after its largest settlement, Lancaster, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Morecambe, Heysham, and Carnforth, as well as...