But what's the maritime history of this special part of North Lancashire that visitors will be celebrating?

It all began in 1780 when Lancaster Port Commis-sion bought land from the Dalton Family of Thurnham Hall to build a pier for the unloading of larger vessels which could not reach Lancaster's quay.

The only buildings in this area at the time were the small farming/fishing communities of Old Glasson and Brows-Saltcotes, so a handful of cottages were built – some of which are now the Dalton Arms – and the Pier Hotel which later became the Caribou, and has since been converted into flats.

Thr first ship to use Glasson Dock was the Mary in 1787.

Her captain was Lancaster man Thomas Beakbane whose ship was constructed in Lancaster by John Brockbank in 1783. The docking of the Mary in Glasson was the last of three Atlantic crossings he made in the Mary. Beakbane took over the Minerva the following year but this ship was wrecked off Lytham in November 1791. He survived the ship wrecking, but became a merchant in Lancaster before moving to Liverpool in 1797.

Little real building was done in the village until the Glasson arm of the canal opened in 1826. At this time the first Canal Terrace was constructed – now Tithebarn Hill – closely followed by Lock Keeper's Cottage and Canal Cottage. In 1834 the first shipyard was opened, shortly followed by the building of the Customs House, and in 1836 the Watch House was built at a cost of 19/3/Od that's £19.15 in new money.

Further house building took place for the shipyard workers, and by 1841 the dry dock was in use.

Although shipbuilding did take place at Glasson, it was never profitable, and it was ship repairing that kept the shipyards in operation until 1968, the dry dock being filled in a year later.

The silencer factory in place now however, is currently one of the largest manufacturing sector employers in the Lancaster area.
The railway arrived in Glasson in 1883, and the passenger station was in front of what is now Station House.

The railway lines continued to the East Quay for goods trains servicing the port.

As with many small branch lines the railway was eventually deemed unprofitable, and the last scheduled passenger service ran in 1930.

After this the line was dismantled and later converted to a linear park and cycleway.

Cargoes still handled at Glasson include coal for shipment to the Isle of Man and Western Islands of Scotland. Cargoes inwards include fertiliser, sulphur and animal food.

* For more on the maritime festival, see Seven Days.