Lancaster’s Lost Lanes: Ffrances Passage
Tucked quietly between shops on Penny Street, Ffrances Passage is one of Lancaster’s lesser-known historic shortcuts. With a name that raises questions and a past tied to Lancaster’s commercial life, this hidden passageway has more stories than first meet the eye.
A Passage Through Time
Ffrances Passage (spelled with a double ‘F’ — more on that in a moment!) is a part-covered walkway running between buildings in the heart of Lancaster’s old town. Today it links shoppers and lunch-goers between Penny Street and Dalton Square.
What’s With the Name?
Despite sounding like a female name with an extra F, It should in fact be pronounced France’s Passage. It originally belong to the Ffrance family of Rawcliffe Hall (a double f originally signified a capital f before there was a written form). Over time the family dropped the ff and just became France.
Unlike our other apostrophed streets (St Mary’s Gate and Parade and St Leonard’s Gate), Ffrances Passage lost its apostrophe, ending up in its current form. Maybe the signwriter forgot it!
In 1848 the France family sold the historic passageway but the Corporation bought it for use of the general public as it was a very useful and well used thoroughfare into the town centre.
Checkout the sign
Look up outside Stable End Curios and you’ll spot one of Lancaster’s shop signs. The three golden spheres is the symbol for a pawnbroker – the origins are thought to be the Medici family of Florence which featured it in their coat of arms. Also to St Nicolas, the patron saint of pawnbrokers.
A Passage of Everyday Life
Like Sir Simon’s Arcade or Bashfull Alley , Ffrances Passage is part of a network of “through-ways” that made Georgian and Victorian Lancaster tick. Shoppers, clerks, servants, and tradesmen would have used it daily — a quick, sheltered route between the town’s busiest commercial streets.
📍 Where to Find It
Entrance 1: On Penny Street, next to Vision Express
Entrance 2: On Gage Street, next to Tipple bar
The passage can be walked in just a few seconds — but it’s a great stop to include on a walking tour or history trail through the city centre.
A Living Part of Lancaster
Unlike some alleyways that have faded from use, Ffrances Passage is still very much alive. People pass through it every day, often unaware of the layers of history around them.
It’s a reminder that Lancaster isn’t just a city of landmarks — it’s a city of connections, short cuts, and small moments. Places like Ffrances Passage aren’t just how people got from A to B — they’re how the city worked.
Include It in Your Walk
On our walks, we duck down Ffrances Passage. With a little imagination you can see the shopkeepers and customers who passed through in crinolines and top hats. And remember: in Lancaster, even the back routes have front-row stories.
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