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The Lanes is an area of Carlisle bounded by Scotch Street to the West, Lowther Street to the East, East Tower Street to the North and Bank Street to the South. The area takes its name from 19 narrow lanes running East/West. These lanes were (from North to South):
• Longcake’s Lane
• Three Cannons Lane
• Bousfield’s Lane
• Sewell’s Lane
• Law’s Lane
• Keay’s Lane
• Hodgson’s Court
• Union Court
• Globe Lane
• Old Bush Lane
• Lewthwaite’s Lane
• Lion and Lamb Lane
• Crown and Anchor Lane
• Grapes Lane
• Old Grapes Lane
• Peascod’s Lane
• King’s Arms Lane
• Packhorse Lane
• Lowthian’s Lane.

In the mid-1970’s plans were drawn up to redevelop this densely built up but run down area into a shopping centre. The development, named ‘The Lanes’, included four major stores, 50 smaller shopping units, a three-level county library, 27 housing units, offices and a multi-storey car park.

The main contract for the work was awarded to John Laing Construction and work commenced in October 1982. A ‘topping out’ ceremony was carried by the Mayor of Carlisle, councillor Trudy Whalley, on the roof of the multi-storey carpark on 27th March 1984. The shopping centre was officially opened by the Duke of Gloucester on 19th November 1984, with the library fully opening a couple of years later in 1986. Further development took place to the North of the site, between East Tower Street and Drover's Lane, with a new Debenhams store and additional parking opening in 2000.

The development retains the names of three of the old lanes, these being Peascod Lane, Globe Lane and Grapes Lane. East Tower Lane runs along the route of East Tower Street and the housing aspect of the development takes its name from Hodgson’s Court.

The original owner of the centre, Aviva sold its interest on to F&C REIT in 2012 for the sum of £65m. Following the demise of Debenhams, and the closure of their Carlisle store in 2021 the centre struggled. Subsequently F&C REIT was wound up and the complex was put up for sale by the administrators in 2024 for a price of £16m.