Its origins date back to 1842 making it the fifth oldest surviving rowing club in the United Kingdom outside the universities.

Sharpe lived in one of the largest riverside houses at Halton Hall and owned two 4-oared cutters, the 'Ariadne' and the 'Lotus', which he made over to the new rowing club for £40 on 20 September 1842.

However John O'Gaunt Rowing Club on the other side of the river was less successful and had to remove their boats from their building as rental was too high.

He bought all the riverside property on part of which stood the boathouse and leased the land and building to the club for 2/6d.

By 1931 the fortunes of the two Clubs had reversed as the Lancaster RC building needed refurbishment and without the benefit of a benefactor the committee were 'unanimously of the opinion that under present conditions it is impossible to carry on'.

In the first two years British Rowing, Henley Stewards' and Lancaster and Morecambe College provided additional coaching staff, this was later taken over by JOG.