Aerial View of Lincoln and Lincoln Castle
The beautiful and historic city of Lincoln is an ideal location for a city break, where visitors can enjoy a range of attractions such as the Castle, the Cathedral and The Collection which encompasses the Usher Gallery and City and County Museum and is home to some fascinating exhibits from Lincolnshire’s past. Situated in the county of Lincolnshire and part of the East Midlands, as well as being famous for its Christmas Market, Lincoln is also the home of the RAF Red Arrows. Guided walks of the city and Cathedral are on offer, in addition to the opportunity to learn more about Lincoln’s history and landmarks with a trip on the Tour Lincoln sightseeing bus. An amazing array of buildings of historic significance and beauty can be found in this popular city location.
Historic Lincoln
The early Iron Age settlers which inhabited the area of Lincoln then referred to it as Lindon. With the arrival of the Romans, the area became known as Lindum and with the Roman’s significantly developing the settlement, they were also responsible for the building of a fortress overlooking what today is the Brayford Pool area.
When the Vikings appeared in Lincoln, they introduced a mint which was of marked importance by the 10th century, Lincoln formed one the five boroughs of the East Midlands, and it continued to enjoy success as a prosperous centre for trade.
1068 would see the order given for the building of Lincoln Castle by William the Conqueror. The castle was built on the site previously used by the Romans, and its design included two mottes, one of only 2 examples in the country to include this design element.
Work began on the building of the magnificent Lincoln Cathedral in 1088 when the foundations were laid for a mammoth construction project, which would be ongoing throughout the Medieval Period.
A battle would took place in Lincoln in 1141 during the Anarchy War, between the armies of King Stephen, Grandson of William the Conqueror and Empress Matilda, daughter of King Henry I, with Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester(Matilda’s half-brother) leading the army which was eventually victorious.
Lincoln would continue to prosper as its cloth and wool industry grew, with a key focus on exporting goods to Belgium, France and the Netherlands as early as 1150.
The Industrial Revolution would see renowned companies such as William Foster & Co, Ruston and Hornsby and Clayton’s operating from Lincoln, with engineering and the manufacturing of heavy machinery as well as locomotives and agriculture machinery key industries for the city. It would be William Foster & Co who would design and build the first tanks used during World War I in Lincoln.
Popular Culture
Lincoln is a historic and cultural city, and has also been a focus in popular culture.
Films & TV
Scaling Britain (2010) – this BBC2 series featuring Dr Jonathan Foyle known for his work on Time Team, chose 15 iconic buildings throughout Britain to reflect on 1000 years of British architecture. Lincoln Cathedral was one of those chosen to be scaled, offering a unique insight into this amazing building.
The Young Victoria (2009) – starring Emily Blunt, this film depicts the early years of Queen Victoria’s reign and her relationship with Prince Albert. Written by Julian Fellowes, the film was shot on location throughout the UK, including scenes filmed at Lincoln Cathedral.
The Da Vinci Code (2006) – Directed by Ron Howard, with an all-star cast including Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou and Jean Reno, this mystery thriller also featured Lincoln Cathedral as a filming location.
Books
The Tarnished Chalice – Susanne Gregory, this is the 12th book from Gregory’s Matthew Bartholomew series of historic crime novels. Set in Lincoln, the tale follows Bartholomew and his brother who arrive at the Cathedral to accept an honour only to find a murder has already taken place, with a Lincoln relic at the heart of the mystery.
The Pillars of the Earth – Ken Follett, Follett is believed to have taken inspiration from the building of the Cathedral in Lincoln for his book The Pillars of the Earth, where his character Philip, a monk strives to construct the greatest Gothic Cathedral known to man.
Social Media
Additional information on Lincoln can be found on its official website Visit Lincoln as well as its Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest accounts.
Famous Faces
Jim Broadbent – is a renowned star of stage and screen and was born in Lincoln on the 24th May 1949. Recognised for his roles in such productions as Moulin Rouge!, Bridget Jones’ Diary and more recently for playing Horace Slughorn in the Harry Potter film series, Broadbent is a versatile and Oscar winning actor.
George Francis Carline – was born in Lincoln on 11 July 1855, and an artist whose work included landscapes and portraits in both oil and watercolours. Carline was a Member of the Royal Society of British Artists and his work was exhibited widely including the Royal Academy and the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours.
James Fenton – a former Oxford Professor of Poetry, Fenton was born in Lincoln on 25 April 1949. As a recognised literary critic and journalist, as well as an award winning poet, Fenton work has received many awards including the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize and the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry.
Landmarks
Lincoln Cathedral
Lincoln Cathedral
The breath-taking Lincoln Cathedral dominates the city skyline and is one of the finest examples of its kinds, and was recognised as the tallest building in the world for over 200 years from 1311 – 1549. With amazing gothic styled architecture, tours are available to learn more about this amazing place. The Cathedral owns a copy of the Magna Carta which is kept at the Castle, one of only four that have survived, and a replica of this can be viewed when visiting the Cathedral, just one of its many treasures.
Lincoln Castle
The vast Castle in Lincoln dates back to 1068 on a site previously occupied by the Romans. Within the Castle Walls tour guides are on hand to direct you to the many attractions including the prison. Normally the home of the Charter of the Forest and the Magna Carta, the latter is currently on tour with extensive restoration underway at the Castle in preparation of the celebrations for the 800th Anniversary of the Magna Carta in 2015. The Castle is remaining open during this period so that visitors can witness the undertaking involved which includes work on the Castle Walls, to enable a complete Wall Walk, restoration of the Lucy Tower, Observatory Tower, and Bath House as well as the introduction of a Cinema in the round and the creation of an underground vault to house the Charter and the Magna Carta.
Leigh-Pemberton House
This distinctive black and white half-timbered house is located at Castle Hill, between the Castle and Cathedral and dates back to the 16th Century. Today the Grade II listed building houses the Visitor Information Centre on the ground floor with the upper floors offering accommodation for those looking to stay in the city.
Image Credits:
http://bit.ly/19XdMpI
http://bit.ly/1kp6yT9