Lincoln

Lincoln, visited on 26 January 2002

Click on the thumbnail for the larger image.

Lincoln is situated on a large hill overlooking a mostly flat area of the East Midlands. It's strategic importance made it a major city from Roman times (Lindum Colonia -> Lincoln) through the late middle ages. Since then the city has declined in influence. It is not on any of the high speed train lines, so we had to take a small, local train. The ride was pleasant, except the lights in our coach would occasionally go into strobe mode. The fact that it is slightly more difficult to get to than, say, Bath means that the city is less visited by tourists than its gorgeous medieval center deserves. The rain and the fact that it was January did the rest, so we had the main attractions mostly to ourselves.

This is the River Witham which runs through Lincoln. We had never seen so many swans altogether before. The sculpture over the river has something to do with the millennium. It appears to be about bridging the gap between right-side-up and upside-down people.

Of course it was raining. But take a look at that blossoming tree! This is in January. January showers bring January flowers apparently.

This is the Lincoln cathedral, the third largest in England. Construction began in 1072 on a Romanesque Norman cathedral. Over the next 350 years parts of it burned, fell down, blew over, or were added on, ending up with today's mostly Gothic structure. Jen heard that on a clear day you can see France from the top of the main tower. We wouldn't know -- it wasn't a clear day.

Another view of the cathedral. A rain drop seems to have fallen on our camera lens.

A view of the town with the cathedral in the background. The tourist information centre is the Tudor house on the left.

After a quick lunch in a tea room we took a guided tour of the cathedral. It was interesting, but a bit hard to hear because the local choral society was practicing the Messiah in the nave for a performance later that evening. We stopped and listened for a few minutes after the tour.

Inside the Lincoln Castle looking towards the Crown Courts. The castle was built in 1068 by William the Conqueror.

Dave up on the castle wall with the cathedral in the distance.

Looking down at the castle yard. The red brick building on the right is where Lincoln's copy of the Magna Carta is kept. It is only one of 4 surviving copies.

Jennifer up on the Observatory Tower with the cathedral behind her.

Looking down from the Observatory Tower.

The Observatory Tower was used most recently in WWII for fire watching.

West of the observatory tower is the Lucy tower, which sits on the second of two Norman mottes (mounds with forts on them). The observatory tower was built on the first.

The walls of the castle were built on the original Roman fortress walls. The main gate is at the bottom right. It faces the square in front of the cathedral.

It was a very windy day though the rain had finally stopped.

The Newport Arch, an old Roman Arch. Lincoln was first a Roman town.

This is Steep Hill Road. Guess why it was named that.

At first glance, Jennifer thought the name of this pub was the "Bitch and the Bathrobe". Further inspection revealed that it is really the "Witch and the Wardrobe". Oops.

The Cathedral at night.

Lincoln is situated on a large hill overlooking a mostly flat area of the East Midlands. It's strategic importance made it a major city from Roman times (Lindum Colonia -> Lincoln) through the late middle ages. Since then the city has declined in influence. It is not on any of the high speed train lines, so we had to take a small, local train. The ride was pleasant, except the lights in our coach would occasionally go into strobe mode. The fact that it is slightly more difficult to get to than, say, Bath means that the city is less visited by tourists than its gorgeous medieval center deserves. The rain and the fact that it was January did the rest, so we had the main attractions mostly to ourselves.
	This is the River Witham which runs through Lincoln. We had never seen so many swans altogether before. The sculpture over the river has something to do with the millennium. It appears to be about bridging the gap between right-side-up and upside-down people.
	Of course it was raining. But take a look at that blossoming tree! This is in January. January showers bring January flowers apparently.
	This is the Lincoln cathedral, the third largest in England. Construction began in 1072 on a Romanesque Norman cathedral. Over the next 350 years parts of it burned, fell down, blew over, or were added on, ending up with today's mostly Gothic structure. Jen heard that on a clear day you can see France from the top of the main tower. We wouldn't know -- it wasn't a clear day.
	Another view of the cathedral. A rain drop seems to have fallen on our camera lens.
	A view of the town with the cathedral in the background. The tourist information centre is the Tudor house on the left.
	After a quick lunch in a tea room we took a guided tour of the cathedral. It was interesting, but a bit hard to hear because the local choral society was practicing the Messiah in the nave for a performance later that evening. We stopped and listened for a few minutes after the tour.
	Inside the Lincoln Castle looking towards the Crown Courts. The castle was built in 1068 by William the Conqueror.
	Dave up on the castle wall with the cathedral in the distance.
	Looking down at the castle yard. The red brick building on the right is where Lincoln's copy of the Magna Carta is kept. It is only one of 4 surviving copies.
	Jennifer up on the Observatory Tower with the cathedral behind her.
	Looking down from the Observatory Tower.
	The Observatory Tower was used most recently in WWII for fire watching.
	West of the observatory tower is the Lucy tower, which sits on the second of two Norman mottes (mounds with forts on them). The observatory tower was built on the first.
	The walls of the castle were built on the original Roman fortress walls. The main gate is at the bottom right. It faces the square in front of the cathedral.
	It was a very windy day though the rain had finally stopped.
	The Newport Arch, an old Roman Arch. Lincoln was first a Roman town.
	This is Steep Hill Road. Guess why it was named that.
	At first glance, Jennifer thought the name of this pub was the "Bitch and the Bathrobe". Further inspection revealed that it is really the "Witch and the Wardrobe". Oops.
	The Cathedral at night.