And, don’t forget, now on the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta, there’s one of the original four surviving copies of the document open to view in the Victorian Prison within the castle walls.
We moved down to Lincoln from The Pyewipe Inn yesterday to take up our pre-booked moorings at Brayford Pool Marina.
Another long-suffering mum being taken advantage of…
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The Brayford Belle takes tourists to Saxilby and back.
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Our moorings at Brayford Pool Marina.
![IMG_4892 IMG_4892](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JgTxPgMSECs/VWDnLD1cHqI/AAAAAAAAw54/f_VyA7ApbVg/IMG_4892_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
Mags wasn’t impressed, being stuck almost under a busy flyover didn’t appeal, so we pulled back onto the last remaining space on the C&RT visitor moorings where it’s more open. The remaining members of our small fleet did take up those moorings, however, so the marina didn’t miss out by holding them for us.
This morning we set off up into this most impressive city, up, up the hill which was occupied by the original Roman garrison, then by the Roman city as the area was pacified, supports the vast, awesome cathedral and William the Conqueror’s earliest surviving castle, and probably the first Christian church in England.
The Vikings came after the Romans toddled off back to Italy, leaving their influence in the street names, the Normans left their architectural genius, and it’s all still here to be seen. Remarkable.
I won’t rattle on any more, there’s plenty of web resources to tap for more information. I’ll just add a small selection of the masses of photos I took today. And I’ll apologise in advance if (inevitably) similar views appear on Lesley and Lisa’s own blogs.
Lincoln Cathedral across Brayford Pool
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David, Lisa, Joe and Lesley at The Glory Hole, the 12th Century arch over the River Witham Navigation. We’ll be ducking under there on Monday.
![IMG_4897 IMG_4897](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rNdYvbTIWbo/VWDnQ3JweZI/AAAAAAAAw6Y/8W62XEuXZSQ/IMG_4897_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
Busy with visitors this Bank Holiday in the shopping areas below the old city
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Just outside Lincoln the International Harley Davidson Club is holding it’s annual gathering. “Hogs” were everywhere…
![IMG_4902 IMG_4902](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-66qAUhkbXmQ/VWDnWMUfFGI/AAAAAAAAw64/sLqXEM9TaZ8/IMG_4902_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
Steep Hill is the name of the street up to the castle and cathedral.
![IMG_4904 IMG_4904](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ILWGg1ipOOg/VWDnYTaGMbI/AAAAAAAAw7I/15WsMY144X4/IMG_4904_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![IMG_4905 IMG_4905](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ywnlVtaiKvY/VWDnb8DGGTI/AAAAAAAAw7Y/ZHO_7uUtz1I/IMG_4905_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
The house is The Norman House, as it dates from that period. It’s also known as Aaron the Jew’s House, an early bank. Christian’s, under church law, were not allowed to lend money. Jews, following the Norman invasion, filled the niche, and have been there ever since.
The top of Steep Hill, the building at the top houses the information centre outside of which we picked up our very knowledgeable city guide, Vic.
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Photographs can’t do the size and attention to detail of the cathedral justice.
The West Front
![IMG_4911 IMG_4911](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zndM6jaoyKc/VWDng8d56DI/AAAAAAAAw70/6uyrPtspJ6M/IMG_4911_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![IMG_4913 IMG_4913](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jXm7wDX3YTA/VWDnjJ1oEGI/AAAAAAAAw8I/tQ-Y8liqZiE/IMG_4913_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![IMG_4915 IMG_4915](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7-4zi7g1wY8/VWDnmLlHxYI/AAAAAAAAw8Y/TRo-uIRlyEM/IMG_4915_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
On the south side.
The central tower supported a lead-covered wooden spire until it (the spire) was blown down in 1549. While it was still erect the cathedral would have been the tallest building in the world, holding this record for 230 years.
The twin West Towers from the south
A 1700 year-old Roman wall, part of the Basilica or central meeting place, incorporated into a much more modern building.
![IMG_4927 IMG_4927](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QK0-yaYShEU/VWDnsxkcaHI/AAAAAAAAw9E/OpRUwH3EggM/IMG_4927_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
That’s Vic, our excellent guide, on the left.
He even took us down into the basement below a beauty parlour to show us the base of column, one of a row running alongside the Roman main street! They would have separated the thoroughfare from the Forum.
After a break for lunch during which Joe and I headed back to the boats to see to the four-legged crew members, we met up again for a look around the castle. Being a Bank Holiday there was a lot going on…
Jousting was a major attraction…
The knights arrive,
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as do their ladies.
This guy was a show-off. He did win the tournament, though.
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That’s got to hurt!
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You can see the splinters fly from the shattered lances!
![IMG_4954 IMG_4954](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CVZZTovk-HU/VWDn6tBRudI/AAAAAAAAw-Y/sGKvOrmIT9g/IMG_4954_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![IMG_4956 IMG_4956](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-40jOaMlQWKQ/VWDn81aGZuI/AAAAAAAAw-o/Xmtu0S7IYeI/IMG_4956_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
All good fun…
A walk around the castle walls revealed extensive views over the surrounding countryside.
The cathedral from the Observatory Tower
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Skegness is over there somewhere…
Looking back towards the Trent Valley.
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Inside Cobbs Hall, where condemned prisoners were held prior to their public hanging on the tower roof.
![IMG_4968 IMG_4968](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0oL1zz-m2x4/VWDoD3S39UI/AAAAAAAAw_Y/PIVpurUCjqI/IMG_4968_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
The observatory Tower, highest point on the castle walls
![IMG_4977 IMG_4977](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CINLSJOyKU8/VWDoGRkdR2I/AAAAAAAAw_o/onNf7-4QHvU/IMG_4977_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
Inside one of the later brick buildings is the vault housing letters between King John and the Bishop of Lincoln, and Lincoln’s copy of the Magna Carta, which laid down the principles of modern government today. No photographs in here, though.
After all the walking around we deserved an ice cream, and you can’t turn down the opportunity to buy one from a 1971 Bedford…
A rather stroppy Golden Eagle…
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…and an indifferent Harris Hawk.
They also had several falcons and an Eagle Owl. Another owl had gone AWOL this morning during a display, but the handler was confident it would be found.
A drop in to M&S on the way back down to the pool finished the day. A good day, well worth it. Highly recommended.
Hi Andy. Shame you’ll not be able to capture our little flotilla for posterity, thanks for the thought, though. Enjoy your trip on the Llangollen.
Locks 0, miles 0
3 comments:
The first place we lived after getting we'd in 1969 was in Monks Road near the top is Steep hill just below the cathedral. Both Sharon and Mark were born in Loncoln. Sharon in the general hospital and Mark 2 years later in the RAF Hopital Nocton Hall. Lincoln was a lovely place even then! Hugs for Margaret please. xx
Thanks for the history lesson, Geoff. Why do people go abroad when there is so much to see here?
Excellent post and I agree with Chas. There is a cornucopia of delights to experience on this island. Your pics were fan too. Xx
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