Lincoln Castle

 

Main entrance to Lincoln Castle

This evening, I am focusing on Lincoln Castle in England. Lincoln is located 154 miles north of London in eastern England.

Lincoln Castle dates from the time of the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 but the actual site has a long history dating back to Roman times when it was occupied by a military fort. During the Saxon era the site was civilian and occupied by over 160 houses, with latter cleared to make way for the castle.

This castle was a key link in the network of fortifications established by William the Conqueror to control his new kingdom. It has been used a court and prison for some 900 years. The court still functions today whilst the prison section closed in 1878 when a new prison was opened in Greetwell Road.

Inside the castle can be seen one of the four remaining original copies of the 1215 Magna Carta and one of only two surviving Charters of the Forest from 1217.

Key aspects of the castle are:

  • East Gate and main entrance.
  • Remains of Lincoln’s Eleanor Cross
  • Medieval Cobb Hall which is integrated in the castle wall and dates from the 13th century. This has had multi-purpose function: defence, imprisonment and public execution.
  • Wall walks. Access to the castle walls affords panoramic views over the local area.
  • Observatory Tower. Integrated within the defensive walls, to the left (facing) of the main entrance.
  • Lucy Tower: Situated on the original motte and formed the last bastion of defence.
  • West Gate: Opened on to open countryside.
  • Castle well, dating from medieval times.
  • Crown Court building which dates from 1826.
  • Georgian era prison building dating from 1787.
  • Victorian prison building dating from 1846.
  • Prison Chapel, the only remaining example of an original separate system chapel in the world.
  • Bust of King George III.
  • Bath House (former prison laundry).

 

View from Castle Walls with Lincoln Cathedral in background

View of Georgian prison building and early 19th C Court House

Lincoln Castle is worthy of a visit. Nearby is the famous Cathedral.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reconstructed Roman Villa

Image
This evening, I am reporting on my visit earlier today to a meticulously reconstructed Roman Villa in Somerset, England.   Funding for the project was provided by a South African billionaire. Specific features of the reconstruction project which is known as 'Villa Ventorum': Employed hundreds of architects, builders, archaelogists, mosaic makers, fresco painters and experts on ancient plumbing. The new build was built close to the remains of the original villa which dates from AD351. Incorporates the only working hypocaust system in Europe to create authentic Roman underfloor heating. Thne system also provides heating for the internal baths. Designed to appear to visitors as though still in use. Mosaics and frescoes have been made below the top standards of the time (e.g. Chedworth ) to reflect the social rank of the resident family. Incorporates a Roman 'fast food bar' allong the lines of that found in Pompeii . (Core of above information sourced from the Times newspap
Read more

Glen Quaich, one of Scotland's best backroads tour routes

Image
This afternoon, I am reporting the route of Glen Quaich in Central Scotland. This is a scenic, single track road which is usually closed to traffic in winter. The route covers about twelve miles and runs between the villages of Amulree and Kenmore on the northern tip of Loch Tay in Perthshire. Depending on time of year it is possible to encounter low lying snow, many sheep, grouse and other exceptional opportunities for photography. Incidentally, Quaich means a drinking cup. In a certain place the landscape is shaped like a bowl. Glen Quaich, Perthshire, Scotland Glen Quaich Black Grouse at Glen Quaich Here are a couple of video clips.
Read more

Fort Augustus, a popular visitor site on southern tip of Loch Ness

Image
Loch Ness from flight of locks at Fort Augustus, Scottish Highlands This evening, I am posting information on Fort Augustus, a busy tourist village on the southern tip of Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. Summary information on Fort Augustus as follows:- Population about 650 persons. Distance, about 160 miles from Edinburgh and 35 miles from Inverness entailing journey times of 3.5 hours and 1 hour respectively. Well endowed with hotels and other accommodation plus shops, restaurants and visitor attractions. From here visitors can avail of boat trips on Loch Ness. Home to an impressive flight of five locks on the Caledonian Canal. Latter dates from 1822 and is now primarily used by pleasure boats. Closely linked with the 18th century Jacobite uprising in that (a) the village was renamed Fort Augustus (after Prince William Augustus, third son of King George II) consequent upon construction of a British military (redcoat) fort in 1742 and (b) the same Prince
Read more