LINCOLN (part two ).

Continued from part one.

THE GUILDHALL AND STONEBOW.



 

A real Lincoln landmark, this lovely Tudor building is situated above the Stonebow Arch, where the southern gate to the old roman city once stood. The Guildhall was finished in 1520, and is the official home of the mayor of Lincoln. The Stonebow replaced the roman gateway at the southern extremity of the colonia, or roman town. The name Stonebow comes from Stennibogi, a Norse word meaning stone arch. Of particular note is the south face, adorned with lovely carved statues and grotesques - carved heads of mythical creatures. The mote bell, struck in 1371, is still used to signal council meetings. The old debtors prison on this site has been turned into civic insignia room, which houses a variety of historic civic treasures, including a sword given by Richard II and Charles I`s mace of office. In the Medieval period the Lincoln guilds met here to administer Lincoln`s city government. This guild government was called the Burwarmote. This quasi-trade body was then replaced by a city council. For many years the city goal was located at the guildhall, with dungeons for felons, and a small debtor`s prison at street level.

 

HIGH BRIDGE AND THE GLORY HOLE.

 

 



The high bridge in Lincoln, England is the oldest bridge in the United Kingdom which still has buildings on it. It was built in the 12th century and the oldest building dates from the 14th century. Bridges like this were common in the middle ages, the best known being London Bridge, but most have long since been demolished because of their obstruction to the river flow and to shipping. The Glory Hole is the name given by generations of boaters to the high bridge in Lincoln. It has a narrow and crooked arch which sets a limit on the size of boats using the river Witham and going from Brayford Pool, at the start of Foss Dyke, to Boston and the sea. Since the 14th century the bridge has contributed to floods in Lincoln and after any heavy rain the bridge is virtually unnavigable, which may be why it got it`s name. The two characters to the left of my photo are my brother in law Barrie and my mate Darren.

 

Closer view of the Glory Hole.

 

 

OBSERVATORY TOWER.

 

 

Lincoln Castle was built by William the Conqueror in 1068 on a defencive site occupied since Roman times. To enlarge the site for the new castle 166 houses were demolished. It is one of only two castles in Britain built with two mottes. A square tower was built on the smaller motte in the 14th century and in Victorian times an observatory (above) was added. The two mottes were enclosed by immense 12th century walls. The castle acted as the city`s prison between 1787 and 1878 with coffin-like pews in the chapel to remind prisoners of their fate and to ensure they could not see each other. I took this picture from outside the castle grounds.

 

 

EXCHEQUER GATE.

 

 

Located at the Cathedral end of Castle Hill, this is where tenants who rented property from the church came to pay their rents. A chequered cloth was used to aide the counting of the rent monies, and it is from the alternating black and white pattern of the cloth that we get the word exchequer. The gate was built in the 14th century, and probably acted as the main, ceremonial access point to the Cathedral Close. To call this lovely building a gate does not convey a sense of how grand the structure really is . There are actually three gates, or passages through exchequer gate to the cathedral precinct, two smaller postern gates flank a pointed central arch, vaulted with brick. Octagonal turrets flank the central arch, and the whole structure is topped with battlements. Above the arches are two further floors of rooms, which were at one time let as dwellings. The origin of the building is uncertain, but tradition holds that it was constructed during the reign of Edward I.

 

 

ST MARY CHURCH.

 



 

St Mary-Le-Wigford Church to give it it`s proper title dates to the late Saxon period, with a tall tower that may date to 980AD, and an early English Nave. The bulk of the architecture is early 13th century. Set into the wall of the West Tower (not clearly visible in my photo, to the right of the main door) is a Roman grave stone which was later used as a dedication tablet to the Saxon founder of the church, a man named Eirtig. Eirtig wrote from bottom to top on this tablet, inviting readers to raise their eyes to the heavens above. The Latin text is much worn, but appears to translate as - Eirtig had me built and endowed to the glory of Christ and st Mary. Inside the church their is an impressive memorial a 1618 tomb cover to Sir Thomas and Lady Granthem. The font is 14th century and has some intricate carving detail. Outside the west tower is the condult (not in my photo) a scheduled ancient monument that shows where a medieval channel once brought fresh water to the lower city.

 

 

ELLIS WINDMILL.

 

 

This wonderful mill is located on Mill Road, Lincoln UK, so called due to the nine windmills that formally faced west over the steep slopes of the Lincoln Edge. Ellis`s mill is now the sole survivor of these mills. Ellis mill is an excellent surviving example of a small tower mill and dates from 1798. There has been a mill on this site from at least the middle of the 17th century. The first recorded owner of the mill was a wealthy landowner named Anthony Meres. It went through a succession of owners until December 1894 when John Ellis bought the mill for £250. He died in 1920, but his wife and son successively retained ownership until 1973. The mill was working until the 1940`s when the machinery was removed and it fell into dereliction. Tragedy struck further when a fire finally destroyed all of the remaining woodwork in 1974. The Lincoln Civic Trust acquired the mill in march 1977 and set about it`s restoration. First, the tower was cleaned and the floors and cap re-constructed, it was then necessary for replacement parts to be found that fitted the dimensions of the existing tower. The cap mechanism was acquired from Subscription Mill in Sturton-by-Stow, the stones and drives from Enos Mill at Toynton-All-Saints. The sails and fantail were built and erected by Thompson and Co, millwrights from Alford. The mill was finally completed in 1980 and on Sunday 26th April 1981, Ellis Mill ground it`s first flour for 40 years. The mill is still in full working order and provides flour, subject to sufficiently windy days!. The mill is now managed by Lincolnshire County Council but would not run without the group of devoted museum volunteers who help maintain, staff and promote the site. After working for 28 years one of the sails at Ellis Mill is currently being replaced, windmill sails usually last for about 25 years so the current sails have stood the test of time well. The opposite sail has also been temporarily removed (see my photo) to keep the mill mechanisms balanced. As was standard practise in such circumstances in the past, the mill will run on two sails until the new sail is ready to be fitted.

 

 

Closer view of the mills door.