Lincoln
The Roman IX Legion established the town of Lindum (Lincoln) in AD 48 at the junction of Ermine Street and Foss Way; this was their base for rule over eastern England. The best of the Roman remains are the Newport Arch, guarding the North Gate of the settlement, the only Roman gate still used by traffic in Britain, and the less well- preserved remains of the East Gate. The present-day cathedral and castle now stand on the site of the old Roman town.
In 1066, William the Conqueror had a castle built here on a 14-acre site, incorporating some of the Roman defences. It was often attacked, captured and regained, and featured prominently in King John's struggle with the barons. It was stormed for the last time in 1644, during the Civil War, when the occupying Royalists surrendered to the Parliamentarians. Of this Norman edifice, all that remains to us is the gateway, an observatory tower, and the Lucy Tower. The castle has two prominent artificial mounds. The Observatory Tower stands on the smaller, while the other is occupied by the Lucy Tower, named after Countess Lucy who died about 1139; this latter tower formed the keep, and its ramparts are still intact.
Lincoln has several other Norman buildings, most notable being the 'Jews House' and the 'House of Aaron the Jew'; both built about 1170 when there was Norman encouragement for Jews to finance trade. The 'Jews House', located in The Strait, now an antique shop, is one of the oldest houses in Britain still in use.
Lincoln dominates its shire and is in turn dominated by the magnificent Cathedral of St.Mary, its three soaring towers dramatically visible for miles around. Lincoln Cathedral is the third largest in Britain, after St Paul's and York Minster. This is the third cathedral to have stood on this site; the other two were both destroyed in the 12th cent - the first by fire, the second shattered by an earthquake on Palm Sunday. The present cathedral was built between the 12th and 14th centuries, and its honey-coloured stone, viewed from a distance, has a dream-like quality, its colour seeming to vary with every subtle change of light. This is quite noticeable on the intricate stonework of the west front, upon which there is tier-upon-tier of statuettes of kings, saints and bishops. In the south transept is the beautiful 'Bishop's Eye' rose window, built in the round and complemented in the north transept by the 'Dean's Eye' window. One of the chief glories of the cathedral is the Angel Choir, completed in 1280, with its comprehensive set of medieval misericords. The nave too is a glorious structure, flanked by limestone or Purbeck marble pillars consisting of clustered columns, with floral capitals.
Narrow cobbled streets, flanked by many shops selling antiques, books and souvenirs, run steeply down from Castle Square to the lower part of the city. At the top of Steep Hill is the fine 16th cent timber framed Leigh-Pemberton House, flanked on one side by the barbican of Lincoln Castle, and on the other by the medieval Exchequer Gate. The short walk from Castle Square to the city centre spans 400 years, for the route ends by Dernstall House and the Cardinal's Hat, two 15th cent black-and-white buildings. The latter, a former inn, was probably given its curious name in honour of Cardinal Wolsey, Bishop of Lincoln in 1514/5. Ellis Mill, located in the centre of the city, is a fully operational four-sail windmill grinding corn when the winds permit; it is open to the public on weekends. The Usher Gallery houses important collections of decorative art, including watches, miniatures, porcelain and paintings. One room is devoted to Alfred, Lord Tennyson, the 19th cent Poet Laureate whose father was a Lincolnshire rector; the poet's statue stands near the cathedral. In the High Street is an impressive 500- year-old Tudor Gothic gateway called the Stonebow. In keeping with ancient traditions, the city council still meets in the Guildhall, above the gate; members are summoned by the tolling of the Mote Bell, cast in 1371, the oldest of its kind in Britain. The Greyfriars City and County Museum is housed in a two-storey church dating from about 1250, the oldest Franciscan church in England.