Lincoln
We made a day trip to Lincoln on the 6th of Dec 97 to visit its famous Christmas Market. As this is a very popular event, people come from a long distance to visit it.
The crowd had made it difficult for us to see the Christmas markets and move about, and as such, we did not manage to take a lot of photos. However, we bought some very nice postcards, which consists of hand-painted scenery and black & white pencil sketches of major attractions.
The major attractions include
1) Lincoln Cathedral - the difference between a town and city is that a city has a cathedral. A cathedral is the word used to describe a church building that is associated with a bishop. Is is the place where the bishop has his 'throne' or seat; ie the place where he is based.
Lincoln Cathedral is the third largest in Britian and has the second highest tower. The tower used to be twice as high until a storm destroyed it in 1547. The west front of the Cathedral is the only part to survice an earthquake in 1185 which shattered much of the Norman (11th century) church. The interior is an example of the early English style of architecture which is characterised by elegance, simplicity, lightness and pointedess (eg pointed arches).
2) Lincoln Castle - the building of the castle started in 1068 and incorporates some of the earlier Roman walls. The castle, however, was closed because of the Christmas market.
3) Steep Hill - leading up from the lower part of the city towards the Cathedral, Steep Hill lives up to its name. It is a tiring upward climb, but the intriging assortment of rare buildings and shops diverts the attention away from weary limbs and gives an excuse for frequent pauses. Outstanding is the Jew's House, with its deeply recessed arched windows and ornate Norman doorway. Dating from around 1170, it was the home in the 13th century of the Jews, the main people who provided financial service. Of interest are also medieval stone houses, teashops, secondhand bookshops, antique shops and a hand-made chocolate shop. We were told that the Lincoln Imp, a lucky charm appears on a shop on Steep Hill, but did not find it. Last but not least, we manage to savour some pork pies which are a Lincoln speciality.
4) Christmas Market - the Christmas Market was an interesting event. There are rows and rows of stalls with decorations, toys, hot chestnuts and gluhwein (a hot wine drink). There were also lots of entertainment programme like choirs, bands and carol singers. We manage to watch the Lincoln Morris Men dancing in front of the Cathedral. Morris dancing is a traditional form of English dancing.
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Lincoln Cathedral from Castle Square - the west front of Lincoln Cathedral has an impressive grandeur unparalleled elsewhere. The severe Norman (round arch) work of Regimus is surrounded by the richer carvings of the Alexander period and, with massive towers rising behind, suggest the great gateway through which man must pass if he is to fulfil his destiny as a child of God. Separating Castle Square from the cathedral is Exchequergate, one of many such gates which shut off the cathedral precincts from the city.
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Lincoln Minster
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A traditional English Morris dance.
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Lost in the crowd.
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Another view of Steep Hill.
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In front of the Jew's House on Steep Hill. It is one of the oldest houses in Britian still in use today.
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Climbing Steep Hill - Steep Hill has given rise to a local expression 'Up Hill' which means that something is of good quality, and dates from the times when the rich people lived at the top of the hill while the poorer people lived at the bottom.
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In front of an interesting hand-made chocolate shop on Steep Hill.
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The High Bridge over the Witham, is one of the few medieval bridges in England with houses still upon it. The original part of the bridge is a fine ribbed Norman arch of 22 feet dating from 1160. The half-timbered houses were erected around 1540 and, having been covered with plaster by the Victorians, were restored in 1902, revealing much of the original timber.
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Lincoln Castle Gate (from inside) - when William the Conqueror established his rule, he created a series of fortified towns, including Lincoln. Two hundred houses were demolished in an area west of the old Roman Forum, to make way for the new castle. At the same time, Remigius was beginning work on the first Cathedral, nearer the Roman East Gate. The central entrance passage, (visible in this drawing) contains a beautiful Oriel window, taken from an old lower town house called 'John O'Gaunt's Palace', pulled down in the last century.
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Looking down Bailgate, Lincoln. - the building at the junction with Bailgate and Castle Hill (on the right hand side of this postcard) is a particular good example of a half timbered house; it is now part of the Tourist Board offices.
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Steep Hill on a Rainy Day - looking up Steep Hill to Tudor House in Castle Hill Square will be a familiar sight to many people who have trudged up this hill and longed to reach the top.
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Last updated on 2/7/98 by Phyllis Chong
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