LINCOLN - Archaeology Museum

Brief stop at the archaeology museum in Lincoln. Here are some interesting exhibits. 

Two handed broadswords, literally as long as I am tall.

The partial skeleton of a plesiosaur a.k.a. a Nessie

LINCOLN - Lincoln Castle

Unfortunately, much of Lincoln Castle was closed to visitors due to renovations. All that was open was the central courtyard and the Castle Wall Walks.

The castle was originally a Norman fortress.

A Hall within the central walls of the Castle

A bust of America's favorite British Monarch: George III. (As a side note, we ran into a few locals at a nearby pub who were quite confused by the sizable group of Americans in their city. We politely informed them that we were here to invade and conquer our former motherland, starting with the defacement of this bust. They got a good laugh out of it.) 

The top of the Cathedral from the Castle Walls.

 

LINCOLN - Lincoln Cathedral

The Lincoln Cathedral was originally built by the Normans in 1092 during the reign of William the Conquerer. Unfortunately, the building was severely damaged by a fire in 1141. The rebuilt section of the Cathedral features more Gothic architecture, including signature flying buttresses.

The Inner Sanctuary in the Lincoln Cathedral

The Window above the entryway

This gate separates the main room from the inner sanctuary of the Cathedral  

The stonework on the separation wall

The east aisle, which leads to the Choir and the inner sanctuary

The base of a pillar from the original Norman Cathedral

 

LINCOLN - Lincoln Cathedral - The Choir

The Choir was located in the center of the Cathedral. It was it's own separate area and was walled off from the rest of the main sanctuary.  

The Interior of the Choir

The Pipe Organ in the Choir

The Conductor's Chair and Podium

The Official Podium at the end of the Choir

The Bishop's Chair in the Choir

LINCOLN - Lincoln Cathedral - Tombs

This is the Shrine of 'Little Saint Hugh', an 8 year old boy who was found murdered after disappearing for a month. His death became the motivation for Blood Libel against the Jews of Lincoln. During the Middle Ages, many people travelled to the Cathedral to venerate the martyr.

This is the place where Eleanor of Castile's viscera are interred. Her body and her heart remain in a tomb in London.   

 The large stone tomb on the far side of the alter is the tomb of Saint Hugh, who served as Bishop of Lincoln during the 1200s and who was one of the signatories of Magna Carta.

This is Fleming's Tomb. During the Middle Ages, the threat of Black Death loomed over England, and many people were preoccupied with it at this time. This is why Bishop Fleming had a two tiered tomb commissioned. On top, he was depicted as wealthy and powerful, dressed in full ceremonial attire. However, on the bottom, he is shrouded and emaciated, showing that no man, no matter how powerful, could cheat death.

LINCOLN - Lincoln Cathedral - Politics

 This chamber was used for political purposes within the Cathedral. Whenever the king and his council would visit the Cathedral to hold religious ceremonies, they would carry them out in this circular ante-chamber.

The King's Seat in the Ante-Chamber

LINCOLN - Roman Architecture

This is the Newport Arch, which is the only remaining usable piece of Roman Architecture remaining in Lincoln. This gate was originally used as an entrance to the Roman forum of Lindum Colonia. The forum was used as fortress against the Celts and later against the Saxons. It is possible that the Ninth Legion marched out of this very gate to subdue Boudicca's rebellion.