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Lincoln Castle

Lincoln Castle is a major medieval castle constructed in Lincoln, England, during the late 11th century by William the Conqueror on the site of a pre-existing Roman fortress. The castle is unusual in that it has two mottes.[1] It is one of only two such castles in the country, the other being at Lewes in East Sussex. Lincoln Castle remained in use as a prison and court into modern times and is one of the better preserved castles in England; the Crown Courts continue to this day. It is open to the public most days of the week and possible to walk around the walls from which there are views of the castle complex, cathedral, the city, and surrounding countryside. Displayed within the castle is one of only four surviving exemplars of the Magna Carta of 1215. The castle is now owned by Lincolnshire County Council and is a scheduled monument.[2]

For the paddle steamer which served as a Humber ferry, see PS Lincoln Castle.

Lincoln Castle

53°14′07″N 0°32′27″W / 53.23529°N 0.54095°W / 53.23529; -0.54095

Norman

every day

11th century

William the Conqueror

Prison and law court

stone

First Battle of Lincoln (1141)
Second Battle of Lincoln (1217)

Lincoln Castle (except modern buildings)

1005049

Lincoln Castle

15 August 1973

1388491

1388492 - Bath House
1388493 - Statue of George III

http://www.lincolncastle.com/

– a major Roman road and England's main north–south route, connecting London and York.

Ermine Street

– another important Roman route connecting Lincoln with the city of Leicester and the south-west of England.

Fosse Way

The valley of the (to the west and southwest) – a major river affording access to the River Ouse, and thus the major city of York.

River Trent

The – a waterway connected to the River Trent (via the Fossdyke Roman canal at Torksey) and to the North Sea via The Wash.

River Witham

The – an upland area to the northeast of Lincoln, which overlooks the Lincolnshire Marsh beyond.

Lincolnshire Wolds

Layout and architecture[edit]

Lincoln Castle is bounded by a stone curtain wall, with ditches on all sides except the south. From an early stage, the outer walls which enclose the site were built in stone and they date from before 1115. On the south side the walls are interrupted by two earthen mounds called mottes. One is in the south-east corner, and was probably an original feature of William's the Conqueror's castle, while the other occupies the south-west corner. A square tower, the Observatory Tower, stands on top of the first mound, standing above the outer walls to dominate the city of Lincoln. The second mound is crowned by the 'Lucy Tower', which was probably built in the 12th century and was named after Lucy of Bolingbroke, the Countess of Chester until 1138.[22]


The grounds also contain remains of Lincoln's Eleanor cross,[23] an oriel window moved from Sutton Hall and incorporated into the main gate, and the bust of George III from the Dunston Pillar.[24]


On the western side of the castle site is an ivy-clad building built in 1823 as the Assize courts. This is still used today as Lincoln Crown Court.[25][26]

A set of earth banks, associated with one or other of the sieges, once stood where the Lawns stand, to the west of the castle.

[27]

Thorngate Castle once stood near the river, forming the South-East corner of the city walls. It existed in 1141 but was demolished in 1151.[29][30]

[28]

Other medieval defensive works in Lincoln have been recorded, but are no longer extant.

Remnant of Lincoln's Eleanor Cross

Remnant of Lincoln's Eleanor Cross

Coade stone bust of George III from the Dunston Pillar to the south of Lincoln

Coade stone bust of George III from the Dunston Pillar to the south of Lincoln

Oriel window in the gatehouse, moved from John of Gaunt’s Palace, Lincoln, in 1849

Oriel window in the gatehouse, moved from John of Gaunt’s Palace, Lincoln, in 1849

Castles in Great Britain and Ireland

List of castles in England

John of Gaunt’s Palace, Lincoln

Lindley, P. (2004). The Early History of Lincoln Castle. Occasional Papers in Lincolnshire History and Archaeology, No. 12.

Sewell, Richard Clarke (1846). . London: Sumptibus Societatis. pp. 70, 71.

Gesta Stephani

Official site