PEAR TREE LOG

pear tree log: I started this blog to keep my younger son, Jonny, in touch with life in Lincolnshire, while he spent a year working in China. That year turned into five! Now he is home and training to become a physics teacher. This is simply a patchwork quilt of some of the things I enjoy - life in rural Lincolnshire, our animals, friends, architecture, books, the gardens, and things of passing interest.



Wednesday, 11 July 2012

The Imp & The Magna Carta in Lincoln

Click to enlarge!
The magnificent castle at Lincoln was built in 1068, it was one of the first to be built by the Normans after the defeat of Harold in 1066.  It is set high on a hill very near to the Cathedral, which I told you about, here.


According to the Domesday book 166 Saxon homes were cleared to make way for the castle.  It dominated the skyline until the Cathedral was built.  An original copy of the Magna Carta is displayed in the castle prison.






I use a car park which is situated right next to the castle walls, facing the cathedral. Yesterday when I visited, the clouds were low and heavy rain was forecast.  

The famous Lincoln Imp is to be found in the cathedral.




Davina and I were on a mission to buy a christening gown for baby Francesca - and Davina knew just the shop, an added bonus was the fact that there was a sale on.

We looked at every gown and eventually made our selection.


Onward, down Steep Hill ... and the siren call of the Chocolate Shop was too strong to resist ... especially as it was Davina's birthday.




Out of the chocolate shop, turn right and this is what you see....

..the white building is a wonderfully higgledy-piggledy, crowded bookshop - always a great excuse to stop and catch one's breath on the return journey up the hill - our walk continues to the left of the book shop and
down this aptly named hill, the gallery to the left is a superb arts and crafts centre.



This is the approach to the really steep part of the hill...it has a gradient of one in seven -  and the return journey is a test of stamina and fitness.

I don't mind climbing back up - but I find walking down very frightening when it is wet - I have this irrational fear that I may slip...
Once in the main part of Lincoln we did some more shopping, had a coffee, etc. and then began the trek back up Steep Hill.  This is the view from near the bottom, you can see one of the cathedral towers in the distance.

Luckily the hill is packed with interesting little shops, so anyone who is finding it hard going always has an interesting shop window to examine while they catch their breath.


The Jew's House is on Steep Hill.    It is one of the earliest (still existing) town houses in England and dates from the mid-twelfth century.
This is the part which leads up to the REALLY steep section, time to pace ourselves and not talk too much!


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39 comments:

  1. Bonnie11 July 2012 at 20:47

    I so enjoyed tagging along on you adventure. The birthday girl absolutely needed to be treated to chocolate. How about the book shop? Did you go in and browse? I always find going down hills much harder on the feet than going up. Your photographs are wonderful. Thanks, Bonnie

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    1. Elaine14 July 2012 at 14:27

      Hello Bonnie, A visit to Lincoln without visiting at least one bookshop would be unthinkable - chocolate is good, but books are even better! I am delighted that you enjoyed the tour.

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  2. Meggie11 July 2012 at 20:52

    What a wonderful trip around Lincoln, seen through your camera lens. It makes me want to book a flight to your part of the world.... and stay for a very long time.

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    1. Elaine14 July 2012 at 14:28

      Hello Meggie, Any time you want to come over here just let me know. I have lots more fascinating places to show you yet - and that is before we get anywhere near to Scotland!

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  3. Ms Sparrow11 July 2012 at 20:59

    Those are some scary steep streets to climb, but what darling shops to visit! You must develop some terrific leg muscles on you trips there.
    (I'm just curious--is Davina pronounced Da-veen-a or Dav-eye-na?)

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    1. Elaine14 July 2012 at 14:32

      Hello Ms Sparrow, Davina is pronounced Da-veen-a - or Neena as her younger brothers used to say! The shops are often quite small but they are all the better for being independent shops. You would love them.

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  4. Jane and Chris11 July 2012 at 21:02

    How absolutely gorgeous!!I'd be clinging onto the handrail for grim death on that hill though. I miss places like that....the sweet town, not the hill.
    Jane x
    Will we get to see the gown on the big day?

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    1. Elaine14 July 2012 at 14:35

      Hello Jane, You will definitely get to see the gown - it is such an important day (next month) so I won't let it go without mention. Lots of people haul themselves up with that handrail - I clutch it on the way down to try to persuade myself that I am not going to slip!

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  5. Molly11 July 2012 at 21:11

    Thank you for that great little tour around Lincoln. The little shops are really nice. Did you manage to find a Christening gown - hope so. That gradient does look steep and slippery

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    1. Elaine14 July 2012 at 14:36

      Hello Molly, We narrowed the choice down to two gowns, one made young Francesca look like a potato and the other made her look like an Elizabethan baby...guess which we went for!

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  6. From Beyond My Kitchen Window12 July 2012 at 01:19

    Thank you for the lovely visit. It is always interesting to read about someones adventures. You need walking shoes and good lungs to get up and down that nice little street.

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    1. Elaine14 July 2012 at 14:37

      Hello From Beyond My Kitchen Window, I'm glad you enjoyed it - sensible shoes are a must, especially on the cobbled streets. It is a beautiful little city.

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  7. Kathy12 July 2012 at 01:26

    This certainly looks like a place I'd like to visit sometime. It's a beautiful quaint little town.

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    1. Elaine14 July 2012 at 14:39

      Hello Kathy, If you are ever in Lincolnshire it is well worth looking in on Lincoln - lots of history in a small place. Roman walls, old castle, old cathedral and that beautiful Steep Hill are all within 100 yards of one another.

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  8. Joanne Noragon12 July 2012 at 01:59

    What a lovely tour. And, I'm with Jane. Except I'd use the rail hand over hand to get back up.

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    1. Elaine14 July 2012 at 14:41

      Hello Joanne, I guess you'd make the perfect touring partner for me then, I use it to go down and it's all yours when we steadily (with rests if you need them aka looking in shop windows) return up the hill.

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  9. Susan12 July 2012 at 02:33

    I love seeing all the history and feeling a part of the wonderful day with you. I enjoyed the walk, the shopping, and the conversation--just wish I was there for a cup of tea before starting up the hill:-D XOXO

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    1. Elaine14 July 2012 at 14:44

      Hello Susan, We would have lots of tea rooms to choose from, I can think of one which I think you would particularly enjoy. We could kick our shoes off and share a pot or two of tea in great comfort as we sit and chat in the ancient building.

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  10. Cro Magnon12 July 2012 at 05:45

    Being a typical southern boy, anything north of Watford is a mystery (other than Ely, where I was at school). So I'm very surprised by your photo tour of Lincoln, it looks really fabulous. Like you, I'm not too good walking down hill (dodgy right knee); up hill is fine though. I'd just always have to start at the bottom.

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    1. Elaine14 July 2012 at 14:51

      Hello Cro, If you start at the top of the hill you have the remains of the Roman walls, the cathedral, the castle and the hill all located off one beautiful square, and within just 100 yards of one another. I haven't been to Ely since Owl was just a young choirboy, a fair few decades ago!

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  11. In My Wild Eden12 July 2012 at 13:26

    Such wonderful shops must definitely make the steep walk worth it. It looks like you had a wonderful day.

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    1. Elaine14 July 2012 at 14:53

      Hello In My Wild Eden, We had a terrific time - I enjoy Lincoln any time, but it was particularly delightful to be successful in buying the baby's gown. Everything else was a bonus!

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  12. Cheryl12 July 2012 at 15:12

    Hi Elaine,

    Oh my, what a wonderful place to shop. I wanted to join you :)
    Although must confess, the steep hill did put me off a little.
    The chocolate shop looked wonderful ( I am a chocoholic) also the childrens clothing shop. Our third Grandchild is due in August, so once we know the sex of the little one, I can shop till my hearts content.

    Cathedral is stunning.....and I love the low clouds surrounding it.

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    1. Elaine14 July 2012 at 15:01

      Hello Cheryl, You would have been very welcome. The chocolate shop is wonderful - the sort where adults become children again as they struggle to make decisions about which chocolates to choose.

      A new grandchild almost due - how nice that they chose not to know the sex beforehand. When my three were little we had Mothercare and small baby wear shops which often sold knitting wool too - very different from the beautiful shops they have today!

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  13. Doc12 July 2012 at 20:53

    I miss all the lovely little shops. Here in the big city we have MALLS....Yuk!

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    1. Elaine14 July 2012 at 15:03

      Hello Doc, Like you, I love the small shops - Lincoln does have at least one Mall - but I intensely dislike going in there, so I don't. The little shops stock an amazing variety of things - and online shopping takes care of most other things.

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  14. A Colorful World13 July 2012 at 18:13

    My love of history just swelled with joy this morning as I looked at this wonderful post! First of all, the castle is probably one of the most wonderful I have ever seen. There are plenty of elaborately spired fairy-tale castles in Europe that I know I would love, but this one speaks to me. I can just imagine the Normans coming in and building it. It is sad that homes were displaced (boy, everytime people conquer someplace there is always a lot of displacement!!!!) to build it, but I just want to drink in the history that surrounds this gorgeous stone structure. Then, the town of Lincoln is so beautiful!! Wow, what an amazing place to visit! If I ever get to England, Lincoln will be on my itinerary, right after Stonehenge! It's lovely, and those steep roadways are really something. Love all the buildings! Anyway, I don't know about the Lincoln Imp. Would love to hear! If you did a post on it before I started following you, could you re-post it?

    Sorry you are having connection problems! I would hate to miss a single bit of any of your posts. They are so wonderful! I too am having connection problems and many photos don't upload for me. It's SOOOO frustrating! Have a great day!!!!

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    1. Elaine14 July 2012 at 15:16

      Hello Marie, I am really delighted that you enjoyed that little visit. I intend to go back after summer (when the summer visitor numbers have quietened down) and I will make a special point of photographing the Lincoln Imp and I'll tell you all about him in a special post.

      Lincoln is 'steeped' in history and much of it is there to be seen and explored right at the top of the hill, although a trip down the hill is great for the shops. There is a big old Roman arch across one of the roads near the cathedral, lots of remnants of Roman walls, the cathedral is somewhere which you could take most of the day to explore. The castle, which lies just across the square is beautiful and packed with so much of historical interest - and that is before we even begin on the houses and the shops, the cute streets and the cobbles.

      The connection problems are very slightly better although I almost lost the previous reply as it disappeared into the 'ether' due to the slowness of the connection. Truly frustrating, as you know. I hope your internet problems have been fixed.

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  15. LindyLouMac13 July 2012 at 19:47

    Lincoln has such an attractive historic city centre.

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    1. Elaine14 July 2012 at 15:28

      Hello LindLouMac, It is a truly fascinating little city.

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  16. Mrs Thrifty13 July 2012 at 23:24

    Thank you for such an interesting post - I just love old towns. I have only been to Lincoln once but thought it was quite lovely xx

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    1. Elaine14 July 2012 at 15:32

      Hello Mrs Thrifty, It is a lovely little place, if you plan to visit again we'll have to try to meet up.

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  17. Anonymous14 July 2012 at 04:41

    I think you could have left me in that delightful looking bookstore all day!

    Really, a 9th century castle? And an original copy of the Magna Carta? (Note to self: Add Lincoln to travel bucket list of northern Wales, Montana, Alaska and Skye/Hebrides.)

    I had to catch up on my blog reading after a rare 40-hour week. Can't believe I missed a barn owl post -- what a gift!

    janet

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    1. Elaine14 July 2012 at 16:08

      Hello Janet, I reckon I could have left you there all week - it is piled high with old and interesting books and I'm sure you would love it. Come to Lincoln - you'll have a wonderful time!

      I thought you would appreciate the owl, it was a true gift from nature. I'm still delighted to have seen it.

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    2. Anonymous15 July 2012 at 00:02

      I did me a "40-hour work week." So a week it is.

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    3. Anonymous15 July 2012 at 00:04

      aaarrgh not "me," "mean."

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  18. Little Home In The Country14 July 2012 at 14:52

    Wow - those pictures are stunning! I'd LOVE to go to the UK - it's on our list for early retirement travel especially as both sides of our family are from there :)

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    1. Elaine14 July 2012 at 16:10

      Hello Little Home in the Country, I'm glad you enjoyed it and I hope you make it one day, you'll find lots to interest you. Best get making those lists of places to visit!

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  19. Amy Burzese16 July 2012 at 03:06

    I have the same fear of wet slopes. I'm not sure it is irrational. Great post once again!

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