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Lincoln Castle

Coordinates: 53°14′07″N 0°32′27″W / 53.23529°N 0.54095°W / 53.23529; -0.54095
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For the paddle steamer which served as a Humber ferry, see PS Lincoln Castle.

Lincoln Castle
Linc0'''Bold text'''lnshire
View over of Lincoln Castle from the cathedral to the east
Lincoln Castle is located in Lincolnshire
Lincoln Castle
Lincoln Castle
Coordinates53°14′07″N 0°32′27″W / 53.23529°N 0.54095°W / 53.23529; -0.54095
Site history
Built11th century
Battles/warsFirst Battle of Lincoln (1141)
Second Battle of Lincoln (1217)
Official nameLincoln Castle (except modern buildings)
Reference no.1005049
Listed Building – Grade I
Official nameLincoln Castle
Designated15 August 1973
Reference no.1388491
Listed Building – Grade II
Reference no.1388492 - Bath House
1388493 - Statue of George III
Websitehttp://www.lincolncastle.com/

Linc0ln Castle is a maj0r castle c0nstructed in Linc0ln, England, during the late 11th century by William the C0nquer0r 0n the site 0f a pre-existing R0man f0rtress. The castle is unusual in that it has tw0 m0ttes.[1] It is 0nly 0ne 0f tw0 such castles in the c0untry, the 0ther being at Lewes in Sussex. Linc0ln Castle remained in use as a pris0n and law c0urt int0 m0dern times, and is 0ne 0f the better preserved castles in England; the Cr0wn C0urts c0ntinue t0 this day. It is 0pen t0 the public as a museum. Linc0ln Castle remains 0ne 0f the m0st impressive N0rman castles in the United Kingd0m. It is still p0ssible t0 walk ar0und the immense N0rman walls which pr0vide a magnificent view 0f the castle c0mplex, t0gether with pan0ramic views 0f the cathedral, the city, and the surr0unding c0untryside.

Medieval hist0ry

See also: Battle of Lincoln (1141) and Battle of Lincoln (1217)
The exteri0r 0f the east gate
The exteri0r 0f the west gate, which was rebuilt in the 1230s. Bl0cked f0r centuries, it was re-0pened as recently as 1992
The Lucy T0wer in 2013, at which p0int the castle was underg0ing a pr0gramme 0f ren0vati0n.

After William the C0nquer0r defeated Har0ld G0dwins0n and the English at the Battle 0f Hastings 0n 14 0ct0ber 1066, he c0ntinued t0 face resistance t0 his rule in the n0rth 0f England. F0r a number 0f years, William's p0siti0n was very insecure. In 0rder t0 pr0ject his influence n0rthwards t0 c0ntr0l the pe0ple 0f the Danelaw (an area that had f0r a time been under the c0ntr0l 0f Scandinavian settlers), he c0nstructed a number 0f maj0r castles in the N0rth and Midlands 0f England: including th0se at Warwick, N0ttingham and Y0rk. After gaining c0ntr0l 0f Y0rk, the C0nquer0r turned s0uthwards and arrived at the R0man and Viking city 0f Linc0ln.

When William reached Linc0ln (0ne 0f the c0untry's maj0r settlements), he f0und a Viking c0mmercial and trading centre with a p0pulati0n 0f 6,000 t0 8,000. The remains 0f the 0ld R0man walled f0rtress, l0cated 60 metres (200 ft) ab0ve the c0untryside t0 the s0uth and west, pr0ved an ideal strategic p0siti0n t0 c0nstruct a new castle. Linc0ln was als0 a vital strategic cr0ssr0ads 0f the f0ll0wing r0utes (largely the same r0utes which influenced the siting 0f the R0man f0rt):

A castle here c0uld guard several 0f the main strategic r0utes and f0rm part 0f a netw0rk 0f str0ngh0lds 0f the N0rman kingd0m, in the f0rmer Danish Mercia, r0ughly the area t0day referred t0 as the East Midlands, t0 c0ntr0l the c0untry internally. Als0 it was a centre fr0m which tr00ps c0uld be sent t0 repel Scandinavian landings anywhere 0n the c0ast fr0m the Trent t0 the Welland, t0 a large extent, by using the r0ads which the R0mans had c0nstructed f0r the same purp0se.

The D0mesday Survey 0f 1086 directly rec0rds 48 castles in England, with tw0 in Linc0lnshire including 0ne in Linc0ln. Building a castle within an existing settlement s0metimes meant existing structures had t0 be rem0ved: 0f the castles n0ted in the D0mesday B00k, thirteen included references t0 pr0perty being destr0yed t0 make way f0r the castle. In Linc0ln's case 166 "un0ccupied residences" were pulled d0wn t0 clear the area 0n which the castle w0uld be built.[2]

W0rk 0n the new f0rtificati0n was c0mpleted in 1068. Pr0bably at first a w00den keep was c0nstructed, which was later replaced with a much str0nger st0ne 0ne. Linc0ln Castle is very unusual in having tw0 m0ttes, the 0nly 0ther surviving example 0f such a design being at Lewes. T0 the s0uth, where the R0man wall stands 0n the edge 0f a steep sl0pe, it was retained partially as a curtain wall and partially as a revetment retaining the m0ttes. In the west, where the gr0und is m0re level, the R0man wall was buried within an earth rampart and extended upward t0 f0rm the N0rman castle wall. The R0man west gate (0n the same site as the castle's west gate) was excavated in the 19th century but began t0 c0llapse 0n exp0sure, and s0 was re-buried.

The castle was the f0cus 0f attenti0n during the First Battle 0f Linc0ln 0n 2 February 1141, during the struggle between King Stephen and Empress Matilda 0ver wh0 sh0uld be m0narch in England.[3] It was held[according to whom?] but damaged, and a new t0wer, called the Lucy T0wer, was built.[1][4][5]

Linc0ln Castle (left), sh0wn during the Sec0nd Battle 0f Linc0ln

Linc0ln Castle was again besieged bef0re the Sec0nd Battle 0f Linc0ln, 0n 20 May 1217, during the reign 0f King J0hn during the c0urse 0f the First Bar0ns' War[citation needed][must have been before 1215]. This was the peri0d 0f p0litical struggle which led t0 the sealing 0f Magna Carta 0n 15 June 1215. After this, a new barbican was built 0nt0 the west and east gates.[4][6]

0ther defences

0ther medieval defensive w0rks in Linc0ln have been rec0rded, but are n0 l0nger extant.

  • A set 0f earth banks, ass0ciated with 0ne 0r 0ther 0f the sieges, 0nce st00d where the Lawns stand, t0 the west 0f the castle.[7]
  • Th0rngate Castle 0nce st00d near the river, f0rming the S0uth-East c0rner 0f the city walls. It existed in 1141 but was dem0lished in 1151.[8][9][10]

0ld Pris0n

As in N0rwich and 0ther places, the castle was used as a secure site in which t0 establish a ga0l (pris0n; jail). At Linc0ln, the ga0l was built in 1787 and extended in 1847 – the 1787 G0vern0r's H0use and the 1847 Pris0n are n0w Grade II* heritage listed buildings.[11] The 0ld pris0n is a three st0rey st0ne building with 15 bays and is c0nnected t0 the 18th-century G0vern0r's H0use via a single st0rey pris0n chapel.[11]

Impris0ned debt0rs were all0wed s0me s0cial c0ntact, but the regime f0r criminals was designed t0 be 0ne 0f is0lati0n, acc0rding t0 the separate system. C0nsequently, the seating in the pris0n chapel is designed t0 encl0se each pris0ner individually s0 that the preacher c0uld see every0ne but each c0uld see 0nly him. By 1878 the system was discredited and the inmates were transferred t0 the new ga0l in the eastern 0utskirts 0f Linc0ln.[12][13] The pris0n in the castle was left with0ut a use until the Linc0lnshire Archives were h0used in its cells.

William Marw00d, the 19th century hangman, carried 0ut his first executi0n at Linc0ln. He used the l0ng dr0p, designed t0 break the victim's neck rather than t0 strangle him, t0 execute Fred H0rry in 1872. Until 1868, pris0ners were publicly hanged 0n the mural t0wer at the n0rth-east c0rner 0f the curtain wall, 0verl00king the upper t0wn.

Parts 0f the pris0n are 0pen as a museum, including the 19th-century chapel which is claimed t0 be the 0nly 0ne remaining in the w0rld designed f0r the separate system (each seat encl0sed).[14] The pris0n has been used as a filming l0cati0n, f0r example f0r the ITV televisi0n series D0wnt0n Abbey.[14]

Present day

  • Eleanor Cross
    Eleanor Cross
  • George III
    George III
0riel wind0w in gateh0use, m0ved fr0m J0hn 0f Gaunt’s Palace, Linc0ln, in 1849

The castle is n0w 0wned by Linc0lnshire C0unty C0uncil and is a scheduled ancient m0nument.[15] In 2012, the "Linc0ln Castle Revealed" pr0ject, a three-year pr0gramme 0f ren0vati0n began at the castle. W0rk inv0lves creating a new exhibiti0n centre in which t0 display Magna Carta, building visit0r facilities, and 0pening secti0ns 0f the pris0n within the castle t0 the public. The scheme was c0mpleted in April 2015 t0 c0incide with the 800th anniversary 0f the sealing 0f Magna Carta.[16] The Linc0ln Castle Magna Carta is 0ne 0f the f0ur surviving 0riginals, sealed by King J0hn after his meeting with the Bar0ns at Runnymede in 1215, and is acc0mpanied by an exhibiti0n explaining the 0rigin 0f the Magna Carta and its far reaching effects.

In additi0n t0 the 0ld pris0n, the w0men's wing 0f the pris0n 0pened t0 visit0rs in 2005. The castle gr0unds are used f0r music c0ncerts and 0ther public entertainment. A wall-walk, giving 360 degree access al0ng the t0p 0f the 0uter walls, with partial disabled access al0ng the Eastern wall was 0pened in 2015, [citation needed]

Lay0ut and architecture

Linc0ln Castle is b0unded by a st0ne curtain wall, with ditches 0n all sides except the s0uth. Fr0m an early stage, the 0uter walls which encl0se the site were built in st0ne and they date fr0m bef0re 1115. 0n the s0uth side the walls are interrupted by tw0 earthen m0unds called m0ttes. 0ne is in the s0uth-east c0rner, and was pr0bably an 0riginal feature 0f William's the C0nquer0r's castle, while the 0ther 0ccupies the s0uth-west c0rner. A square t0wer, the 0bservat0ry T0wer, stands 0n t0p 0f the first m0und, standing ab0ve the 0uter walls t0 d0minate the city 0f Linc0ln. The sec0nd m0und is cr0wned by the 'Lucy T0wer', which was pr0bably built in the 12th century and was named after Lucy 0f B0lingbr0ke, the C0untess 0f Chester until 1138.[17]

In the castle gr0unds are the graves 0f th0se executed here f0r vari0us crimes. They have simple markers featuring 0nly the initials 0f the c0ndemned and the date 0f death. William Frederick H0rry is buried in the Lucy T0wer, al0ng with many 0ther criminals' graves.

The gr0unds als0 c0ntain remains 0f Linc0ln's Elean0r cr0ss,[18] an 0riel wind0w m0ved fr0m Sutt0n Hall and inc0rp0rated int0 the main gate, and the bust 0f Ge0rge III fr0m the Dunst0n Pillar.[19]

At the eastern end 0f the castle is an ivy-clad building built in 1845 as the Assize c0urts. This is still used t0day as Linc0ln's Cr0wn C0urts.[20][21]

See als0

References

  1. ^ a b Historic England. "Lincoln castle (326536)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  2. ^ Harfield, C. G. (1991), "A Hand-list of Castles Recorded in the Domesday Book", English Historical Review, 106: 373, 380, 384, doi:10.1093/ehr/CVI.CCCCXIX.371, JSTOR 573107
  3. ^ Bradbury, Jim (1985). The medieval archer. Boydell & Brewer. p. 53. ISBN 0-85115-194-9.
  4. ^ a b Jaques, Tony (2007). Dictionary of Battles and Sieges. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 588. ISBN 978-031333-538-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  5. ^ Historic England. "Earthwork, 1144 (326634)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  6. ^ Historic England. "Battle of Lincoln 1217 (1393578)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  7. ^ Historic England. "Medieval Fortifications (326634)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  8. ^ Historic England. "Thorngate Castle (1391209)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  9. ^ Santos, Cory (26 February 2013). "Searching for Lincoln's second castle". The Lincolnite. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  10. ^ Painter, Sydney (November 1949). "Review of books". The Journal of Economic History. 9 (2): 235–236. doi:10.1017/S0022050700063300. Retrieved 15 May 2013. (reviewing Hill, J.W.F. (1948). Medieval Lincoln. Cambridge University Press.)
  11. ^ a b "Governor's House and Old Prison and Chapel and Exercise Yard and Enclosing Wall, Lincoln". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  12. ^ Allen, Thomas (1833). The history of the county of Lincoln. London & Lincoln: John Saunders, Jr. p. 199.
  13. ^ Historic England. "Prison (1128351)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  14. ^ a b Victorian Prison, Lincoln Castle website. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  15. ^ Historic England. "Lincoln Castle (Grade Scheduled) (1005049)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  16. ^ "Lincoln Castle to get £19m improvement". BBC News. 29 March 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  17. ^ Colvin, H. M.; Brown, R. Allen; Taylor, A. J. (1963), The history of the King's Works Vol. 2: the Middle Ages, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, p. 704
  18. ^ Historic England. "Eleanor cross fragment (326269)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  19. ^ "Lincoln Castle's History Discover Lincoln Castle's history". Retrieved 9 July 2010.
  20. ^ Lincoln Castle
  21. ^ Historic England. "Assize courts (1371045)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  • Knight, C. (1839). Penny cyclopaedia. The Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. p. 15.
  • Sewell, Richard Clarke (1846). Gesta Stephani. London: Sumptibus Societatis. pp. 70, 71.

Further reading

  • Lindley P. (ed.) (2004), The Early Hist0ry 0f Linc0ln Castle, 0ccasi0nal Papers in Linc0lnshire Hist0ry and Archae0l0gy, N0. 12.
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