A Visit to Lincoln

Friday was going to be one of those days. The weather forecast, for the afternoon at least, was horrendous. Anyway we had arranged to go to Lincoln for a look round the Castle and the Cathedral.

Although I have been to both places several times in my Childhood (I was born in Lincoln), and my lad, Liam, has had a School type visit, it was mainly my “baby” (and if she reads this I’m very, very dead) who wanted to go and have a look.

We were due to go in the summer, but something else had happened, and the visit had to be posponded.

Anyway, this time plans were made, including a visit to my Godson and his School Friend Mother.

Anyone who hasn’t been to Lincoln before – you really ought to go – History and Good Shopping – a mix to cover most people.

This was the first time that even I had had chance to go round the whole of the Castle. Try climbing to the top of the Observation Tower (not for anyone with vertigo), the steps are dark and winding, it was hard to imagine how anyone in full could even get through the door, let alone climb to the top of the tower.
This visit was also the first time that I have ever seen the West Gate open (and it has been open now for quite a few years). A must for anyone with the time is to walk the length of the ramparts – what a view of the city. You could stand there a imagine the vista down the hill and out across the Lincolnshire Wolds.

A must for anyone visiting the Castle at the moment is to go and see the Magna Carta exhibition. What a piece of history in it’s own right – it’s such a small document for the impact it still has on British History. If you can get the attendant to explain the story behind its conception. He gives a wonderful presentation and definitely gives an alternate view on that that’s normally available.

Anyway after a good wander about the Castle, we took a short walk to one of my favourite places in the world – Lincoln cathedral. Just a short walk across the cobbles, through the gateway, and there is one of the most impressive buildings in the world. I know everyone has their own personal favourite place – but this is certainly one of mine.

A slow and steady walk through the various halls and Chapels, it is a feeling that is very hard for me to explain. It is a mixture of awe, majesty, sadness and joy. The sadness was for my Dad. He was born and bred in Lincoln and he was the first person to take me round the Cathedral as a boy. He would have been so proud to see his Grandkids going round the places he loved – asking, enquiring. In one of the side chapels, Liam and Laura both asked if they could light a Candle for their Grand dad. It was very difficult to keep the tears back at that point.

Sometimes they drive you wild, and then other times?

There was a set of sculptures, placed below some of the wonderful stained glass windows – “The Stations of the Forest” I think they were called – and they followed through the story of Christ, but you were allowed to feel the forms as they stood there. You could feel the grain of the woods used – the cold and sharpness of the nails. Brilliant.
Then we went to look for the Imp. It took a few moments to find – it was that long since even I had seen him. But we found him, sat high up on the pillar, gazing down , ready for his next bit of mischief.

We slowly wandered back down the far side of the Cathedral, occasionally popping into one of the small side chapels, looking into the main choir area. Then it was time to move on. We stopped off at the Chapel where we had lit the Candles for my Dad, just to see how far they had burnt down..

Then it was out into the heavy rain of a very grey late afternoon at the end of a Dull October. Onwards to tea with our friends.