Lincoln is a city in Lincolnshire, England of which it is the county town. The city had a population of 94.600 in 2012. Interesting fact: Lincoln Cathedral was the tallest building in the world for 238 years until one of it's spires fell during a storm (1311–1549), then it was second, behind only of the Pyramid of Giza in this period. Today it is also only the third largest cathedral in the world.
Lincoln is a very old human accommodation that has been preserved with it's original structure; original street structure, original archways and original building styles. Lincoln is one of those cities that allow for a contrast of modern technology with the way of life from the past. With ATM's and Telephone booths as red boxes on the street, cobblestone pavement, tight alleys and antique construction, we see modern cars going through archways that exist for millennia as if the whole city is a museum, a historic city so to speak.
Lincoln’s contribution to modern warfare was the invention of the tank. Built by William Foster & Co during World War One, the very first tanks were tested on the area now occupied by Tritton Road. The city was deeply involved in the Bomber Command during WW2, the first Memorial dedicated to the bombers was placed in Lincoln Cathedral in 2006, the next one would be in London in 2012.
From Boston to Lincoln we walked more 32 miles, reaching the city within 2 days.
Lincoln is a very old human accommodation that has been preserved with it's original structure; original street structure, original archways and original building styles. Lincoln is one of those cities that allow for a contrast of modern technology with the way of life from the past. With ATM's and Telephone booths as red boxes on the street, cobblestone pavement, tight alleys and antique construction, we see modern cars going through archways that exist for millennia (Newport Arch) as if the whole city is a museum, a historic city so to speak.
To get to know the city better we decided to visit the Museum of Lincolnshire Life, the largest and most diverse community museum in the county with over 250.000 objects, containing early machinery, such as tractors and excavators, and one of the first tanks used in war, it's collection dates from 1750 to today.
To get to Lincoln Catedral we walk up the Steep Hill street, an alley like street with many shops and pubs, once named Britain's best place by the Academy of Urbanism. The hill has 14% gradient and it's central part is so steep that it is unsuited for any form of vehicle, being only accessible on foot. The entrance to Lincoln Cathedral is at the top of the hill.
Lincoln Cathedral or the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lincoln, was the tallest building in the world for 238 years until one of it's spires fell during a storm (1311–1549), then it was second, behind only of the Pyramid of Giza in this period. Today it is also only the third largest cathedral in the world. It's construction begun in 1088 and continued in stages during the medieval era. The cathedral has been severely damaged at least three times, the roof was destroyed in a fire in 1121, in 1185 it collapsed due to an earthquake and in 1237 the main tower collapsed, probably due to changes from the rebuilding done after the earthquake (some residents ironically say that it can fall at any time; due to crumbling of stonework and the discovery that only a 5mm (0.20 in) shift would make an entire window collapse). But until 1549 it was still the tallest man made structure in the world, with 525 feet (160 m). Lincoln Cathedral is one of the few English cathedrals built from the rock it is standing on. The cathedral's stonemasons use more than 100 tonnes of stone per year for maintenance and repairs and it's said that the quarry which provides these stones will run out in 2021.
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