History of Lincolnshire facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Lincolnshire, a county in England, has a long and interesting history. It was formed when the ancient Kingdom of Lindsey joined with an area controlled by the Danelaw town of Stamford. For a while, the whole county was called 'Lindsey'.

Later, Lincolnshire was divided into three main 'Parts': Lindsey (in the north, around Lincoln), Holland (in the south-east), and Kesteven (in the south-west). In 1888, these 'Parts' each got their own local councils. These councils lasted until 1974.

In 1974, Holland, Kesteven, and most of Lindsey became part of the modern county of Lincolnshire. The northern part, including Scunthorpe and Grimsby, joined a new area called Humberside. Humberside was later removed in 1996. The areas south of the Humber River then became North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire. These areas are part of Lincolnshire for special events, like having a Lord-Lieutenant, but they have their own local governments.

Today, Lincolnshire includes districts like Boston, East Lindsey, Lincoln, South Holland, South Kesteven, North Kesteven, and West Lindsey. These areas are part of the East Midlands region of England.

Stone Age in Lincolnshire

The Stone Age was a very long time ago, when early humans used stone tools. In Lincolnshire, this period saw big changes in climate.

Ice Ages and Early Humans

During the Pleistocene epoch, Britain's weather kept changing. It went from very cold periods, where ice covered much of England, to warmer times. Lincolnshire was covered by ice during at least two major ice ages.

Early hunter-gatherers arrived in Britain many thousands of years ago. Evidence of these early people in Lincolnshire is rare because the ice likely destroyed many remains. However, some flint tools found at Kirmington show humans were here during a warm period between ice ages. Other early finds include Acheulian hand-axes.

Life After the Ice Age

After the ice ages ended, Britain's climate became warmer. Humans started making more advanced stone tools in the Mesolithic era, but they still hunted and gathered food. The area around Scunthorpe might have been a busy place for people during this time. Archaeologists have found old camps with hearths and flint tools.

The Neolithic era is the last part of the Stone Age. People started using polished stone tools, growing plants, raising animals, and making pottery. Not many early Neolithic settlements have been found in Lincolnshire. However, Long barrows (ancient burial mounds) have been discovered in the Lincolnshire Wolds, like the Giants' Hills barrows at Skendleby. Many stone tools from this period are found scattered across the county.

Bronze Age Discoveries

The Bronze Age began when people learned to make tools from bronze instead of stone. This period followed the Neolithic era.

Early Bronze Age Finds

Pottery from the Beaker culture, which started in the late Neolithic, continued into the early Bronze Age. Remains of this pottery have been found around Scunthorpe and in the southern Wolds, dating back to about 3,000 BC.

Lincolnshire was once known for its many prehistoric burial mounds. Sadly, modern farming has destroyed many of them. However, some Bronze Age burial mounds still exist at places like Tallington and Broughton. Important finds from the middle to late Bronze Age include swords and spearheads from Appleby, and a gold necklace (called a torc) from Low Burnham, which is now in the British Museum.

Changes in the Landscape

Between about 1300 and 600 BC, the landscape of Britain changed. In Lincolnshire, drier weather caused pine trees to grow near the Fen edge. Oak forests were replaced by peat bogs or moorland. Because of these changes, older settlements were left behind, and new ones appeared.

Late Bronze Age treasures have been found, including a collection of bronze items from Nettleham, also in the British Museum. A wooden trackway and a wooden boat from this time have been found at Brigg in north Lincolnshire. Dug-out canoes have also been discovered in several river valleys across the county.

Iron Age Life

The Iron Age began when iron replaced bronze for making tools. This period saw the rise of the unique La Tène culture among Celtic societies around 500 BC.

The Witham Shield, a beautiful piece of Celtic art from the Iron Age.

Art and Settlements

Not many early La Tène items have been found in Lincolnshire. Some examples include a bronze brooch from Scunthorpe and a decorated bronze sword sheath from Wisbech. One of the most famous finds is the Witham Shield, a stunning bronze shield found in the River Witham. It is considered one of the finest examples of La Tène art in Europe.

Archaeologists have found early Iron Age farming settlements at Ancaster and salt-making sites at Ingoldmells. Forts from this period are also known, such as Honington Camp. Lincolnshire's good farmland and important salt industry likely made it a wealthy area during the Iron Age.

Later Iron Age and Tribes

Later Iron Age finds include gold necklaces from Ulceby and bronze ornaments. An "extensive" Iron Age settlement was found at Old Sleaford. Here, over 3,500 pieces of coin moulds were discovered, the largest find of its kind in Europe. This suggests Old Sleaford might have been an important tribal center.

The northern Wolds area was also heavily populated. Settlements at Kirmington and Dragonby have been excavated. Before the Romans arrived, the Corieltauvi tribe lived in the East Midlands, including Lincolnshire. Their main towns were Lindum (modern Lincoln) and Ratae (modern Leicester). The Romans arrived in AD 43 and soon began to take control of these native peoples.

Roman Rule in Lincolnshire

The Romans established their government in Lincolnshire shortly after their invasion of Britain in AD 43.

Roman Control and Infrastructure

The Roman rule was sometimes harsh, leading to a quiet rebellion by the Corieltauvi and their neighbors, the Brigantes, which lasted until about AD 70. Once settled, the Romans worked to improve Lincolnshire. They built the Car Dyke, a long series of ditches and canals that helped drain the land and transport goods. They also built roads and inland ports, like the Brayford Pool at Lincoln.

Roman Forts and Roads

Many Roman forts were built across Lincolnshire to help control the area. Some of the main forts included:

Ancaster
Horncastle (Banovalum)
Lincoln (Lindum Colonia)
Stow (Sidnacester)

The Romans also built three major roads through Lincolnshire:

Ermine Street: This road connected London to York, passing through Stamford, Lincoln, and Winteringham.
Fosse Way: This road linked Lincoln to Exeter.
Tillbridge Lane: This road went from Lincoln to York.

Many smaller Roman roads branched off these main routes, connecting different parts of the county. During the Roman period, north Lincolnshire was known for making a type of pottery called Dales ware.

Early Middle Ages

After the Romans left, many people from Germanic-speaking parts of Europe settled in Lincolnshire, starting in the fifth century. These groups eventually became known as the Angles.

Kingdom of Lindsey and Viking Arrival

It's thought that some native Britons continued to live in the region for a while. The Kingdom of Lindsey was formed in the northern part of what is now Lincolnshire by the 6th century. It remained independent until the 8th century when it was taken over by the powerful kingdom of Mercia.

In 865, a large Danish army, led by Ivar, arrived in England. They conquered Mercia and other Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. Scandinavian settlers followed these raiders into the areas under Danish control, which became known as the Danelaw. Many place names in Lincolnshire still show Scandinavian influences. Lincoln became a Danish town and was later made the head of the new shire of Lincolnshire in the 10th century.

Later Middle Ages

After the Norman Conquest in 1066, the Anglo-Saxon nobles in Lincolnshire lost their lands. William the Conqueror gave these lands to his followers.

Castles and Monasteries

William built Lincoln Castle and another at Tattershall. Many other castles were built by Norman lords, especially after the Conquest and during a civil war around 1140. The First Battle of Lincoln in 1141 was part of this conflict.

The area along the Witham River, between Boston and Lincoln, became home to many Christian abbeys and monasteries. Important ones included Barlings Abbey and Bardney Abbey. Despite its size, Lincolnshire had fewer castles compared to other areas, but many monasteries.

Trade and Prosperity

Fairs were set up in towns like Stamford and Grantham. The sheep farming and wool trade brought great wealth to Lincolnshire. Boston became a major center for trading wool. The money from the wool trade helped build many grand churches in the region. St. Botolph's Church in Boston has a very tall tower that can be seen from far away.

This period also saw the creation of important roles, like the Queen's Champion. Many large estates and schools were founded. While life was generally good, there were also conflicts, such as the 1470 Lincolnshire Rebellion, where ordinary people fought against unfair rules. An important medieval book, the Luttrell Psalter, which shows scenes of daily life, was found in a church in Irnham and saved for the nation.

Early Modern Period

The Early Modern period in Lincolnshire saw religious changes and civil war.

The Lincolnshire Rising

During the Protestant Reformation, many people in Lincolnshire had strong Catholic beliefs. On October 2, 1536, a rebellion against the new Anglican church broke out. Local farmers and Catholic priests led this uprising. Although there were many rebels (around 60,000), King Henry VIII sent an army of 3,000 soldiers. The rebellion was put down by October 13.

English Civil War

During the English Civil War, Lincolnshire was part of the Eastern Association, a group of counties that supported the Parliament. On its western border were strongholds of the Royalists (supporters of the King), like Newark on Trent. This meant Lincolnshire was often raided and defended by both sides.

Lincolnshire was important to Parliament because it provided a link between the major supply center of Hull and the south of England. It also offered a good starting point for an attack across the English Midlands, which could cut off the north of England from the west.

Victorian Era Migration

In June 1888, a man named Mr. G. Randall visited about 30 villages across Lincolnshire. He was looking for people who wanted to move to Queensland, Australia.

He claimed that 7,000 people had already left. He recruited another 200 people from villages like Bicker, Heckington Fen, and Ropsley. These new recruits sailed on a ship called the SS Waroonga to various towns in Queensland.

Second World War and the RAF

Before the Second World War, Lincolnshire was mostly a quiet farming area. However, its large size, flat land, and closeness to the enemy made it very important during the war.

RAF Bases in Lincolnshire

The number of Royal Air Force (RAF) airfields in the county grew quickly. By 1945, there were over 46 RAF bases. Some of these were even used by the United States Army Air Force. The first airfields were built for the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) as early as 1912.

Famous RAF stations in Lincolnshire include RAF Cranwell, which started as a Royal Naval Air Service training base and became the RAF Officer Training College. RAF Swinderby was a base for Polish airmen and later the main RAF Recruit Training Camp. RAF Scampton was the home of the famous 617 "Dambusters" Squadron.

Lincolnshire is often called the 'home' of RAF Bomber Command. Many bomber squadrons were based here, including the Lancaster bombers of the Dambusters. Even today, the Battle of Britain memorial flight is led by a Lancaster bomber named The City of Lincoln.

Jet Engine Development

Before the war, Sir Frank Whittle studied at RAF Cranwell in the late 1920s. Here, he developed his ideas for the jet engine. On May 15, 1941, the world's first true jet-engine flight took place at Cranwell.

Most of these airfields closed after the war. Although many have been built over, you can still see old control towers and crumbling buildings in some places. Many people in Lincolnshire learned to drive on the old concrete runways of these disused airfields.

Cold War History

During the Cold War, RAF Waddington and RAF Scampton were two of the main bases for the V bomber Force, flying Vulcans. These powerful aircraft were a key part of Britain's defense. Also, Thor missiles were placed at former wartime air stations, such as RAF Folkingham.