Lincoln Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lincoln Castle |
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| Lincolnshire | |
View over Lincoln Castle from Lincoln Cathedral to the east. The Westgate Water Tower at top right is not part of the castle.
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 Lincoln Castle
Shown within Lincolnshire
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| Coordinates | 53°14′07″N 0°32′27″W / 53.23529°N 0.54095°W |
| Type | Norman |
| Site information | |
| Open to the public |
Every day |
| Site history | |
| Built | 11th century |
| Built by | William the Conqueror |
| In use | Prison and law court |
| Materials | Stone |
| Battles/wars |
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| Official name: Lincoln Castle (except modern buildings) | |
| Reference #: | 1005049 |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name: Lincoln Castle | |
| Designated: | 15 August 1973 |
| Reference #: | 1388491 |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Reference #: |
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| Website: | http://www.lincolncastle.com/ |
Lincoln Castle is an amazing medieval castle in Lincoln, England. It was built in the late 11th century by William the Conqueror. He built it on the spot where an old Roman fort used to be.
What makes Lincoln Castle special is that it has two large mounds, called mottes. Only one other castle in England, Lewes Castle, has this unique design. For many years, Lincoln Castle was used as a prison and a court. Even today, the Crown Courts still meet there.
The castle is one of the best-preserved in England. You can visit it most days and even walk along its walls. From the walls, you get fantastic views of the castle, Lincoln Cathedral, and the city. Inside the castle, you can see one of only four original copies of the Magna Carta from 1215. This important document helped shape laws and rights.
Today, Lincolnshire County Council owns Lincoln Castle. It is a protected historical site known as a scheduled monument.
Contents
Exploring Lincoln Castle's Past
How Lincoln Castle Began
After William the Conqueror won the Battle of Hastings in 1066, he still faced challenges. People in northern England resisted his rule. To control these areas, especially the Danelaw where Vikings had settled, William built many strong castles. These included castles in Cambridge, Huntingdon, Lincoln, Nottingham, Warwick, and York.
When William arrived in Lincoln, it was a busy Viking trading town. It had between 6,000 and 8,000 people. The old Roman fort of Lindum Colonia was on a hill, 60 meters (200 feet) above the land. This was a perfect spot for a new castle.
Lincoln was also important because several major routes met there:
- Ermine Street: A main Roman road connecting London and York.
- Fosse Way: Another Roman road linking Lincoln to Leicester and southwest England.
- The River Trent valley: This river led to the River Ouse and the city of York.
- The River Witham: A waterway connected to the River Trent and the North Sea.
- The Lincolnshire Wolds: High ground northeast of Lincoln.
A castle here could protect these routes and help William control the country.
Building the castle meant some existing homes had to be removed. Records from 1086 show that 166 "unoccupied residences" were taken down for Lincoln Castle.
The castle was finished in 1068. It probably started with a wooden tower, called a keep. Later, a much stronger stone keep was built. Lincoln Castle is special because it has two mottes, which are large earth mounds. The only other castle like this is Lewes Castle.
Battles and Changes at the Castle
Lincoln Castle was central to the First Battle of Lincoln in 1141. This battle was part of a fight between King Stephen and Empress Matilda for the English throne. A new tower, called the Lucy Tower, was built around this time.
The castle was attacked again during the Second Battle of Lincoln in 1217. This happened during the First Barons' War, a time of political unrest after King John signed the Magna Carta in 1215. After this, new defenses called barbicans were added to the west and east gates.
In 1375, a woman named Agatha Lovel was imprisoned at Lincoln Castle. She was accused of a serious crime. She managed to escape by bribing her jailers. The jailers were later arrested and tried for letting her go.
Lincoln Castle as a Prison and Court
Like many castles, Lincoln Castle became a secure place for a gaol (prison). A prison was built here in 1787 and made bigger in 1847. The old prison buildings are now protected historical sites.
The prison had different rules for different prisoners. People who owed money could have some contact with others. But criminals were kept in isolation. The prison chapel even had special seats to keep each prisoner separate. This way, the preacher could see everyone, but prisoners could only see the preacher. By 1878, this system was no longer used, and prisoners moved to a new jail in Lincoln. The castle prison then housed the Lincolnshire Archives.
For many years, punishments were carried out at the castle. Until 1868, public punishments happened on a tower overlooking the town.
Today, parts of the prison are a museum. You can see the 19th-century chapel, which is believed to be the only one left in the world designed for the "separate system." The prison has also been used as a filming location, including for the TV show Downton Abbey.
In 2012, a big project called "Lincoln Castle Revealed" began. This three-year renovation created a new exhibition center for Lincoln's copy of the Magna Carta. It also added visitor facilities and opened more parts of the prison to the public. The project finished in April 2015, just in time for the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta. The exhibition explains the history of this famous document and its lasting impact.
Castle Design and Features
Lincoln Castle has strong stone walls all around it. These walls were built before 1115. On the south side, there are two large earth mounds, or mottes. One is in the southeast corner and was likely part of William the Conqueror's original castle. The other is in the southwest corner.
A square tower, called the Observatory Tower, sits on top of the first mound. It stands tall over the city of Lincoln. The second mound has the 'Lucy Tower', built in the 12th century. It was named after Lucy of Bolingbroke, a countess from that time.
The castle grounds also feature parts of Lincoln's Eleanor cross. You can also see an oriel window that was moved from Sutton Hall and added to the main gate. There's also a bust of George III from the Dunston Pillar.
On the western side of the castle is a building from 1823. This building is still used today as the Lincoln Crown Court.
Other Old Defenses in Lincoln
There were other old defenses in Lincoln that no longer exist:
- Earth banks once stood west of the castle, possibly from one of the sieges.
- Thorngate Castle was near the river. It was part of the city walls in 1141 but was taken down in 1151.
Images for kids
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Remnant of Lincoln's Eleanor Cross
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Coade stone bust of George III from the Dunston Pillar to the south of Lincoln
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Oriel window in the gatehouse, moved from John of Gaunt’s Palace, Lincoln, in 1849
See also
In Spanish: Castillo de Lincoln para niños
