St Catherine's, Lincoln facts for kids
St Catherine's is a part of Lincoln, England, located at the southern end of the city's main street, the High Street. It's a busy area centered around a roundabout where several roads meet. To the east, you'll find the wide open spaces of South Common, and to the west, the River Witham flows by. This area was built on the site of a very old building from the 12th century called the Priory of Saint Katherine without Lincoln. A priory was a type of monastery, a place where monks or nuns lived and worked. This particular priory also ran a hospital.
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What is St Catherine's Like?
This area gets its name from the important building at its heart: the Church of St Catherine. This church is a very old and famous building, recognized for its history and beauty.
From St Catherine's, you can see great views of the South Common. It's also home to the Priory Centre, a community building that was officially opened by Prince Charles. The area is mostly a place where people live, with many homes.
You'll also find some local shops and services here, like a fish and chip shop, a doctor's office, and a dentist. The church itself has given its name to several streets nearby, such as St Catherine's Road and St Catherine's Grove.
St Katherine's Heritage and Cultural Centre
The St Katherine's Heritage and Cultural Centre is a special place for the community. It's a flexible and friendly center that offers many different services and activities for everyone.
Inside, you can find interesting displays about the local history of the area. This center is managed by a group called The Priory Trust.
The Eleanor Cross in Lincoln
Why Were Eleanor Crosses Built?
King Edward I built special monuments called Eleanor crosses between 1291 and 1295. He built them to remember his beloved wife, Eleanor of Castile, after she passed away. These crosses were a way to honor her memory across the country.
Building the Lincoln Cross
The Eleanor Cross in Lincoln was built between 1291 and 1293. A builder named Richard of Stow oversaw the work, which cost more than £120. Sculptures for the cross were made by William of Ireland. These crosses usually had several statues in a small tower.
A writer named John Leland noted in the 1540s that there was "a very fair cross and large" just outside the city gate.
Queen Eleanor's Last Journey
Queen Eleanor became ill while traveling to meet King Edward. She was taken to a manor house in Harby, near Lincoln, where she sadly died in November 1290. King Edward was very sad and spent several days planning ways to remember his wife.
Queen Eleanor's body was first brought to Lincoln. Her internal organs were buried in a tomb at Lincoln Cathedral on December 3, 1290. Her heart was buried in London. Her body was then taken to Westminster Abbey for burial. King Edward decided that a memorial cross would be built at every place where her body rested on its journey back to Westminster.
Where Was the Lincoln Cross?
These crosses were built so that people passing by would pray for the Queen's soul. The first Eleanor Cross was put up on Swine's Green, right outside the gates of St Catherine's. This spot was just outside the city, at the southern end of the High Street.
Out of the twelve crosses King Edward built, only three are still standing today.
What Remains of the Cross?
The original statue of the Lincoln cross disappeared by the early 1700s. However, in the 1800s, the lower part of one of the statues was found again. Today, the only piece of the Eleanor Cross that still exists is a small fragment kept at Lincoln Castle.
The Priory Centre is planning to build a copy of the Queen Eleanor cross. It will be placed at the front of the Priory building.
The Priory Academy LSST (School)
The Priory Academy LSST is a secondary school and Sixth Form college. It is named after St Catherine's Priory, as it is located near the priory's original site.
This school is now part of a larger group of schools called the Priory Federation of Academies. This group includes other schools in Lincolnshire, such as the Priory Witham Academy.
