Historic Cities · England

Lincoln through the ages

Lincoln is a cathedral city and district in Lincolnshire, England, of which it is the county town. In the 2021 census, the city's district had a population of 103,813. The 2021 census gave the urban area of Lincoln, including Bracebridge Heath, North Hykeham, South Hykeham and Waddington, a recorded population of 127,540.

1320 · spire above the wolds

Lincoln in 1320

The Tallest Spire

Lincoln in 1320 is a prosperous wool staple and episcopal city, climbing a limestone ridge above the River Witham with its cathedral spire the tallest human-made structure of the age. The walk follows the river and the steep medieval climb to the close and castle, showing wool barges at Brayford, timbered shops on Steep Hill, Roman arches and the Stonebow gate.

A jagged skyline of pale oolitic limestone frames a compact city: three cathedral towers rise from the hill, the central tower topped by a tall, lead-clad wooden spire that dominates the plain. Sloping streets are lined with dark jettied timber houses, stacked shops and Norman stone dwellings; slate, lead and thatch roofs glint in sun or drizzle. Narrow, cobbled lanes pour down to the Witham where High Bridge bears houses across the river and Brayford Pool is crowded with wool barges and pack-horses.

The route: 16 streets, squares and views

Brayford Pool Shore → Newport Arch → Stonebow and High Street → High Bridge → Brayford Quay → Lower High Street → Steep Hill Lower Shops → The Jew's House → Norman Houses on the Climb → Bailgate → …

Step inside, 8 interiors

Stonebow Guildhall Chamber · Quayside Wool Hall · Steep Hill Shop-House Chamber · Upper Chamber of the Jew's House · Wool Merchant's Stone Undercroft · Angel Choir around St Hugh's Shrine · Chapter House under the Pillar · Castle's Great Hall

Explore Lincoln in 1320 →24 scenes · 360 Clan Coins

Planned from the Wikipedia record: Lincoln Cathedral.

From the archive

Lincoln on paper: the old town as it was mapped.

A period plan or bird's-eye view of the old town, drawn between 1500 and 1850 — the streets this page's reconstructions walk. Public domain, with its source named.