Lincoln Castle

Lincoln Castle is a major medieval castle in Lincoln, England, built in the late 11th century by William the Conqueror. It stands on the site of an old Roman fortress and is special because it has two large earth mounds called mottes, making it one of only two such castles in England, the other being at Lewes in East Sussex.

For many years, Lincoln Castle was used as both a prison and a court, and it remains one of the best-preserved castles in the country. Even today, the Crown Courts still operate there.

Visitors can explore the castle almost every day and walk along its walls, enjoying views of the castle, the nearby cathedral, the city, and the countryside. Inside the castle, you can see one of the few remaining copies of the important document called the Magna Carta from the year 1215. The castle is owned by the Lincolnshire County Council and is protected as a important historical site, known as a scheduled monument.

History

See also: Battle of Lincoln (1141) and Battle of Lincoln (1217)

After William the Conqueror won at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, he built castles to control northern England. Lincoln Castle was built on the site of an old Roman fortress. It was a key location because it sat at important crossroads, including Ermine Street and Fosse Way.

Lincoln Castle is special because it has two large earth mounds called mottes, and it is one of only two castles in England with this feature, the other being at Lewes. The castle played a role in two important battles in 1141 and 1217. Later, it was used as a prison, and today parts of it are open to visitors. In 2015, a project finished restoring the castle to show Lincoln’s copy of the Magna Carta, one of only four original copies left.

Layout and architecture

Lincoln Castle is surrounded by a stone wall with ditches on three sides. Two large earthen mounds, called mottes, sit on the south side. One holds the Observatory Tower, and the other holds the Lucy Tower, named after Lucy of Bolingbroke, the Countess of Chester.

The castle grounds also include parts of Lincoln's Eleanor cross, an oriel window from Sutton Hall, and a bust of George III. On the western side stands an old building from 1823 that is still used as Lincoln Crown Court.

Main article: Lucy of Bolingbroke Main articles: Eleanor cross, Dunston Pillar

Other defences

In medieval times, Lincoln had several defensive structures, though most no longer exist today. There were earth banks near where the Lawns area stands now, built during one of the sieges of the city. Another nearby fortress called Thorngate Castle was located close to the river and was part of the city's defensive walls. It was recorded in the year 1141 but was torn down ten years later in 1151.