Lincolnshire

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January 24, 2020
Lincolnshire Traveler
Lincoln; Urban Ramble, part 1
January 24, 2020 in England ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C
This urban rambles tales us to the beautiful medieval city of Lincoln. Next day was the occasion of my uncle's 80th birthday bash in nearby Woodhall Spa and we decided to make a weekend of it.

After checking in at the hotel, we proceeded to Brayford Pool, a natural lake formed from a widening of the River Witham; the north side is very modern, but behind it on a hill is the magnificent cathedral. The south side of the pool is the home of the University of Lincoln.

We walked west along the Foss Dyke, possibly the oldest canal in England, and then cut up north along the expanse of West Common which was the site of the old Lincoln horse racing track as well as being used to test aircraft in WW1.

We walked to the top of the hill (Lincoln Edge) to see Ellis's Windmill, the last one that remains of five there originally. From here we went to visit The Strugglers Inn (a magnificent real ale pub), The Lawn (a Greek revival building), Lincoln Castle (built by William the Conqueror) and Lincoln Cathedral (nearly a thousand years old).

We proceeded past the Bishops' Palace (closed at the time) and down to the Lincoln Arboreum, a Victorian park to the east of the cathedral; this was funded by property speculation for the large Victorian houses on the north edge of the park!

We walked down to the River Witham, seeing the old Ruston & Hornby site, part of Lincoln's engineering heritage and now under the ownership of Siemens, before ending up at the High Street. The 16th century House on High Bridge is one of only three bridges in the UK with shops on them. We went underneath, down and through the Glory Hole passage, before finishing where we started. Another excellent walk - and still more to see in Lincoln....Read more
Ant TravelsDid you visit the Lincoln imp? Or Lincoln life museum ?
2/3/20Reply
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Lincolnshire Traveler
Lincoln; Urban Ramble, part 2
January 25, 2020 in England ⋅ ⛅ 5 °C
Next morning we visited some of the places there was not enough time for yesterday (or were not on the route).

The first tanks used in World War 1 were made in Lincoln at the William Foster factory and there is a memorial for this on the Triton Way roundabout, conveniently close to our hotel near Ropewalk. Another tourist "emblem" for Lincoln is the Empowerment Sculpture spanning the River Witham by the City Square.

No visit to Lincoln is complete without passing through the Guildhall and Stonebow archway along the High Street, then ascending to The Strait and Steep Hill (well it deserves that name) and further up to the Cathedral for more great views. Behind it, on East Gate, are the remains of the North Tower of the Roman East Gate.

After that, we walked down to the so-called Cultural Quarter via the Usher Gallery, a charming diversion. Lincoln is a wonderful place!Read more
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Lincolnshire Traveler
1
Boston 1; The Heritage Trail
February 18, 2023 in England ⋅ 🌬 11 °C
Boston is a market town and inland port in Lincolnshire; it is situated on the River Witham and used to be the second largest port in the UK after London, but decline started when the flat countryside around the town, The Fens, started to be drained.

We start our Heritage Trail walk at the station; close to this is Swan House - located on Trinity Street, the building has been converted into flats, but it was originally built for the processing of feathers for pillow cases. We walk into town and pass the Municipal Buildings on West Street before crossing the Haven to the town centre, and the Market Place (the River Witham is known as The Haven on its route through Boston). From here we cross to St Botolph's Church (aka The Stump); this is Boston's most notable landmark and the largest parish church in England - it has one of the tallest medieval towers in the country (over 266 feet) and this is visible from miles away across the surrounding flat countryside.

From here, we walk the length of Bargate and cross the Maud Foster Drain to see the Maud Foster Windmill, a seven-storey, five sail windmill; the tower mill and adjoining granary is a grade I listed building. We double back into town to see the magnificent War Memorial before turning off to see Pescod Hall, originally built in 1450 and now in front of the Pescod Square Shopping Mall. Then its back to the Market Place and along South Street towards the Cultural Quarter; here we see Shodfriars Hall, a substantial timber-framed building of three storeys, and in a road behind it is the Blackfriars Arts Centre, situated in a converted medieval friary. Along South Street is The Guildhall, a former municipal building and now as a local museum, and next door to this is Fydell House, a Queen Anne house and open to the public for room hire, conferences and weddings. We cross the John Adams Way to South End for the short walk past Boston Grammar School to see Hussey Tower, hidden away behind some new houses on the edge of the School playing fieds; this is a grade II listed historic tower, dating back to 1450, and the remains of a medieval brick-fortified house.

It has been a very interesting walk around Boston; there is more to see here than one thinks.Read more
Wolfgang und Heidi 👍
2/20/23Reply
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Lincolnshire Traveler
Boston 2; From the Marina to the Port
February 19, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C
A short walk upstream from the town centre brings you to the Boston Gateway Marina and the Boston Grand Sluice Lock. Walking back into town on the footpath on the side of the River Witham, we pass the new eliptical St Botolph's pedestrian bridge, divert around the White Hart Hotel, and rejoin at the High Street. There are good views of South Street on the other side before we reach the bridge over the John Adams Way and cross over, and proceed along South End and then South Terrace. There is a footpath along the outskirts of the Port of Boston Industrial Area, but only as far as the railway swing bridge here.

The Port of Boston handles more than one million tons of cargo per year, including the import of steel and timber and the export of grain and recyclable materials. The port is connected by rail via a railway swing bridge, which is active several times each day.

It has been good to be close to the port area, as it is often not considered on visits to Boston.Read more
Wolfgang und HeidiWhere is this nice little town?
2/20/23Reply
TravelerOn the eastern side of England, about an hour from Peterborough
2/20/23Reply
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Lincolnshire Traveler
The Belton Estate; House and Gardens
May 25 in England ⋅ 🌬 17 °C
We visit the Belton Estate on our way home from Hawes in North Yorkshire.

The Belton Estate is now managed by the National Trust and is a Grade 1 listed county house, which was the seat of the Brownlow family for about 3 centuries.

We visit the house and its formal gardens; it is a very attractive property and an interesting place to visit - see captions on photos for details.Read more
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Lincoln; Urban Ramble, part 1

Lincoln; Urban Ramble, part 2

Boston 1; The Heritage Trail

Boston 2; From the Marina to the Port

The Belton Estate; House and Gardens