Lincoln Castle

Lincoln Castle is a big medieval castle in Lincoln, England. It was built in the late 1100s by William the Conqueror. The castle sits on the spot where an old Roman fortress once stood. What makes Lincoln Castle special is that it has two large earth mounds called mottes. This makes it one of only two castles like this in England. The other one is at Lewes in East Sussex.

For many years, Lincoln Castle was used as both a prison and a court. It is one of the best-preserved castles in the country. Today, the Crown Courts still work there.

People can visit the castle almost every day. They can walk along its walls and enjoy views of the castle, the nearby cathedral, the city, and the countryside. Inside the castle, visitors 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 an 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 where an old Roman fortress once stood. It was an important place because it was at key crossroads, including Ermine Street and Fosse Way.

Lincoln Castle is special because it has two large earth mounds called mottes. It is one of only two castles in England with this feature, the other being at Lewes. The castle was important in two battles in 1141 and 1217. Later, it was used as a prison. Today, parts of the castle are open for visitors. In 2015, work finished to restore the castle. Now it shows 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 dirt mounds, called mottes, sit on the south side. One holds the Observatory Tower. 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, but most are gone now. There were earth banks near where the Lawns area is today. These were built during a siege of the city. Another nearby fortress was called Thorngate Castle. It was close to the river and part of the city's defensive walls. It was recorded in the year 1141 but torn down in 1151.