John Edward Cooper’s Notes
Saturday 30 March 2019
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[2019] Trip to Lincoln …Janet and I got the first bus along, a №10 (09:55), into town… to await the №53 bus. It arrived somewhat late (scheduled, 10:40; I boarded. 10:43), and was there some minutes before it set off. From Victoria Street South, I thought it would turn left and proceed along Frederick Ward Way and Bargate on its way to Laceby Road; but it turned right, and went along Ellis Way, turned right again along Hainton Avenue, and right again along Weelsby Road. All its route was then along the A46 (initially as Laceby Road), apart from diversions to visit villages and towns that the main road bypassed: one to Laceby; one to Caistor; one to Market Rasen (scheduled stop, 11:33–11:35; actual stop, 11:44–11:46, so 11 minutes late); one to Dunholme and Welton; and one to Nettleham. Actually, Lincoln itself is arguably a diversion from the A46, because on the outskirts the A46 turns to the left, and the road continuing straight ahead is the B1182. An antisocial bastard, making intrusive tsss-tsss-tsss sounds in his earphones, got off at Nettleton. May he and all his ilk go completely deaf, and be shunned! There appeared to be a ploughing competition just by there: there were many tractors, each with a strip of new-ploughed furrows near it. The farmland, through which we passed, was almost completely arable, much of it given over to oil-seed rape, which was just coming into yellow flower. We passed an occasional flock of sheep, and some horses, but no cattle. I noticed occasional blooming of mayflowers in the hedgerows. We arrived at 12:42 (13 minutes late; scheduled, 12:29). From the new Central Bus Station in St. Mary’s Street almost opposite the railway station, we turned right along Sincil Street, crossing the River Witham by a humpbacked footbridge at its end. Turning left, we walked along the riverside, passing an aluminium-and-steel statue which spanned the river.  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 12:47:30 View west along the River Witham, Lincoln: statue, Empowerment, by Stephen Broadbent (b.1961), completed in 2002  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 12:49:12 View west along the River Witham, Lincoln: High Bridge  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 12:49:12 (detail) View west along the River Witham, Lincoln: High Bridge We mounted the steps at High Bridge (reminiscent, because of the 16th century timber-framed building atop it, of Old London Bridge), and turned right along High Street. We were looking first for a suitable eating establishment.  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 12:50:44 View north along High Street, Lincoln: Guildhall and Stonebow  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 12:50:44 (detail) View north along High Street, Lincoln: Guildhall and Stonebow Just before High Street passes under the Stonebow, we saw advertised an Italian restaurant, Pomodoro e Basilico, with an arrow pointing left along Guildhall Street. So we investigated that, but thought it was a bit dearer than what we wanted to pay. So we returned, and turned left under the Stonebow, resuming our way along High Street. We looked at a few eateries — on the left, the Australian themed Walkabout; farther along, the Slug and Lettuce on the right, which I’d looked at on-line yesterday (but this was heaving with folk); Pizza Express — then we bore right along the Strait — the Strait and Narrow. (We did note that there was a gelateria in the Strait.) We got as far as the start of Steep Hill, before turning back and going to Pomodoro e Basilico.  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 13:05:06 View north up Steep Hill, Lincoln There, I had a pint of Peroni Nastro Azzuro and Janet a Sprite. She thought £2.80 a lot to pay for coloured water! She had pumpkin (or squash)-stuffed ravioli in a creamy pomodoro sauce and I an “americano” pizza, with pepperoni, and sliced peppers and onions. Both were most acceptable, but neither of us felt full after them. As well as a darkish complexioned waiter, who looked and perhaps sounded Italian, there were two oriental looking ones, a man and a woman. “I don’t know whether to say ‘Grazie!’ or ‘Xièxiè!’,” I commented. We then retraced our steps, visiting the afore-seen gelateria Go Gelato — I had one scoop of rum-and-raisin gelato, and Janet had three scoops of different flavours — before undertaking the 280-yard haul up Steep Hill.  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 14:22:02 Jew’s House, Steep Hill, Lincoln  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 14:22:38 Proceeding up Steep Hill, Lincoln  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 14:23:22 Proceeding up Steep Hill, Lincoln  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 14:28:34 View south from Castle Hill, Lincoln: Steep Hill  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 14:28:44 View west from Castle Hill, Lincoln: Castle  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 14:30:04 View north from Castle Hill, Lincoln: Leigh-Pemberton House and Parish Church of St. Mary Magdalene  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 14:30:36 View east from Castle Hill, Lincoln: Exchequer Gate At Castle Hill we turned right along Exchequer Gate. The twin turreted “exchequer gate” itself was covered with scaffolding and plastic sheeting.  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 14:32:08 Lincoln Cathedral: west façade and south transept  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 14:33:30 Lincoln Cathedral: statue on the southwest-corner spire  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 14:34:00 Lincoln Cathedral: statue on the northwest-corner spire  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 14:35:24 Lincoln Cathedral: west façade  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 14:35:34 Lincoln Cathedral: west façade  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 14:38:36 Lincoln Cathedral: doorway in the west façade Entrance to the Cathedral was free today, we were pleased to learn. We had a walk around.  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 14:40:28 Lincoln Cathedral: nave, looking east  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 14:42:28 Lincoln Cathedral: stained-glass windows in the nave  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 14:43:14 Lincoln Cathedral: stained-glass windows in the nave  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 14:46:04 Lincoln Cathedral: choir screen  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 14:46:42 Lincoln Cathedral: nave, looking west  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 14:48:04 Lincoln Cathedral: south transept  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 14:48:26 Lincoln Cathedral: “The Bishop’s Eye” in the south transept  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 14:48:48 Lincoln Cathedral: north transept  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 14:49:08 Lincoln Cathedral: “The Dean’s Eye” in the north transept  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 14:51:16 Lincoln Cathedral: north transept, clock  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 14:52:08 Lincoln Cathedral: entrance to the southern choir-aisle  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 14:53:00 Lincoln Cathedral: southern choir-aisle  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 14:54:34 Lincoln Cathedral: south-east transept  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 14:54:48 Lincoln Cathedral: south-east transept  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 14:55:04 Lincoln Cathedral: upper stained glass windows in the south-east transept  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 14:55:20 Lincoln Cathedral: lower stained glass windows in the south-east transept  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 14:56:40 Lincoln Cathedral: St. Hugh’s Choir, looking west  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 14:57:24 Lincoln Cathedral: pulpit in St. Hugh’s Choir  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 14:58:18 Lincoln Cathedral: St. Hugh’s Choir, looking east  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:00:42 Lincoln Cathedral: approaching the Angel Choir  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:01:34 Lincoln Cathedral: Angel Choir and east window  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:02:16 Lincoln Cathedral: east window  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:04:08 Lincoln Cathedral: Angel Choir  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:08:26 Lincoln Cathedral: Gilbert Pots at the north-east corner of the Angel Choir  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:09:02 Lincoln Cathedral: northern choir-aisle, looking west  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:11:40 Lincoln Cathedral: north-east transept  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:11:52 Lincoln Cathedral: north-east transept  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:13:22 Lincoln Cathedral: door in the north-east transept leading to the cloister  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:13:52 Lincoln Cathedral: cloister, east arcade  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:14:26 Lincoln Cathedral: north transept and central tower, seen from the cloister  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:14:48 Lincoln Cathedral: cloister, looking across to the north arcade  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:15:08 Lincoln Cathedral: entrance to the chapter house  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:15:42 Lincoln Cathedral: short passage to the chapter house  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:16:42 Lincoln Cathedral: decagonal chapter house  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:17:10 Lincoln Cathedral: decagonal chapter house  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:19:46 Lincoln Cathedral: passage to/from the chapter house  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:20:14 Lincoln Cathedral: rose window at the end of the passage to/from the chapter house  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:22:14 Lincoln Cathedral: towers at the west end, seen from the cloister  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:23:00 Lincoln Cathedral: (left:) rose window of the chapter house; (right:) north-east transept Many of the paving stones in one of the arcades of the cloister had the name of a particular person on it; and, by several of these, plants and flowers had been left, often labelled with that person’s name.  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:24:42 Lincoln Cathedral: memorial pavement of the west arcade of the cloister  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:25:26 Lincoln Cathedral: south arcade of the cloister  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:28:56 Lincoln Cathedral: wooden vaulted ceiling of the south arcade of the cloister  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:30:46 Lincoln Cathedral: in the north-east transept, looking south to the south-east transept  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:32:04 Lincoln Cathedral: one of the exhibits in the north-east transept  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:32:56 Lincoln Cathedral: proceeding westwards along the northern choir-aisle  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:33:50 Lincoln Cathedral: north transept  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:34:04 Lincoln Cathedral: nave, looking west  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:35:58 Lincoln Cathedral: nave, looking west Then when we failed to find the Imp, Janet enquired at the desk, and obtained a plan, on which the clerk had marked the position of the Imp and the best vantage point.  “Welcome to Lincoln Cathedral”  “Welcome to Lincoln Cathedral” 
“Welcome to Lincoln Cathedral”  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:37:24 Lincoln Cathedral: choir screen  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:38:32 Lincoln Cathedral: Angel Choir   Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:39:34 Lincoln Cathedral: north-east corner of the Angel Choir, with the Imp above the final free-standing pillar   Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:45:42 Lincoln Cathedral: Imp  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:51:22 Lincoln Cathedral: pulpit in the nave  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:52:02 Lincoln Cathedral: nave, looking west  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:52:50 Lincoln Cathedral: huge door at the west end  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:54:36 Exchequer Gate, Lincoln hidden from view by scaffolding and sheeting  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:55:16 Buildings adjacent to the Exchequer Gate, Lincoln, in Minster Yard  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:56:58 On Castle Hill, heading west towards the East Gate of Lincoln Castle We paid a brief visit to the Castle in the opposite direction off Castle Hill from that of the Cathedral.  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 15:58:06 Lincoln Castle: East Gate  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 16:00:40 Lincoln Castle: Observatory Tower on the south-eastern motte  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 16:02:18 Lincoln Castle: passing through the East Gate A woman, an official of the Castle, told us that it would be closing, so there’d be no more admissions to the buildings; but we said that we only wanted a quick look around, so she let us pass.  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 16:03:34 Lincoln Castle: eastern curtain wall and Cobb Hall  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 16:03:42 Lincoln Castle: northern curtain wall and Bath House  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 16:04:08 Lincoln Castle: Court House  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 16:06:10 Lincoln Castle: Lucy Tower on the south-western motte  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 16:06:20 Lincoln Castle: Prison  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 16:06:58 Lincoln Castle: East Gate (background: Lincoln Cathedral)  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 16:09:24 Lincoln Castle: bust of George III  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 16:10:56 Lincoln Castle: East Gate  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 16:11:22 Lincoln Castle: Observatory Tower  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 16:11:46 Lincoln Castle: East Gate  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 16:12:08 Lincoln Castle: oriel window within the East Gate Then we made our way back down to the bus station.  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 16:14:24 About to descend Steep Hill, Lincoln, from Castle Hill  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 16:16:34 Steep Hill, Lincoln, forking left, out of view (Michaelgate, forking right)  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 16:16:34 (detail) Steep Hill, Lincoln, forking left, out of view (Michaelgate, forking right)  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 16:17:40 Steep Hill, Lincoln  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 16:19:04 Steep Hill, Lincoln, ahead (Danesgate, left)  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 16:20:50 End of Steep Hill, Lincoln; beginning of The Strait In the “Jew’s House” at the bottom of Steep Hill, there is now “The Jew’s House Restaurant”. It seemed entirely inappropriate and wrong to include “pork belly” on the menu, which we saw displayed there!  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 16:23:46 High Street, Lincoln  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 16:25:16 High Street, Lincoln  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 16:28:42 High Street, Lincoln: north side of Guildhall and Stonebow  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 16:31:02 Waterside North, Lincoln, viewed from High Bridge  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 16:32:52 View west along the River Witham, Lincoln, from High Bridge  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 16:39:34 Wooden model of an Avro Lancaster (or is it an Avro Type 694 “Lincoln”?) outside Lincoln Central Bus Station  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 16:39:56 Wooden model of an Avro Lancaster (or is it an Avro Type 694 “Lincoln”?) outside Lincoln Central Bus Station As I was trying to photograph the railway station, a young man asked me for a specific amount of money — £2.75, perhaps, or something similar. He’d had a hospital appointment, he said, and had been expecting transport home. I gave him all the coins I had, an amount somewhat over £1; “That’s all I have,” I told him — truthfully…  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 16:43:56 Lincoln Central railway station, St. Mary’s Street, Lincoln  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 16:45:28 Lincoln Central Bus Station, viewed from St. Mary’s Street, Lincoln  Saturday 30 March 2019 — 16:49:32 Bus and train departures, displayed in Lincoln Central Bus Station But that left me without change for the 20p loos in the bus station. The smallest that Janet had was a £1 coin; but when she asked the attendants for change, they let us in for free. We boarded the №53 bus when it arrived (17:16). It left on time, and must have made good time en route, because at one or two stops it waited a few minutes. Indeed, we boarded a №10 bus at the Riverhead Exchange (19:09) six minutes before the №53’s scheduled arrival time of 19:15. We got off at the Imperial Avenue bus stop, and went to McDonald’s. I felt rather like a fish out of water there. Anyway, I had a rather disgusting, surprisingly tiny bacon and cheese double burger and fries, with Diet Coke, and Janet had a chicken wrap and fries, with a blueberry muffin and a chocolate cookie. We walked home, and got in a little after 8.30pm.… |
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