Day 256 - Happy Canada Day and Lincoln

Happy Canada Day!

Happy Canada Day everyone!  It is July 1st and I know that the law states that if the first of July falls on a Sunday then Canada Day is moved to the Monday which this year makes July 2nd Canada Day.  But to heck with that.  So this morning we got up and with our hosts the Sandersons, we celebrated Canada Day by tying a Canadian flag to their back garden gate as well as putting two smaller flags into the flower box they have on their exterior wall to their drive. 

Old town of Lincoln

When we were driving down from Whitby yesterday the discussion in the car turned to the great cathedrals of England.  The Sandersons had been to most of them whereas we have only been to a few, none of which included the cathedral at Lincoln.  When Stuart found this out he was adamant that we visit it and suggested today would be a good day to do just that.  So into the car we went and off to Lincoln.  Lincoln is not very large but it is a cathedral city (much like Hereford and Worcester that we visited earlier in this blog).  To be classified as a city in the UK requires approval by the Queen or King and there are a number of criteria that must exist in order for that to happen including being of a certain size.  However, cities with a cathedral were granted city status because of the importance given to them by having a cathedral located there.  Lincoln sits on the River Witham and it had its beginnings during the late Iron Age around 100 B.C.  The Romans occupied the area in the first century A.D. and they built a fort and called the settlement Lindum colonia.  The Old English translation resulted in it becoming  Lincylene and then Lincoln.  Eventually the Vikings began their raids on this area and the Danes soon became the dominant power. 

Lincoln Cathedral as seen from the wall
of the Lincoln Castle

It was after the Norman invasion of 1066 that Lincoln fell into the hands of William the Conqueror's army and they began the process of increasing the fortifications and eventually supporting the construction of the cathedral in 1072.  The Lincoln Cathedral is pretty impressive and was worth the visit.  For over two centuries (1300's to 1500's) it was the tallest recorded structure in the world.  It has been subject to destruction by an earthquake on the 15th of April, 1185.  It has also survived a number of fires over its history but the present structure has been standing since the 15th century. 

The "Imp"

The cathedral is famous for a couple of things.  One is major and the other minor.  First the major, it is the site of one of only four existing original renditions of the Magna Carta (we did see the other one at Salisbury Cathedral).  The minor is indeed very small, and that is the "Imp".  This is a small carving at the top of one of the columns in the cathedral that is referred to as a "grotesque".  Legend has it that two imps were sent by Satan to create havoc on earth and they found themselves in the Lincoln Cathedral causing trouble for the Bishop.  An angel was said to have been sent to deal with them and while one imp did escape and become part of the Walsh family, the second was found at the top of the column throwing rocks and it was turned into stone by the angel.  That is why it remains in that position to this day.

 Now if you believe that well.........

Ale of the Day: Cheeky Imp Red Ale, Lincolnshire Brewery, Lincoln