Lincoln Castle is a major castle constructed in Lincoln, England during the late 11th century by William the Conqueror on the site of a pre-existing Roman fortress.

Roman History

Lincoln (Roman Name: Lindum Colonia) was a major settlement during the Roman occupation of England. The Romans conquered Lincolnshire in 48 AD and shortly afterwards built a fortress high on a hill overlooking the natural lake formed by the widening of the River Witham (the modern day Brayford Pool) that is thought to have given Lincoln its name (the modern name probably derives from the Celtic Lindu, meaning the 'The Dark Pool', subsequently romanized to Lindum and corrupted through the Middle Ages to become Lincoln).

When the Romans gained full control of the region by the 1st century the fortress at Lindum was abandoned as the new town became a colonia, a settlement for retired soldiers.

William the Conqueror's Castle

When William the Conqueror defeated Harold and the English at Hastings on the 14th October 1066 he continued to face insurrection against his rule in the north of England. For a number of years William's position was very insecure and in order to project his influence northwards to control the 'Danelaw' (an area traditionally under the control of Scandinavian settlers) he felt it necessary to construct a number of major castles in the north of England. It was at this time that the new King built major castles at Warwick, Nottingham and York. After gaining control of York, the Conqueror turned southwards and arrived at the ancient Roman city of Lincoln.

When William reached Lincoln (then one of the country's major settlements) he found a commercial and trading centre with a population of 6,000 to 8,000. The remains of the old Roman walled fortress located 60 metres (200ft) above the surrounding countryside proved an ideal strategic position to construct a new castle and the work on the new fortification was completed in 1068. The castle was built in the south-west corner of the upper walled town, the remainder of which was used as an outer bailey. It is probable that at first a wooden keep was constructed which was later replaced with a much stronger stone one. The Domesday Book entry for Lincoln records that 166 dwellings were demolished to make way for the castle.

It is likely that the Conqueror's administration judged a military fortification in Lincoln necessary for many of the same reasons that the the Romans had built a fortress on the same site 1000 years earlier. Lincoln Castle's position meant that it could guard many of the main strategic routes and strongholds of the Norman kingdom, in the area of the country that is today referred to as the East Midlands. These areas of strategic importance included:

• The Ermine Street - a major Roman road and the Kingdom's principal north-south route connecting London and York.
• The Fosse Way - another important Roman route connecting Lincoln with the city of Leicester and the south-west of England
• The Valley of the River Trent (to the west and southwest) - a major river affording access to the River Ouse, and thus the major city of York.
• The River Witham - a waterway that afforded access to both the Rivers Trent (via the the Roman Fossedyke canal at Torksey ) and the North Sea via The Wash.
• The Lincolnshire Wolds - an upland area to the northeast of Lincoln.

Later Medieval History

The castle was the focus of several military battles during the reign of King Stephen and King John and was besieged during the Barons' War in the early 13th Century.

The Modern Castle

Lincoln Castle remains one of the most impressive Norman castles in the United Kingdom. It is still possible to walk around the immense 12th century walls with its ramparts providing a magnificent view of the Castle complex, together with panoramic views of the Cathedral, the City of Lincoln and the surrounding countryside.

Another attraction is the opportunity to see one of the four surviving originals of the Magna Carta, sealed by King John after his meeting with the Barons at Runnymede in 1215, a document which is now housed within Lincoln Castle. There is also an accompanying exhibition, explaining the origin of the Magna Carta and its far reaching effects.

The castle is now owned by Lincolnshire County Council and is a scheduled ancient monument.

External Links

• The Friends of Lincoln Castle