Lincoln Christmas Market 2017

Another Christmas market to visit today, this time with Siobhan, my support worker. We didn't need to worry about having to find anywhere to park because a 'park and ride' system was in operation at the Lincolnshire Showground, right next to R.A.F. Scampton where the Red Arrows aerial display team is based. Four of the pilots spent several hours practising some of their aerobatic manoeuvres and we got to see them at close quarters both as we arrived in the car, and again before we set off for home.

Fortunately it wasn't too busy when we reached the city; I would imagine it will get a lot busier for the rest of the weekend - we still struggled to find somewhere to sit down and have our cream teas though by mid-afternoon.

The Christmas market was based along several streets, inside half a dozen or so large marquees, inside The Assembly Rooms, within the castle bailey...and there were even a few stalls inside the cathedral. There was also a mediaeval fair inside the Bishops' Palace but we didn't go inside because we had to pay [it was only £1 though]...maybe it was really because we were a bit short of time. We stayed at the top of the hill and didn't go down Steep Hill to the lower part of the city; I think Siobhan's ankle would be hurting her - not just because of the steep gradient, but also the cobbles which she finds difficult to walk on.

The food market was the largest and best by a long way that I've visited: I bought a game pie and a Christmas pie - there is turkey, pork, cranberries and stuffing inside the Christmas pie.

I have never seen such a colourful display of cheeses.

After a a quick visit to the toilets we entered the castle bailey, looked at the stalls there and then left by the gatehouse at the far end before spending some time exploring the area near to the cathedral.

There is plenty to look at inside the cathedral...

...and many different angles for me to photograph of the outside of the building.

   

On our way home we briefly called at Stow; the church here is quite large and impressive - it's actually an ancient Anglo-Saxon minster.

A Visit To Lincoln

A day out in Lincoln; the weather was pretty poor for photography so that's why most of the photographs are black and white. Listening to the weather forecast I feared conditions might be a lot worse though.

We parked the car in the car park on Westgate, right up against the castle walls and opposite to the most beautiful water tower I've ever seen - its building style certainly fits in well with those of the nearby castle and cathedral.

There are some pretty and interesting buildings up here at the top of the hill.

We headed towards Newport Arch, dating from the Roman period...there are several other locations of Roman ruins in Lincoln.

After walking down a pleasant narrow cobbled street we reached the back of the cathedral.

As we made our way down the hill we called in to the Usher Gallery, spending longer in there than I thought we would.

Just after opening the doors to visit the toilets I almost fell head first down the stairs.

We walked over to the new archaeology centre but weren't very impressed and so didn't stay for long.

Without knowing exactly where we'd end up next we found ourselves half way down Steep Hill, and then walked down to the main shopping area.

We popped in to St. Benedict's Church where members of the Women's Institute were serving tea and cake...very reasonably priced. We checked our watches and then steadily made our way back up Steep Hill to the car, passing by the castle and the cathedral.