A Chronological History of Lincoln

The Roman Period

48 AD The Romans built a fort at Lincoln.

60 AD The Roman 9th Legion built a second fort

71 AD The 9th Legion moved to Eboracum (York) 

80 AD Town becomes a major settlement for retired legionnaires, a Colonia. 

​c.150 AD Forum (with lifesize equestrian statues), basilica and public.baths were erected.  The population is between 6,000 and 8,000. The town is extended down to the river, almost doubling its physical size. The upper part was mainly residential, the lower part was commercial and south the river was industrial. An aqueduct was built running from near Nettleham to supply the growing population.

C.200 AD Stone town walls were built.

C.300 AD Lindum became the capital of the province of Flavia Caesariensis  when the province of Britannia Interior was subdivided.

367 AD The first invasion by Picts and Scots.

400 AD Lindum begins to decline, by the end of the century the town was virtually deserted.

Early Medieval Period 

475, Vortimer, King of the Britons, was buried in Lincoln.

518. Lincoln besieged by the Saxons under Cerdic.and Colgern, relieved, and the invaders defeated by Arthur King of the Britons.

584  Kingdom of Mercia is established

629  Paulinus converted Blaecca, Praefectus Civitatis (an early city sheriff) of Lincoln, and his family to Christianity.  It is believed that the church of St Paul in the Bail was named after Paulinus and that there had been a Christian church on the site since Roman times.

653  MInster church founded, predecessor to Lincoln Cathedral

839  Viking invasion of Lincoln

High Medieval

876  The Vikings conquer Lincolnshire and create a town inside the old Roman walls of Lincoln. 941 Stamford and Lincoln taken by Edmund I. from the Mercian Danes, They were known as the Fif-burghers because they lived in the towns of Stamford, Lincoln, Leicester, Derby, and Nottingham. 1013 The Vikings recapture Lincoln from the Saxons. 1035 There was a frost on Midsummer Day so severe that crops and fruit were destroyed ​1066 Lincoln's population reaches 12,000 1068 Lincoln Castle was built, 166 houses were pulled down for the building of the castle.  A further 74 outside of the castle area were in a poor state.

1072 The Episcopal See moved from Dorchester on Thames to Lincoln.  Until the middle of the 16th century the Lincoln See was the largest diocese in England, stretching from the Humber to the Thames and including the counties of Lincoln, Leicester, Northampton, Rutland, Huntingdon, part of Hertford, Bedford, Buckingham, Cambridge and Oxford..

1075 The building of Lincoln Cathedral commenced

1086 Lincoln has a population of around 6,000

7th May 1092 : Bishop Remigius died

9th May 1092 : Lincoln Cathedral Consecrated 

1093 The See of York had tried to claim the ancient Diocese of Lindsey (established in 678).  It was finally settled by William Rufus in Lincoln's favour.

c 1100 A leper hospital called the Hospital of the Holy Innocents or the Malandry was founded, its location was on the lower part of the South Common

1108 The See of Ely established, Cambridgeshire is moved from the See of Lincoln to Ely.

1110 Fire ravages Lincoln destroying many houses and the wooden defences 

1121 Henry I orders work to be carried out on FossDyke Canal to make it navigable

1123 Most of Lincoln's houses were destroyed by fire.

1139 Civil War breaks out in Sussex between Matilda, the rightful heir to the throne, and King Stephen.

1140 Matilda's army besieges and captures Lincoln castle.

2nd February 1141 : Battle of Lincoln, click link to read about this important battle.

1141 Lincoln Cathedral severely damaged by fire

1148 St Katherine's Priory built by Bishop Chesney

1157/8 Second Crowning of Henry II in Wigford, most probably at St Mary's Guildhall. ​

1157 Lincoln was given a charter (a document granting the townspeople certain rights). The town was made independent and the rich citizens were allowed to elect a council of 24 men to rule.  From the early 13th century Lincoln had a mayor.

1185 Serious structural damage caused to Cathedral thought to have been caused by an earthquake

1191 Lincoln Castle besieged by Bishop Longchamps's forces.

1192 Reconstruction of Cathedral begun

1217 Lincoln Castle attacked by the French

20th May 1217: The Second Battle of Lincoln, click on the link

1226 Henry III held a parliament in Lincoln

1231 Grey Friars arrive in Lincoln

1238 Dominican friars arrive in Lincoln.  Central tower of Cathedral collapsed, a new tower was started immediately

1255 Henry III petitioned to allow part of the Roman east city wall to be taken down to extend the Cathedral. 

31st July 1255 The body of a 9 year old boy called Hugh was found in a well 18 Jews were later executed for his alleged murder. 

1266 A band of rebel  barons, "the Disinherited" as they called themselves, who had been hiding in the Isle of Axholme, made a sudden attack on the city and took special care to burn the books of the Jews so that the records of debts owing to Jews should be destroyed

1269 Carmelites arrive in Lincoln

1275-1300 Collapse of cloth industry

1280 Angel Choir of the Cathedral consecrated

​1284 The walls of the Cathedral Close were erected under licence from Edward I.

1290 Expulsion of Jews in England

1291 Lincoln becomes a Staple Town

1301 20th January, Parliament met at Lincoln to consider the Papal claims to the sovereignty of Scotland.  The Barons drew up a letter to Pope Boniface VIII wholly denying his claims of it being a fief of the Holy See, 

About 1310 the Central or Broad Tower of the Cathedral was raised to its present height and spire added

1312 Edward II held a parliament in Lincoln

1314 Lincoln's first mayors take office

The Early Modern Period

1316 The Great Famine.  It was known as 'Great' not just because of the number of people who died but also because it covered most of northern Europe as far as Russia.  It is said to have been caused by prolonged torrential rain. 1318 Edward II held a parliament in Lincoln 1319 Cathedral Close walls fortified with battlements and towers, under licence from Edward II. 1327 15th Sep Edward IlI held a parliament in Lincoln, the last recorded in Lincoln.  The death of Edward II was announced at this parliament.

1328 7 Feb Edward IlI held a parliament in Lincoln, the last recorded in Lincoln. 

1345 Population approximately 4,000

1349 The Black Death devastates Lincoln. The town declines in population and prosperity

1369 The staple was moved to Boston 1370 to 1400 The two west towers of the Cathedral raised and spires added 1380 John of Gaunt's Palace built for John de Sutton 1386 Richard II presents a sword to the Mayor of Lincoln which is carried by the Mayor's Officer as the Sword of State. View the painting of the event here  http://goo.gl/rfuPtc 1386 John of Gaunt at Lincoln, stayed at the misnamed John of Gaunt's palace 1390 Richard II orders the building of a new gate to be built to replace the Roman south gate demolished some years before: this gate becomes known as 'Stonebow" 1409 Charter granted making Lincoln a Corporate County c 1450 Population about 2,000 c 1500 The population of Lincoln is about 2,500

1538 Henry VIII closed the friaries and the religious guilds in Lincoln and seized their property. Henry's agents also looted the cathedral of its treasures. 1540 Towns that had a diocesan cathedral were recognised as a city by the English Crown, Lincoln became a city at this time. ​1541 10 Aug Henry VIII stopped at LIncoln during his Royal Progress for a meeting of the Privy Council. 1549 the spire on the centre tower of the cathedral collapsed in a storm.  ​1617 3rd April James I watched a horse race on Lincoln Heath.

1643 July a parliamentary army abandoned Lincoln fearing they could not hold it. They withdrew to Boston. Royalist troops then occupied Lincoln but in October the parliamentary army won a battle at Winceby. The royalists then abandoned Lincoln.

1644 March the Royalists won a battle at Newark. Once again the parliamentarians fled from Lincoln and left it to the royalists. On 3 May the parliamentary army returned and the royalists withdrew into the upper town. On 6 May the parliamentarians attacked the upper town and the castle. They soon captured both. Afterwards parliamentary soldiers looted the cathedral and houses in the upper town.  Lincoln remained in parliamentary hands until the end of the civil war in 1646.

1648 A Scottish army invaded England in an attempt to restore Charles I to his throne. They were supported by English royalists. A royalist army approached Lincoln, which was only defended by a small force of men. The parliamentary soldiers took refuge in the Bishop's palace. They were soon forced to surrender but not before they had set fire to the palace.However the royalists were soon defeated in battle and Lincoln changed hands again.

1661 Seven Aldermen, the two Sheriffs and Town Clerk were removed from office because they had favoured Oliver Cromwell.

1695 Lincoln is granted an additional annual fair. The town begins to revive.

1700 Population had grown to about 4,000

1710 Thomas Lyster gave a second donation of £50 towards the paving of the High Street.

1725 The Unitarian Chapel was built by Daniel Disney and others, it is the earliest Nonconformist meeting house in Lincoln.

1726 An attempt was made to take down the west spires of the Cathedral: a crowd of 500 men rioted and prevented their removal.

At the top of the Steepest part of Steep Hill there is a long seat, called the Mayor‘s chair, first erected in 1732, at the expense of the city, as a resting place for the aged and weary traveller. 1732 Theatre built on Drury Lane 1736 Buttermarket built 1739 A severe frost began on Christmas Eve and lasted until February of the following year.  Several people froze to death.  The ice on the Brayford was so thick that a sheep was roasted on it. ​1741 The Reindeer Inn was erected by the Corporation at the corner of Guildhall Street and High Street at a cost of £2,000.  Prior to this the George Inn, a wooden building, stood here. 1744 The Mayor's Feast was held at the Reindeer for the first time in a room 63 ft x 21 ft 1744 The City Assembly Rooms were built for card games and balls on a site to the north of St Peter at Arches.  1744 Foss Dyke deepened to allow passage of barges between Lincoln and the Trent The Industrial Period c 1751 First turnpikes built 1754 A road ‘leading from Carholm Gate to Drinsey Nook, Dunham and Littleborough (Marton) Ferries’ opened  1763 Roman east gate demolished on the orders of Sir Cecil Wray so that he could extend his house 1763 Obelisk erected on High Bridge, conduit beneath 1769 General hospital built on Drury Lane 1771 Horse racing began on the West Common, last racing took place in 1964. 1775 Smith, Ellison & Co bank built at corner of High Street/Mint Lane 1784 Lincolns first newspaper printed 1786 New Road (Later Lindum Road) was opened, considered "one of the greatest, most useful, and most ornamental improvements made for many years past".   1787 On 14th September.  The largest show of cattle at the "Fools' Fair".  William III granted this fair for the citizens of Lincoln, Read more here 1789 Stuff Ball held at the County Assembly Rooms in Lincoln for the first time, first Stuff Ball was held in Alford in 1785. 1791 Barbican walls and towers that projected in front of the Castle's east gate removed Late 18th century Roman north gate of Newport Arch pulled down. ​1801 Lincoln's population over 7,000 1805 The Cathedral was robbed of all it's communion plate, valued at the time at £500.  Entry gained by the picking of five locks 1805-09 City Gaol and Sessions House built at the junction of today's Lindum Road and Monks Road 1806 Spires on the Cathedral's West towers removed due to concern of damage to the towers.  Tower foundations strengthened.   1806 The Depot or military arsenal was erected near what is now Depot Street, because of the threat of invasion from France.  It was guarded by a detachment of Royal Artilllery soldiers no longer fit for active service.  The building later became part of Dawber's brewery. 1806 Theatre Royal built in Kings Head Yard.  A Roman bath was discovered on the site. 1813 Gowt's Bridge built by the Corporation, designed by Ald W Hayward. 1813 The Central National School opened on the north side of Silver Street.  The Lincoln School of Art was on the first floor until the opening of the new School of Art on Monks Road in 1886. 1814  Lincoln Stock Library founded at the north end of Mint Lane, a large collection of new and used books, and many local history books. 1815  Public executions moved to Cobb Hall at the Castle.  Prior to this time executions took place on a site at the junction of Burton Road and Westgate (County felons) and top of Canwick Hill (City felons). 1816  Savings Bank established in Bank Street 1818 Bonaparte's military carriage, taken at Waterloo and sent by Blucher to the Prince Regent, was exhibited in Lincoln.  Read about the carriage here 1820  April 20th Lawn Asylum opened 1821 On July 19th the coronation of George IV was celebrated in the city, but it turned to violence and the window of the Reindeer Inn (now the HSBC bank near the Stonebow) was broken.  The army were called out, the Riot Act was read, and the streets cleared. 1826 Guildhall Street was widened. 1826 The General Dispensary opened February 11th on the Cornhill 1826 Had one of the driest summers, Brayford Pool was completely dry 1826 Grand Stand erected on the Carholme Race-course at a cost of £6,000. 1826 County Hall, the law courts, built at the western end of Lincoln Castle. Designed by Robert Smirke (1780-1867) and built at a cost of £40,000 1828 an act of Parliament formed a body of men called the Commissioners with powers to pave and light the streets. ​1829 Lincoln lit by gas for the first time 1831 A riot took place at the Carholme racecourse.  Booths were torn to shreds and carriages set on fire.  About 500 thimbleriggers fought with the locals, the arrival of 50 fox hunters and farmers brought the riot to an end.  Thimblerigging is a sleight-of-hand swindling game in which the operator palms a pellet or pea while appearing to cover it with one of three thimble-like cups, and then, moving the cups about, offers to bet that no one can tell under which cup the pellet or pea lies. 1832 Lincolnshire Chronicle newspaper first published 1832 On 6th November the Theatre Royal burnt down 1833 Mechanics Institute established at The Greyfriars 1835 The Municipal Reform Act brought about change in the composition of local government; the City of Lincoln's Corporation was made up of 1 Mayor, 6 Aldermen, 18 Councillors, a Recorder, a Sheriff, a Town Clerk, and other officers. 1835 Lincoln Corporation sold Bargate Closes 1837 The Wesleyan Chapel (locally known as Big Wesley) on Clasketgate opened.  It could seat 1,460.  Designed by W A Nicholson. 1838 A new Workhouse was built on land bordered by Burton Road and Upper Long Leys Road, it was built to hold 350 people.  Designed by W A Nicholson of Lincoln. 1842 Diocesan Training College (now Bishop Grosseteste University) erected for the training of School Mistresses 1843 Canwick Road built from the foot of Canwick Hill to Broadgate 1843 Castle Prison rebuilt, designed by Nicholson & Goddard of Lincoln 1846 Midland Railway arrived in Lincoln. 1847 City Arms (formerly The Reindeer) on Guildhall Street demolished. 1867 Great Northern Railway arrives in Lincoln 1848 Cattle Market on Monks Road opened 1848 The Lincoln Corn Exchange where grain could be bought and sold was built.  Designed by W A Nicholson in the Classic style. 1849 Oriel window from John of Gaunt's "Palace" moved to Lincoln Castle 1849 Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire (the Great Central) opened a line to Hull, and the Great Northern Loop to Gainsborough.  ​1851 Midland Counties Insurance (later Royal Insurance) offices erected in Silver Street.  Designed in the Classic Modern style by Pearson Bellamy, architect of Lincoln. ​1852 Rev Francis Swan purchased the eastern side of Sincil Bank, sold the land in smaller lots, the start of house building in the south of the city 1854 The statue of Edward Parker Charlesworth erected at the Lawn Hospital, he died in 1853.   1854 Robey & Scott opened the Perseverance Works on Canwick Road 1859 Lincoln Gazette & Times first published 1859 6th October  Rosemary Lane Wesleyan School opened, it replaced the Wesleyan School in Grantham Street 1860 Lindsey County Constabulary (police) office built at the corner of High Street and Monson Street. 1861 Lincoln Equitable Co-operative Industrial Society Limited established. ​1865 Part of a Roman Tombstone uncovered during the building of a house on Salthouse Lane ​1866 The Lincoln Institution for Nurses was founded, with a view to providing nurses of character and experience for both rich and poor.  The nurses were trained at London hospitals and worked all over the country. 1871 The Particular Baptists Chapel built on the south end of Mint Lane to a design by Michael Drury in the Romanesque Style.  ​1876 The Congregational Chapel on Newland was built, designed by Bellamy and Hardy in the Transitional Early style. 1876 The City Corporation begins building sewers 1877 St Andrew's church on Portland Street was consecrated, another Victorian church that didn't make its centenary, demolished in 1968 ​1878 Oddfellows Hall erected on Unity Square, designed by W Mortimer of Lincoln. ​1st May 1878, Prisons at the Castle and Sessions House closed down, prisoners moved to Lincoln Prison on Greetwell Road The New Barracks 1878 October, the New Barracks on the east side of Burton Road completed at a cost of £48,000 1878 Lincoln County Hospital, in Renaissance style, on Sewells Road erected at a cost of £32,000, mainly paid for by subscription. 1879, 8th July  The first Lincoln to Mablethorpe excursion train. 1879, 13th July  A pleasure steamer owned by John Brevitt, the Albert & Victoria, began it's return journey to Lincoln from the Pyewipe Inn.  The boat was registered to carry 61 passengers but there were over 100 onboard.  The roof deck collapsed under the weight of the passengers causing the sides of the boat to collapse, the boat sank. Fortunately all the passengers were accounted for. 1879 New General Dispensary building erected on Silver Street at a cost of £2,022 from a design by Watkins and Scorer 1879, 5th December  The Corn Exchange opened.  It was built from a design by Bellamy and Hardy, architects, of Lincoln at a cost of £7,500.  The former Corn Exchange was converted to shops at a cost of £3,000.  1880 Work commences on the building of Burton New Road (later Yarborough Road). 1881 Lincoln's sewerage system completed after 10 years work at a cost of £101,986 1882 The Great Northern and Great Eastern Companies jointly opened a line from Lincoln to Spalding, offering an alternative route to London. 1882 The Avoiding Line is constructed, removing some rail traffic from the High Street crossings 1882 6th September Horse-drawn trams introduced, running from High Street at St Benedicts Square to Bracebridge, see https://goo.gl/W2AnE9 Smith, Ellison & Co 1883 Smith, Ellison & Co's bank (now NatWest) rebuilt 1883 Holmes Common sold to Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway Company.  1884 Lincoln castle opened to the public for the first time 1884 Roman Villa discovered at Greetwell 1884 Lincoln City Football Club was founded 1884 Prison at Sessions` House rebuilt. 1884 Yarborough Crescent constructed from Burton Road to Newport. 1885 College of Art built, designed by George Sedger of London.  1886 Lincoln School of Science & Art opened on Monks Road. 1886 Grand Stand on the Carholme enlarged at a cost of £2,000 1887 Stonebow restored 1889-90 Drill Hall in Broadgate erected from plans by Goddard & Sons and paid for by Joseph Ruston. 1890 Washingborough Road Cemetery opened 1892 21st January, The Public Libraries Acts were adopted 1893 The new Theatre Royal was built 1893 Roman Villas found near to the present Tower Avenue and Tower Drive 1893 Lincoln Christ’s Hospital Girls’ High School opened on Lindum Road, designed by William Watkins 1894 The first public library in Lincoln opened at the City Assembly Rooms. 1898 first electricity generating station in Lincoln was built 17th December 1898 First electric street lights lit 1901 Lincoln's population is 48,784 1902/3 High Bridge buildings totally restored under the instruction of William Watkins 1904 Lincoln Corporation purchases the tram system 1905 A typhoid epidemic killed 130 people.   1905, 22nd July, End of the Horse trams 1905, 23rd November, First electric trams operating ​1907 The Theatre Royal's Clasketgate entrance opened. 1910 10th March Consecration of St Nicholas's church following enlargement of the Gilbert Scott church and designed by Charles Hodgson Fowler. 1914  Old reservoirs at Wickham Gardens and Boultham converted to bathing pools. 1916 2nd October. At Central Station.  The Great Central passenger train from Cleethorpes collided with the rear of the train at 6.17 p.m. Great Northern train from Grantham.  Five passengers and the guard in the Cleethorpes train complained of injuries, and one died later. 1918 9th April, King George V and Queen Mary visited Lincoln, including Fosters, Rustons and the Northern General Hospital 1919, April First houses built on the Swanpool Garden Suburb. 1920 First bus service in Lincoln 1920s First Council Houses built in Lincoln 1921 Outer Circle Road built to provide work for the unemployed.  The Ministry of Transport agreed to provide half the estimated cost of £14,200 1927 25th May, Usher Art Gallery opened by the Prince of Wales 1929  4th March, Tram service ended. 1931  Slipper Baths opened on Waterside North near the Green Dragon. 1937 The Buttermarket on High Street demolished, the frontage was used as the facade on the north side of the New Market on Sincil Street. 1938 Crisps factory opened at Bracebridge for Smith's Potato Crisps (1929) Ltd designed by A E Powell of Bristol 1938 Obelisk was removed from High Bridge because of concerns about its weight damaging the bridge. 1939-1945 11 people killed in Lincoln due to enemy bombing