Medieval Christmas at Lincoln

In medieval England, Christmas was not just a single day but a massive Twelve Day festival that balanced solemn religious devotion with wild, "world-turned-upside-down" revelry. After the four-week fast of Advent, people from all social classes stopped working from December 25th until Epiphany on January 6th.

The Twelve Days of "Misrule"

Medieval celebrations were famous for role reversals, where the social hierarchy was temporarily flipped.

The Lord of Misrule: A commoner or servant was often appointed to "rule" over the festivities, leading the drinking and games.

Boy Bishops (known in Latin as the Episcopus Puerorum): In Lincoln Cathedral and many others, a choirboy would be elected "bishop" wearing full vestments and performing all church duties except the Mass.  

The Boy Bishop was typically elected on St. Nicholas Day (December 6) and "reigned" until Holy Innocents' Day (28 December). During this time he wore a miniature set of episcopal robes, including a mitre and a ring, provided by the cathedral.  He and his "canons" (the other choir boys) performed almost all the services, except for the Mass itself.  He led processions through the city of Lincoln, where he would bless the people and collect money for the cathedral’s poor or for the choristers' own fund.  At Lincoln, as at other major cathedrals like Salisbury, the Boy Bishop would symbolically take the real Bishop’s seat during the Magnificat when the choir sang the line: "He hath put down the mighty from their seat and hath exalted the humble and meek."

Boy Bishop and his Canons

The tradition was abolished in Lincoln and across England by Henry VIII in 1541, as he viewed the "childish observations" as mocking the dignity of the church. While it was briefly revived under the Catholic Queen Mary I (1553–1558), it was permanently suppressed by Elizabeth I.  Unlike Salisbury or Hereford, which have revived versions of the ceremony today, Lincoln Cathedral does not currently maintain a formal Boy Bishop tradition, though it remains a key part of its medieval history.

The Records at Lincoln

Detailed records from the 14th and 16th centuries confirm the tradition:

The Statutes (1308-1309): Cathedral documents from this era specify the exact requirements for the ceremony. For example, they record that on the Feast of St. John, the Boy Bishop was to be given a high-quality wax candle weighing half a pound, while the other choristers were given smaller candles.

Records from the final years before the Reformation show that the Boy Bishop at Lincoln was still actively celebrating Vespers on the vigil of Holy Innocents' Day (December 28).

Beyond the Boy Bishop, Lincoln Cathedral was a major site for the broader Feast of Fools (Festum Fatuorum), a more raucous and adult version of the "misrule" tradition. While the Boy Bishop was for children, the Feast of Fools was the time for the subdeacons—the lower-ranking adult clergy—to let loose.

A Tale of Two Feasts

The food you ate depended heavily on your status, but everyone indulged after the long Advent fast.

For the nobility the centerpiece was often a Boar’s Head, decorated with rosemary and bay. They also served exotic "show" dishes like roasted swan or peacock, sometimes sewn back into its own feathers to look alive.

Most peasant families ate goose or specialised "Christmas pies." A popular dish was frumenty (a thick wheat porridge boiled with milk, eggs, and spices).

Unlike today’s sweet version, medieval mince or "shrid" pies were filled with shredded meat (mutton or beef), suet, dried fruits, and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg to represent the gifts of the Magi.

Traditions and Greenery

While they didn't have Christmas trees (a Victorian import), medieval homes and churches were heavily decorated with holly, ivy, and bay.

A massive Yule log was brought in on Christmas Eve and kept burning for the full twelve days. It was considered bad luck if the fire went out.

Wassailing,  is an ancient British winter tradition, rooted in Anglo-Saxon "Waes Hael" (be healthy), that blesses orchards for a good harvest and celebrates good health through singing, drinking spiced cider, and making loud noises to scare away evil spirits from the trees, typically around Twelfth Night.

Caroling: Originally, carols were communal circle dances accompanied by singing, performed both in the streets and in the churchyards.

Gift Giving

Surprisingly, Christmas Day was not the main day for presents. In medieval England, New Year’s Day was the traditional time for exchanging gifts.

Lords were expected to give "Christmas boxes" to their tenants and servants (the origin of Boxing Day), which often contained money, leftover food, or clothing.

Peasants, in turn, were often required to give their lord a "gift" of a couple of hens or a specific amount of grain as part of their rent.

In fact, Lincoln provides some of the most specific historical evidence for the practice in England. The tradition was a central part of the cathedral's "Twelve Days of Christmas" celebrations and was even codified in the cathedral's official statutes.

Here are the specific "foolish" traditions that took place in and around medieval Lincoln:

The Feast of the Circumcision (January 1st)

This was the primary day for the Feast of Fools. 

Just as the choristers took over on Holy Innocents' Day, the subdeacons took the seats of the Dean and Canons  on New Year's Day, electing a mock bishop/pope, parodying services, and indulging in revelry, allowing a yearly release of "foolishness" to preserve order.

Some records suggest the performance of the Orientis Partibus (The Song of the Donkey), where a live donkey was sometimes led into the cathedral to honor the Flight into Egypt. The congregation would respond to the priest’s prayers by braying ("Hee-haw!") instead of saying "Amen."

The "King of the Bean"

In the wealthy households around the Cathedral Close and the city, the Twelfth Night (January 5th) feast was the grand finale.

 During the feast, a bean was hidden in a cake or loaf of bread.  Whoever found it in their slice became the "King of the Bean." If a woman found it, she became the Queen (or appointed a King). For the rest of the night, the real head of the house had to wait on the "King" and do whatever they commanded, no matter how ridiculous.

The Clash with Bishop Robert Grosseteste

Lincoln is famous in church history for the fierce opposition of its 13th-century bishop, Robert Grosseteste. He was one of the first major reformers to try to ban the Feast of Fools.  In a famous letter to the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln, he called the festival a "house of joking, scurrility, and trifling" and a profanation of the sacred space.  Despite his efforts, the tradition was so beloved by the local clergy and townspeople that it survived in various forms for another 200 years.

Satirical Carvings: Humour in Stone

If you visit Lincoln Cathedral today, you can still see physical evidence of this medieval "foolishness" in the Misericords (the flip-up wooden seats in the choir stalls):

• Sarcastic Apes: You can find 14th-century carvings of apes performing a mock funeral and even an ape "physician" examining a patient.

• The Lincoln Imp: While legendary, the Imp itself is a reflection of the medieval belief that the sacred and the grotesque (the "foolish") lived side-by-side.

The Lincoln Mystery Plays

Medieval Christmas in Lincoln wasn't just inside the Cathedral; it spilled into the streets through "Mystery Plays."

• These were massive theatrical productions performed on wagons.

• The Second Shepherds' Play: A famous part of the cycle featured a "foolish" shepherd named Mak who steals a sheep and tries to hide it in a cradle, pretending it’s a newborn baby. This slapstick comedy was performed right alongside the serious story of the Nativity.

Strange Characters of the Lincoln Mystery Plays

While the "N-Town" cycle of plays is the set most associated with medieval Lincoln, these performances were far from a standard Sunday school lesson. They featured "strange" characters that were often personifications of human vices or abstract concepts.

Character	Role / "Strangeness"
Raise-Slander & Backbiter	Known as "The Detractors," these two characters were personified gossips who went around town spreading rumors, specifically accusing Mary of being unfaithful to Joseph.
Belyall (Belial)	A primary devil who often acted as the "stage manager" for the scenes in Hell. He was frequently depicted with fireworks or loud "thunder" effects to scare and delight the audience.
The Four Daughters of God	In a play called The Parliament of Heaven, the characters Mercy, Truth, Justice, and Peace argue before God about whether humanity should be saved. It’s a courtroom drama in the middle of a Nativity cycle.
The Midwives (Zelomy & Salome)	Unlike modern Nativity scenes, medieval plays often included two midwives. Salome was famously a "doubting" character whose hand withered when she refused to believe in the Virgin Birth (it was later healed).
The "Hell-Mouth"	Not a person, but a character in its own right. It was a massive, painted mechanical head of a beast with snapping jaws. Actors playing devils would drag "sinners" into its smoking throat during the Doomsday plays.

A Quick Correction: The Case of Mak the Sheep-Stealer

You might hear people mention Mak the Sheep-Stealer in relation to Lincoln. While Mak is the most famous "funny" character in English Mystery Plays (he tries to hide a stolen sheep in a cradle and pretend it's a baby), he technically belongs to the Wakefield (Towneley) Cycle. However, because the plays were performed by traveling troupes, these stories often overlapped, and modern revivals in Lincoln frequently include these famous comic interludes.

The Squire, the Lady, the Lord, and the Horse

Talk about a love triangle that ended in ruin! Forget the soaps, because the real-life drama involving wealthy squires, a stunning beauty, and a reckless gambler has all the twists, turns, and staggering sums you could ask for.

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Meet Henry Chaplin, the quintessential English squire. At just 21, he inherited the magnificent Blankney Hall and a colossal twenty-five thousand acres. Rich, friendly, and close pals with the Prince of Wales, he was the catch of 1864. At 24, he snagged an engagement to the most dazzling woman of the day, Lady Florence Paget—a stunner nicknamed "The Pocket Venus."

The Participants

Enter the rival: Henry Weysford Charles Plantagenet, Fourth Marquis of Hastings. Also young and obscenely wealthy, Hastings was a magnet for trouble. He wasn't into hunting and polite society; he was obsessed with horse racing and extreme gambling. He loved the notorious reputation of a "perfect cocker"—a man who gambled sensationally and never flinched, even when losing a fortune. Languid, arrogant, and radiating a controlled recklessness, Hastings was catnip for excitement-seeking women.

The Pocket Venus, however, was spoiled, wilful, and craved adrenaline. Chaplin's passion for quiet hounds and hunting was too slow. Hastings, the "perfect cocker," who could lose a fortune on the turn of a card without a flicker of emotion, offered the high-stakes thrill she desired.

The Shocking Elopement 

While she was still engaged to Chaplin, Lady Florence was in secret contact with the flamboyant Marquis. The climax? A daring public snatch!

Hastings drove a hansom cab to Oxford Street, picked up Lady Florence outside Marshall and Snelgrove’s department store, and whisked her straight to St George’s Hanover Square. They were married immediately by special licence!

Society was aghast. Chaplin earned all the sympathy, while Hastings simply celebrated winning his newest "success symbol." Unfortunately for him, the marriage was a disaster from the jump. Hastings' tastes ran to low life and he began drinking heavily, his frail constitution quickly deteriorating. He became the model for Sir Harry Scattercash in Mr Sponge’s Sporting Tour—a pale, wan young man with a strong tendency to delirium tremens.

Chaplin’s Revenge: A Horse Named Hermit

Meanwhile, the scorned Chaplin took the humiliation hard. After a special prayer was said for him at Blankney to help him forget, he bolted—first to Scotland for deer-stalking, then to India for a year of tiger shooting.

He returned, but not quite healed. His pain morphed into a fierce, almost subconscious need for rivalry. A relative wrote that Chaplin was suddenly "buying horses as if he was drunk and backing them as if he was mad."

At an auction, Chaplin's manager bought a colt named Hermit for 1,000 guineas. The underbidder? Hastings. When he found out the buyer was Chaplin, his irrational malice—already intense—boiled over. Hastings now hated Chaplin and his horse, Hermit, blaming them both for his rapidly fading fortunes, failing health, and dissolving marriage.

The Million-Pound Gamble and the Broken Blood Vessel

As the Derby approached, Hermit became a favourite. Hastings, whose hatred now bordered on mania, swore Hermit could not win and decided to use the horse to financially ruin Chaplin. He began to lay against Hermit with every shilling he could find, borrowing heavily from moneylenders. He even struck private bets with Chaplin, totalling £20,000. By the day of the race, Hastings stood to lose a staggering £120,000 if Hermit won.

Then, disaster for Chaplin! A week before the Derby, Hermit stumbled in a gallop and broke a blood vessel. Blood streamed from his nostrils. Chaplin wanted to scratch him, but his team persuaded him to take the chance.

The news was out. Hermit's odds plummeted from a favourite to a ridiculous 1000-15 starting price.

Chaplin, having recovered his nerve, met Hastings near the parade ring and, with incredible magnanimity, advised his rival to cover his bets. Hastings’ disdainful reply? "Thank you, Henry, I shall not trouble."

The Snowy Finish That Broke a Man 

It was a miserable day at Epsom, with flurries of snow and ten false starts. Hermit was nowhere to be seen until the final run. Then, out of the pack, he surged forward! Hermit just caught the leader, Marksman, and won by a neck!

That single neck cost Hastings the massive £120,000. The money came from selling off estates, plunging him hopelessly into the clutches of moneylenders. He was humiliated when he had to beg Chaplin for time to settle the personal bet.

A year later, at just 26, the Fourth Marquis of Hastings died, ravaged by disease brought on by his excesses, broke, and his entire fortune lost in his frantic, failed attempt to recoup his losses over that one race.

In his final days, he declared: "Hermit fairly broke my heart. But I didn’t show it, did I?"—a final, tragic nod to the "perfect cocker" he desperately wished to be.

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What a tale of love, rivalry, and ruin, all sealed by a single horse race!

Driven by History: The Complete Story of Lincolnshire Motor Co. Ltd. in Lincoln

 

Driven by History: The Complete Story of Lincolnshire Motor Co. Ltd. in Lincoln

For nearly a century, the lineage of Lincoln’s main Ford dealership has mirrored the history of the city itself. From the post-WWI era to the modern commercial landscape of Wragby Road, this is the story of how a small garage evolved into a regional powerhouse.

The Founding Years: From Melville Street to High Street

The lineage of this major dealership began shortly after WWI, around 1919, when Matthew Percy Gibbins established M. P. Gibbins & Co Ltd. Operating from 28 Melville Street, Gibbins specialised in selling new Ford cars and commercial vehicles to a city just beginning to embrace the motor age.

M P Gibbins sold the full range of Ford vehicles made in Manchester

However, the founder’s time at the helm was brief. In December 1923, Gibbins sold the business, and it was promptly renamed Lincolnia Motor Co Ltd. Matthew Gibbins subsequently moved to Uxbridge and then emigrated to South Africa in 1924, where he tragically passed away four years later at the age of 38.

Under its new directors, Cyril Nelson, J. W. Ashley, and Frederick Higgs, the company wasted no time in seeking higher visibility. In May 1924, Lincolnia Motor Co Ltd relocated to prominent new premises at 369 High Street, on the corner of Chaplin Street. Lincolnia were regular exhibitors at various shows and country fairs, this is their stand at the Lincolnshire Show in 1925

Lincolnia expanded in to selling commercial vehicles, this advert is from 1927

The business continued to evolve through the 1920s and 30s, navigating changes in leadership. Notably, the General Manager William Taylor left in June 1930 to join fellow Ford dealers F. Pountney & Co Ltd in Skegness. By April 1933, the role was taken up by Mr. E. P. Surety, a highly qualified engineer who would guide the company operations for several years.

The Great Merger of 1937

The most significant corporate shift occurred on the eve of the Second World War. On October 14, 1937, it was announced that Lincolnia Motor Co Ltd had merged with the larger regional dealer, Lincolnshire Motor Co Ltd of Grimsby.

Interestingly, right up until the merger, Lincolnia was operating as a distinct entity; just a month prior, on September 10, 1937, they were advertising an independent company visit to the London Motor Show. The merger brought the Lincoln operation under the wing of a powerful regional group led by Managing Director C. A. Byron Turner J.P., creating a formidable Ford franchise well-positioned to survive the war years.

The Architectural Icon and the Hartford Era (1959–1970s)

The post-war years were defined by ambition. In 1959, the company opened its famous showroom on Brayford Wharf. Designed by Sam Scorer, the building’s hyperbolic paraboloid roof became an instant city landmark.

However, the most pivotal moment for the modern business came on 1st January 1968. On this date, the Hartwell Group of Oxford acquired the entire company—including the Lincoln, Grimsby, and Scunthorpe branches—under their Ford trading name, Hartford Motors.

It was this new ownership that drove the massive development on Wragby Road. While a small satellite sales site had existed there since the early 60s, Hartford Motors invested heavily to consolidate operations. In 1969, they opened the huge, purpose-built complex on the 6.5-acre site. The grand opening, attended by a record number of Ford executives, was effectively the debut of the Hartford Motors era in Lincoln.

With the move complete, the Brayford Wharf showroom was sold to the County Council in 1974, and the company’s focus shifted entirely to the Wragby Road super-site.

The End of the Road (1980s)

In the years following the takeover, the dealership traded as Hartford Motors (later rebranded simply as Hartwell). However, the prime location of the Wragby Road site eventually attracted a different kind of commerce. Around 1980–1982, the site was sold and cleared to make way for the original Tesco Superstore, bringing an end to over 60 years of Ford history on that lineage of land.

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Timeline Summary

Date	Company Name	Key Event
c. 1919	M. P. Gibbins & Co Ltd	Founded at Melville Street.
Dec 1923	Lincolnia Motor Co Ltd	Business sold and renamed.
May 1924	Lincolnia Motor Co Ltd	Moved to 369 High Street.
Oct 14, 1937	Lincolnshire Motor Co Ltd	Merger: Acquired by the Grimsby-based group.
1959	Lincolnshire Motor Co Ltd	Brayford Wharf showroom opens.
Jan 1, 1968	Hartford Motors	Acquisition: Taken over by the Hartwell Group (trading as Hartford Motors).
1969	Hartford Motors	Wragby Road consolidated complex officially opens.
1974	Hartford Motors	Brayford site sold to Council.
c. 1980–82	Hartwell / Tesco	Site sold; original Tesco Superstore built.

From Lincoln Grocer to Hollywood Royalty: The Extraordinary Journey of Esme Isabel E Hall

Category: Genealogy / Hollywood History / Biography 

In 1939, a legal notice appeared in the London Gazette asking a simple question: Where is Esme Isabel E. Warde?

The solicitors searching for her knew her as the daughter of the late Albert Wingfield Hall, a provision merchant from Lincoln. They needed to settle his will. But what those solicitors likely didn't know was that while they were searching the archives of Lincolnshire, their "missing" heiress was busy shaping the literary tastes of Golden Age Hollywood, married to a famous character actor, and running a bookstore on the Walk of Fame.

This is the incredible, reconstructed timeline of Esme Isobel Haigh Hall—a woman who journeyed from the English Midlands to the heart of the MGM studio system.

The Origins: A Lincoln Merchant’s Daughter

The story begins in Lincoln, England. Albert Wingfield Hall* (1841–1910) was a successful family grocer and provision merchant. Alongside his wife, Clara, he operated businesses in the city, including the old Pea Warehouse at Wigford Yard.  Albert's first shop was at Garmston House, later moving to the Cardinal's Hat.

When Albert died in 1910, he left behind a will, but the chaos of the early 20th century—and his daughter's adventurous spirit—meant that settling his estate would take decades.

At the 1911 Census Esme was at Southport, Lancashire training to be a nurse.

*  Albert's family had owned Wingfield Hall, Derbyshire for several generations, his father was an auctioneer.

The Departure: Ellis Island and The Nairobi Mystery

In 1915, the First World War was raging, and Esme’s life changed forever. She married Reginald Warde and almost immediately left England.

Records confirm her arrival at Ellis Island on October 31, 1915. She was just 20 years old, listed as "Married," and arrived with $50 in her pocket. By 1916, she was writing letters from 101 West 109th Street in New York City.

But the trail didn't stop in America. In a twist worthy of a movie script, records place Esme in Nairobi, Kenya, in 1930. Whether she lived there with Reginald or was simply settling affairs remains a mystery, but it marks the transition between her old life and her reinvention.

The Reinvention: The Esme Warde Bookstores

By the late 1920s, Esme had arrived in Los Angeles, and she wasn't just a housewife—she was a pioneer.

She opened the Esme Warde Bookstores, with a flagship location at 6613 Hollywood Boulevard, right next to the legendary Musso & Frank Grill. In an era before film studios had massive internal script departments, Esme became the literary tastemaker for the industry.

She supplied novels and galley proofs to studios like MGM, helping executives find the next big picture. In fact, Esme is credited with writing the synopsis for Stefan Zweig's Marie Antoinette, explicitly recommending it as a vehicle for Norma Shearer. Her advice was taken, and the 1938 film became a classic.

Love and Legacy: The Actor and The Publicist

Esme’s personal life in Hollywood was just as notable as her business career.

• The Second Marriage: On December 4, 1928, she married William V. Mong, a prolific American character actor who appeared in nearly 200 films, including The Last Days of Pompeii.

• Citizenship: In 1944, living as a widow in Los Angeles, she finally became a naturalised U.S. citizen under the name Esme Mong.

Esme's Naturalisation Certificate
(Her age is incorrect as she was born in 1893 - 49 is better than 51.)

Perhaps her greatest contribution to Hollywood was her daughter, Esme Chandlee (1918–2012). Raised in the glow of the studios and calling William Mong her "stepfather," Esme Chandlee went on to become a legendary publicist at MGM. She managed the images of icons like Judy Garland, Clark Gable, and Grace Kelly, continuing the legacy her mother started.

The Conclusion

When the London Gazette placed that notice in 1939, they were looking for a merchant's daughter. They couldn't have guessed they were searching for a woman who was, at that very moment, selling books to movie stars on Hollywood Boulevard.

Esme Warde’s life serves as a reminder that behind every dry genealogy record, there is often a story of adventure, reinvention, and history in the making.

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Key Timeline

• 1841–1910: Life of father, Albert Wingfield Hall (Lincoln).

• 1893: Esme born to Albert Wingfield and Clara Hall

• 1915: Esme marries Reginald Warde and immigrates to NYC via Ellis Island.

• 1918: Esme Chandlee Wardle born to Reginald and Esme Haigh Warde.

• 1928: Esme marries actor William V. Mong in Los Angeles.  Click here to read about Mong.

• 1930s: Esme operates "Esme Warde Bookstores" on Hollywood Blvd.

• 1939: Notice placed in London Gazette regarding her father's will.

• 1940: Death of William V Mong

• 1942–2000s: Daughter Esme Chandlee works as a top MGM publicist.  Click here to read about Esme Chandlee

• 1964: Death of Esme Mong.

• 2012: Death of Esme Chandlee.

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Have you discovered an ancestor who vanished from the records only to reappear in an unexpected place? Share your genealogy mysteries in the comments!

Haverholme Priory and an American heiress

 

The tale of Haverholme Priory stone is one of local legend, an American heiress, and a bizarre twist of fate. But a shocking discovery in 1927 in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, connects the priory's history to a tragedy involving a well-known figure in the world of fox hunting, providing a much clearer, albeit grim, account of where some of the stone ended up.

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The Legend of Haverholme Stone

The widely circulated story holds that the ruins of Haverholme Priory were purchased by an American woman intending to have the ancient structure dismantled and re-erected across the Atlantic. The tale concludes tragically: she was supposedly killed in a train crash, and the stone meant for her grand new home was instead diverted for a far more mundane purpose—to extend the docks in Liverpool.

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Shocking Discovery: Mrs. Edith Fernie

However, reports from March 1927 introduce a different, more verifiable fate for some of the priory's architectural elements.

On Tuesday morning, March 1st, 1927, a platelayer at the Woodhall Spa Golf Links level crossing over the London and North-Eastern line made a horrifying discovery. Lying near the tracks was the terribly mutilated body of a woman. It was later identified as Mrs. Edith Roberta Fernie, aged 52 (or 54 in some reports), a celebrated figure in hunting circles.

• Identity: Mrs. Fernie was the widow of a former Master of the Fernie Hunt and had even served as Master herself for a few seasons. She was an accomplished rider and an enthusiastic sportswoman.

• Context: She had been staying at Southcote, Woodhall Spa, for the past two seasons, hunting with the Blankney and Southwold Hounds. She was known to sometimes go for walks at night.

• The Incident: Mrs. Fernie had left her apartment on Monday afternoon. When her dog returned home without her, a search was launched. It is supposed she was knocked down by a train traveling from Woodhall Spa to Horncastle on Monday evening and lay on the track all night. Her coat was found fifty yards from her remains. The body was partially decapitated, and both arms were severed.

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The Priory Connection

Crucially, Mrs. Fernie was not just a visitor; she was building a new residence just outside Woodhall Spa.

According to The Daily Chronicle on March 2nd, 1927, Mrs. Fernie had purchased stone and an ornamental gate from Haverholme Priory for this new house. Her tragic and premature death on the railway line meant her ambitious plans for the priory stone were halted, providing a concrete, non-mythological link between a piece of the priory's ruins and a shocking local event.

An inquest into the death was held the following day, March 2nd, 1927, at the Eagle Lodge Hotel. While the ultimate use of the materials she purchased is unknown, Mrs. Fernie's tragedy firmly ties a portion of Haverholme Priory's stone not to an American legend, but to the fateful final journey of a devoted English hunting 

Click here to read about Haverholme Priory

Lincoln's Stonebow and Guildhall: A Gateway to 2000 Years of History

The Stonebow early 20th century

If you've ever walked down Lincoln's bustling High Street, you simply cannot miss the magnificent, limestone archway that dominates the lower city centre: the Stonebow. Capped with the stately Guildhall, this building is more than just a landmark; it's a living, breathing history book, and arguably the heart of Lincoln’s civic life for centuries.

Here’s a look into what makes this Tudor treasure one of the city's most significant buildings.

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A Story in Stone: From Roman Gate to Medieval Arch

The history of the Stonebow is incredibly deep, tracing its roots all the way back to Roman Britain.

• Roman Foundations: The Stonebow marks the site of the original southern gateway to the Roman lower town (Lindum Colonia). The first gate stood here as early as 211 AD, forming a crucial point on Ermine Street, the main route connecting London and York. Parts of this original Roman structure are still beneath the current arch!

• The Norse Name: The modern name, 'Stonebow,' is a direct link to Lincoln's Viking past. It comes from the Danish word, 'stennibogi', which simply means 'stone arch'.

• A Century of Delays: After an earlier medieval gate was demolished, King Richard II ordered a new gate to be built in 1390. However, there were extensive delays in the building process. Lincoln was no longer the prosperous city it once was; the loss of the Wool Staple (which moved to Boston), among other economic factors, meant the city could not easily afford the expense of a new gateway. The Stonebow was eventually completed around 1520 by William Spencer, a freeman of the city, nearly 130 years after it was commissioned.

• Tudor Masterpiece: The gateway you see today, with its beautiful Tudor architecture, replaces that earlier medieval structure. The intricate carvings on the south face, including the figures of the Virgin Mary and the Angel Gabriel, make it a true masterpiece of 16th-century craftsmanship.

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The Guildhall: The Seat of Civic Power

Perched directly above the archway is the Guildhall. While the current building dates from the 16th century, the site has been the continuous home for Lincoln’s local government since 1237, making it one of the longest continuously used council sites in the country.

• The Council Chamber: This impressive room on the first floor still serves as the active meeting place for the Lincoln City Council. Here, you can find 18th-century panelling and the coat of arms of King George II.  The Council Chamber Table dates from the early 18th century.

• The Clock: The clock face that sits proudly on the stepped gable was provided by the manufacturer Potts of Leeds in connection with the extensive restoration and alterations carried out by architect J. L. Pearson in 1887.

  The person who gifted the clock was Joseph Ruston, J.P., a prominent local industrialist, engineer, and former Mayor of Lincoln (1883-1884). Ruston was one of the founders of the major engineering company Ruston, Proctor and Co. (later Ruston & Hornsby).

I doubt many people notice this sign as they 
walk through the Stonebow

• The Mote Bell: One of the Guildhall's most fascinating features is the Mote Bell, which was cast in 1371. This bell still summons councillors to their meetings, a tradition of over 650 years!

• A Treasury of Regalia: The Guildhall houses an extraordinary collection of civic regalia, which tells the story of Lincoln's relationship with the Crown. Highlights include:

  • A magnificent sword presented to the city by King Richard II in 1387.

  • The Mayor’s ceremonial mace, dating from 1640.

  • The Mayor's chains of office and the unique Mayor's posy ring.

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The Arch That Was Nearly Moved: A History of Preservation

For all its beauty and history, the Stonebow's position in the middle of a major thoroughfare has made it a continuous obstacle to traffic for centuries. This led to serious, and thankfully rejected, proposals to dismantle and move the ancient structure.

• 19th-Century Plans to Demolish: The most serious threat came in the 19th and early 20th centuries, when traffic struggled to navigate the narrow archway. In 1809 and again around 1880, the idea was floated to demolish the Stonebow entirely to widen the road and improve traffic flow.

• The Radical Relocation Idea: A more outlandish plan in the mid-19th century proposed dismantling the entire Stonebow and Guildhall and re-erecting it in another location, likely in a new square or park, to preserve the monument while clearing the street. This would have meant the complete loss of its function as a civic gateway and the destruction of the Roman and medieval foundations beneath it.

• The Power of Preservation: Fortunately, Lincoln’s citizens and historians consistently fought against these proposals. They successfully argued that the Stonebow was too important to the identity and history of Lincoln, and today, it is protected as a Grade I listed building, ensuring its permanent place on High Street.

North side of the Stonebow in 18th century

A Place of Public Life

Beyond governance, the Stonebow and Guildhall have witnessed and participated in nearly two millennia of city life:

• Prison and Court: For centuries, the East Wing of the Guildhall held the city prison. The Council bought an adjacent house to expand the facility in 1586, the conditions were stark. There were just two ground-level rooms: a 13-foot square room for men and an 8-foot square room for women. In a curious arrangement, each room had a small, iron-grated window opening onto Prison Lane (now Saltergate). Passersby could literally see, talk to, and even pass food and drink to the inmates. This jail was finally closed in 1809 when a new prison was constructed at the Sessions House. The East Wing was pulled down and rebuilt in 1842 in a style matching the Stonebow and now appropriately houses the Guildhall Treasury.

• Royal Visits: Throughout its history, monarchs and significant figures have passed under the arch, including Henry VIII and Catherine Howard in 1541.

• A Defining Boundary: The Stonebow sits at the junction of High Street and Saltergate, historically marking the southern boundary of the original city and providing a dramatic, formal entrance for those arriving from the south.

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Plan Your Visit

The Stonebow is a public thoroughfare, but to truly appreciate the history, you should step inside the Guildhall.

Guided Tours are often available on specific days (typically Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays—check local listings!) and offer a fantastic opportunity to see the Council Chamber, the Civic Insignia Room, and hear the incredible stories that connect this landmark to Roman legions, Viking settlers, medieval merchants, and modern democracy.

The Stonebow and Guildhall are not just beautiful architecture; they are the enduring symbol of Lincoln's long and continuous history of self-governance. It's a must-see on any trip to the city!

Check visiting times here: https://www.lincolnguildhall.com/guidedtours

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