April 08, 2016

Five from Lincoln Cathedral

We've been away this week celebrating my birthday. We had two days in Whitby, then moved on to Lincoln. I've selected five things from Lincoln Cathedral so I can take part in Amy's Five on Friday. Click on the block at the bottom of this post to see what others are offering. 

First up, let me revisit something I already covered in the Friday Fives - the Green Man. Lincoln has several, if you look hard, but one of the most intriguing is this one, carefully concealed within the foliage decorating an archway.


He's been helpfully lit up by cathedral authorities to make him easier to spot. 

This rather magnificent window is called the Bishop's Eye.
It contains medieval glass. It was one of two windows added to the cathedral in the late middle ages but was reconstructed in 1330. 


In the north east corner of the building stands the magnificent octagonal chapter house. This is the central pillar, leading to the vaulting. I just find it beautiful and my photo doesn't begin to show you the majesty of the room. 

Captain Matthew Flinders, the English navigator and cartographer, was the first to circumnavigate Australia and identify it as a continent. He was born in Donington near Spalding, Lincolnshire, and named several places on the south coast of Australia after towns and villages in his native county. 

He is commemorated with a number of items in the Navy chapel at Lincoln Cathedral, including this bronze of him and his cat. It's a maquette for a larger sculpture that stands on the concourse outside Euston Station in London.

And finally, I couldn't leave without a photo of this guy:

He is, of course, the Lincoln Imp. The story goes that many years ago an imp flew into Lincoln Cathedral to admire the Angel Choir. He settled on to a pillar top to look at his surroundings and was so overcome by the beauty that he forgot he should be home before dawn. And with the sunrise he was turned to stone. You can still see him there today.

Now visit other people at Amy's Love Made My Home by clicking on the picture below.


17 comments:

  1. Wow!!! that Bishop's eye, that really is something else, love it

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  2. Lovely photos and information about the cathedral. I hope to visit one day soon. Have a good weekend. B x

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  3. Whilst I am in no way religious I do admire churches and cathedrals, they exhibit some of the finest architecture, truly beautiful

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  4. I have never been to Lincoln, something I must rectify one of these days. It looks a fascinating place. I love that stained glass window - magnificent indeed! xx

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  5. I've never been to Lincoln. The cathedral looks amazing.
    Liz

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  6. It really is a beautiful place to visit, as well as the castle. I love to go at Christmas for the market that is in the castle grounds and nearby area it has such a wonderful atmosphere. \lovely photos.

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  7. Oh, lovely what a super birthday treat and belated happy birthday wishes to you. I've seen the Flinders and Trim the cat statue at Donnington but didn't see the one in the Navy chapel, I did see a model of his ship, the Investigator though. The Museum I used to work for in Spalding had a Flinder's exhibition room for ages but last time I visited it had gone:)

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  8. Bleated Birthday wishes, the Bishops Eye is certainly magnificent surely something best viewed in person with the amazing colours.

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  9. A gorgeos Cathedral and an interesting post - thank you.
    How lovely, that they make a statue with his cat.
    Belated my best wishes

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  10. What wonderful details! I do love to see these things and to hear the stories behind them, like the one about the Imp and seeing the hidden green man too. Happy Birthday! Hope you had a great time. Thank you for taking part in Five On Friday, hope you have a great weekend!

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  11. Lincoln cathedral definitely looks worth a visit. The photo of the beautiful window has come out really well. Hope you had a good birthday. :-)

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  12. My son and I were just saying we'd love to visit Lincoln Cathedral. There are so many wonderful cathedrals in Britain. How nice to get away for your birthday. Thanks for showing us these great details...

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  13. I've only been to Lincoln cathedral once, but loved walking around. The story of the Lincoln Imp did make me smile. #fiveonfriday

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  14. The Cathedral is heavenly beautiful. Thank you for sharing the lovely photos and information.
    I googled "imp" and found the Wikipedia article. There's a photo... of the Lincoln Imp! :)

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  15. Lincoln Cathedral looks magnificent, particularly the glimpse of the chapter house you've shown.

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  16. That window is stunning - and the cathedral looks a beautiful place. We almost went to Lincoln recently but I changed our cycling route almost at the last minute and now I wish I hadn't! Clearly I 'll have to go back another time :) #fiveonfriday

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