Lincoln Cathedral

Cathedral in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England, built on the highest part of the city. Around 1073 the see of the bishops of Lindsey was moved from Dorcester to Lincoln by Remigius, an appointee of William I. Restoration was needed following a fire in 1141 and a devastating earthquake in 1185, after which the cathedral was greatly rebuilt in the Early English style, although some Norman features remain. Its chapter-house, begun around 1220, is the earliest Gothic example of polygonal pattern. The Angel Choir (1256), one of the most celebrated achievements of English Gothic architecture, is named after the 30 angels decorating the triforium arches.

The library above the cloister was designed by Christopher Wren. One of the four original copies of Magna Carta is held in the cathedral.

History On the death of the last Saxon bishop in 1067 William I appointed Remigius, almoner of the abbey of Fécamp, to succeed him. The lower portion of the western towers date from around 1073. The three richly decorated Norman doorways, the arcading above the lateral recesses, the upper stages of the towers, and the gables on the north and south faces of the west towers belong to the period of restoration after the fire of 1141. Rebuilding after the earthquake of 1185 was begun by St Hugh of Avalon. The choir of St Hugh and two bays of the east wall of the great transept were completed in the Early English style before his death in 1200. The architect was probably Geoffrey de Noyers, St Hugh's ‘constructor’, who would have been responsible for the novel double arcading in the choir aisles, and for the vault, where the characteristic English use of a rib along the ridge was invented as part of an odd but successful asymmetrical vaulting plan.

During the next 50 years the nave, the screen surrounding the Norman front, the chapter-house, and the lower stages of the central tower were added. The chapter-house, begun around 1220 and connected to the east transept by a vestibule and cloister (begun about 1290), is the earliest Gothic example of polygonal design.

After the canonization of St Hugh in 1220, the Angel Choir was erected from 1256, replacing the apsidal end of St Hugh's church, and in 1280 the body of the saint was translated and deposited here. The choir is notable for its superbly carved bosses and capitals, and the 30 figures of angels in the spandrels of the triforium arches (the space between the curve of the arch and the enclosing mouldings). Lincoln's rose windows are in the great transepts; the northern Dean's Eye was built about 1220 and the southern Bishop's Eye about 1330. The central tower was completed between 1307 and 1311, to a height of 82 m/269 ft, making it one of the tallest in England. In it hangs ‘Great Tom’, a bell weighing over 5,000 kg/11,025 lb. The great belfries were erected above the west towers about 1380.

The most extensive later restoration was begun in 1922 and completed in 1932. The dangerous condition of the Angel Choir and the tracery of the east window led to their restoration in 1935.

Tombs and relics On the north side of the presbytery is a tomb bearing an inscription indicating that Remigius is interred here, and some years ago a leaden coffin containing relics was discovered in the tomb. Of the two Perpendicular chapels flanking the southeast porch, the easternmost was built by Bishop Russell (died 1494), the other by Bishop Longland (died 1547). In the choir transept are buried several bishops of Lincoln, including Robert Grosseteste. The original tomb was destroyed by the Puritans in the 17th century, and a new one was not provided until 1953, the 7th centenary of his death.