The New International Encyclopædia/Lincoln (Lincolnshire)

LINCOLN, lĭṉ′con. The capital of Lincolnshire, England, a civic county, Parliamentary and municipal borough, and episcopal see, on the Witham, 130 miles northwest of London (Map: England, F 3). It is a junction of six railroads and has extensive canal communications.

Built on the slope of a hill, which is crowned by the cathedral, the city is imposing. It is irregularly laid out, and contains many interesting specimens of early architecture, such as the Roman Gate, the remains of the Norman castle and of the palace and stables of John of Gaunt, and the town hall. The cathedral, one of the finest in England, is the principal building. It is surmounted by three towers, two of which, 180 feet in height, were formerly continued by spires of 101 feet. The central tower, 53 feet square, is 300 feet high. The interior length of the cathedral is 482 feet, the width 80 feet. The famous bell called Tom of Lincoln, cast in 1610 and recast in 1834, hangs in the central tower; it is 5 tons 8 cwt. in weight. The style of the cathedral is chiefly early English. Lincoln has numerous schools and benevolent institutions. Its municipal administration is noteworthy. It owns remunerative real estate markets, a racecourse, water-works, and gas and electric lighting plants, and maintains a free library, technical instruction, an arboretum, recreation grounds, public baths, and a sewage farm. One member is returned to the House of Commons for the city. Several iron-foundries and manufactories of portable steam-engines and agricultural machines, as well as large steam flour-mills, are in operation here, and there is an active trade in corn and wool. Lincoln is an important livestock market, and horse and cattle fairs are annually held. It is also an important horse-racing centre. The town was called by the Romans Lindum, which, with Colonia, gives the modern name. Lincoln under the Romans was a place of some importance, and also under the Saxons and Danes. It was the seat of an extensive shipping trade at the time of the Norman Conquest, the river at that time being navigable for large vessels. Population, in 1861, 20,999; in 1881, 37,312; in 1901, 48,784. Consult: Allen, History of Lincoln (London, 1833); Kendrick, Lincoln Cathedral (London, 1898).

LINCOLN CATHEDRAL