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England Lincolnshire  Lincoln

Guide to Lincoln history, family history, and genealogy: parish registers, census records, birth records, marriage records, and death records.



HISTORY
The earliest origins of Lincoln can be traced to the remains of an Iron Age settlement of round wooden dwellings (which were discovered by archaeologists in 1972) that have been dated to the 1st century BC.

The origins of the name Lincoln may come from this period, when the settlement is thought to have been named in the Brythonic language of Iron Age Britain's Celtic inhabitants as Lindon "The Pool".

The Romans conquered this part of Britain in AD 48 as part of their overall conquest of southern Britain, and shortly afterwards built a legionary fortress high on a hill overlooking the natural lake formed by the widening of the River Witham (the modern day Brayford Pool) and at the northern end of the Fosse Way Roman road. Note that the Fosse Way, although improved and strengthened by the Romans for the use of wagons, was originally an old Celtic highway.

The Celtic name Lindon was subsequently Latinised to Lindum and given the title Colonia when it was converted into a settlement for army veterans

It became a major flourishing settlement, accessible from the sea both through the River Trent and through the River Witham. This made the settlement a major hub for the commerce of the time.

Several hundred years later, after the departure of the Romans, the Latin name Lindum Colonia was shortened in Old English to become 'Lincylene'.

After about 750 A.D.,Lincoln experienced an unprecedented explosion in its economy with the settlement of the Danes. Like York, the Upper City seems to have been given over to purely administrative functions up to 850 or so, while the Lower City, running down the hill towards the River Witham, may have been largely deserted.

During the Anarchy, in 1141 Lincoln was the site of a battle between King Stephen and the forces of Empress Matilda, led by her illegitimate halfbrother Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester. After fierce fighting in the city's streets, Stephen's forces were defeated. Stephen himself was captured and taken to Bristol.

By 1150, Lincoln was among the wealthiest towns in England. The basis of the economy was cloth and wool, exported to Flanders; Lincoln weavers had set up a guild in 1130 to produce Lincoln Cloth, especially the fine dyed 'scarlet' and 'green', the reputation of which was later enhanced by Robin Hood wearing woolens of Lincoln green. In the Guildhall that surmounts the city gate called the Stonebow, the ancient Council Chamber contains Lincoln's civic insignia, a particularly fine collection of civic regalia.

Coupled with the arrival of the railway links, Lincoln boomed again during the Industrial Revolution, and several world-famous companies arose, such as Ruston's, Clayton's, Proctor's and William Foster's. Lincoln began to excel in heavy engineering, building locomotives, steam shovels and all manner of heavy machinery.

A permanent military presence was established in the city with the completion of the "Old Barracks" (now the Museum of Lincolnshire Life) in 1857; these were replaced by the "New Barracks" (now Sobraon Barracks) in 1890.

During WW!!, Lincoln's heavy industries were turned to the war effort, producing aircraft parts, heavy duty diesel engines, and train sub-assemblies. These activities have largely ceased, as heavy industry manufacture has been relocated to either other areas of the UK, the Continent, or the Far East.

Lincoln is situated on a very fertile plain in the flatlands of east-central, England. It became a major flourishing settlement, accessible from the sea both through the River Trent and through the River Witham. Both rivers could also be forded although major bridges were built in the Middle Ages. These conditions led to Lincoln as the market center of a thriving agricultural area.

Cemeteries (Civil)

 * Lincoln cemeteries


 * Newport cemetery


 * Find a Grave, Newport cemetery

RELIGION
Lincoln has always been a center of the Christian faith in England. The bishops of Lincoln were among the magnates of medieval England: the diocese of Lincoln, the largest in England, had more monasteries than the rest of England put together, and the diocese was supported by large estates.

When Magna Carta was drawn up in 1215, one of the witnesses was Hugh of Wells, Bishop of Lincoln. One of only four surviving originals of the document is preserved in Lincoln Castle

Construction of the first Lincoln Cathedral, within its close or walled precinct facing the castle, began when the see was removed from the quiet backwater of Dorchester-on-Thames, Oxfordshire and completed in 1092. It was rebuilt after a fire but was destroyed again by an unusual earthquake in 1185. The rebuilt Lincoln Minster, enlarged to the east at each rebuilding, was on a magnificent scale, its crossing tower crowned by a spire reputed to have been 525 ft (160 m) high, the highest in Europe. When completed the central of the three spires is widely accepted to have succeeded the Great Pyramids of Egypt as the tallest man-made structure in the world.

INDUSTRY
The area around Lincoln has been gifted with wonderful soils, and has always been an agricultural area. Because of this, both cloth and wool, normal byproducts of agriculture became major industries, making Lincoln a very wealthy city.

During the 13th century, Lincoln was the third largest city in England and was a favorite of more than one king.

During the Industrial Revolution, Lincoln began to excel in heavy engineering, building locomotives, steam shovels and all manner of heavy machinery.

The city contributed heavily to the requirements of the two World Wars, as the tank was invented in Lincoln during the first WW, and Lincoln provided munitions, heavy diesel engines for tanks and marine vessels, and also was a source of ammunition.

Today, Lincoln's economy is based mainly on public administration, commerce, arable farming and tourism.

CEMETERIES
Lincoln cemeteries

Newport cemetery

Find a Grave, Newport cemetery

GENEALOGY AND FAMILY HISTORY
Lincoln in Genuki

Lincolnshire family history

Lincolnshire family history

Lincolnshire genealogy forum

Family Search Lincolnshire