Lincoln City Centre is the historical and cultural area of Lincoln in Lincolnshire, England. It is defined as the areas along the city's High Street.[1] Each part of the centre brings a differing main sector or sectors to the city with a small overlap between each area.[2][3]

Lincoln City Centre
City centre
Lincoln Cathedral in Castle Hill and High Street
Lincoln City Centre is located in Lincolnshire
Lincoln City Centre
Lincoln City Centre
Location within Lincolnshire
Area35.69 sq mi (92.4 km2)
• London158 mi (254 km) SW
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townLINCOLN
Postcode districtLN1-LN5
Dialling code01522
PoliceLincolnshire
FireLincolnshire
AmbulanceEast Midlands
List of places
UK
England
Lincolnshire
53°13′37″N 0°32′29″W / 53.226942°N 0.541369°W / 53.226942; -0.541369

Areas

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Lincoln High Street around 1820

The city centre is divided into Uphill, Downhill, Steep Hill, Cornhill, Brayford and past the railway station.[4][5][failed verification] These areas are connected by the ancient Ermine Street which is known as the High Street, in Downhill the High Street becomes The Strait then Steep Hill connects to Uphill where it becomes Bailgate.

Uphill

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The Pottergate Arch and Lincoln Cathedral
 
Jew's Court, Lincoln

Uphill is Lincoln's old town with many grade listed buildings dating back to the medieval and roman periods these include Lincoln Cathedral, Lincoln Castle, Pottergate Arch, St Mary Magdalene and Newport Arch on the hill with Jew's House and Norman House on Steep Hill, among other listed buildings.[6]

It has a number of independent small businesses. Castle Square and Bailgate are the centre to Uphill. The square hosts the farmers' market and is the meeting point for Steep Hill, the castle and cathedral.

 
Steep Hill looking north

The hillside area is partly residential. In 2020 a mansion near Lincoln Cathedral was offered for sale at £2 million.[7] Bailgate, Minster Yard, Eastgate and Drury Lane have housing prices ranging from £200,000 to £800,000.[8] Lincoln UTC, an educational institution with a campus called the Greestone Centre, is also on the hill.

Downhill

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The Strait looking north towards the cathedral
 
The Strait looking south towards High Street

The High Street is mainly commercial and pedestrian in both Downhill and Cornhill. Downhill is the centre's cultural and nightlife area. It is centred upon the Guildhall and Stonebow. North of the Guildhall there are a number of cultural buildings: the grade II listed New Theatre Royal was built in the area in 1892, it is 'new' because the previous building from 1806 was damaged in a fire;[9] Lincoln Museum and the Usher Gallery. St Hugh's Church (Grade II listed) and Lincoln College are also in the area.[10] North of the Guildhall also formerly included the church of St Peter at Arches and the Georgian Buttermarket which existed from 1737 until 1932: in their place is the former Norwich Union House, which has since been converted into multiple retail outlets. South-east of the Guildhall is Saltergate, Guildhall Street and St Swithins Square. The notable buildings on these streets are The Angel Coffee House, St Swithin's Church which is a Grade II* listed currently closed parish church. The church congregation currently meet opposite the church in a former Co-operative building.[11][12] Further down the high street is Waterside Shopping Centre and the River Witham which passes under High Bridge which the High Street is on.

Cornhill

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High Bridge on High Street

Cornhill is the city's main market[13] and transportation area. It has two squares, St Benedict's and Cornhill. Cornhill Square is anchored by the early-Victorian Corn Exchange Arcade and the late-Victorian Corn Exchange.[14][15] St Benedict's is a Grade I listed former church (currently a book shop).[16] The High Street then passes over St Mary's Street/Wigford Way where it passes through a level crossing with the railway station and directly next to the level crossing is St Mary le Wigford church which is a Grade I listed church and the oldest active parish church in the city centre.[17][18]

South of the station

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South of the railway station, at Tenercroft Street, the High Street opens up to cars with mixed use buildings on either side,[19][20] The street runs southwards to St Catherines Roundabout and includes the former Lincoln St Marks Station, St Peter at Gowts Church, Central Methodist Church, Greek Orthodox Church of St. Basil and St. Paisios (Formerly St Botolph's Church until 2021)[21] and St Mary's Guildhall among other historic buildings.[22]

Brayford Pool

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Looking north of Brayford Pool
 
Looking east of Brayford Pool

North of Brayford Pool is Newland, it is the centre's area of governance. Lindsey County Council moved to the area in 1932 from the County Hall in Uphill to the Council Offices (Lindsey County Council became Lincolnshire County Council in 1974)[23] with Lincoln City Council following by moving from the Guildhall in Downhill to the City Hall on Beaumont Fee in 1973.[24] South and east of the pool is New Boultham, it includes the University of Lincoln's main campus and multiple retail parks.

Places for culture

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Lincoln city centre is home to many cultural buildings and venues such as Lincoln Central Library, New Theatre Royal Lincoln, Usher Art Gallery and the Engine Shed.

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Places of worship

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The city centre is home to many active[25] and former churches.[26] Notable churches in the city centre include:[27][28]

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Places of recreation

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Lincoln City Centre is on the northern and southern banks of the River Witham and it runs directly from the east of the city into Brayford Pool in the west of the city. Most of the river forms a small waterside plaza which runs along Waterside North and South to the City Square before it passes under High Bridge and under Wigford Way before merging into Brayford Pool and continuing west as Foss Dyke. The Foss Dyke then becomes a canal walk between Lincoln and Saxilby via Burton Waters and Skellingthorpe.[29] Parks and gardens in and around the city centre include Temple Gardens, South Commons, West Common and Lincoln Arboretum.[30] Brayford Pool near the university offers a wide range of boating activities, coffee houses and bars as well as a cinema.[31] The city is also home to many nightclubs and bars. Most notable is the Engine Shed which hosts many events and is the largest events venue in the city centre.

Transport

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Lincoln city centre is pedestrianised and surrounded by through routes, Wigford Way, Tritton Road, Melville Street[32] and Monks Road.[33] Most traffic around the city centre uses the A46 and Lincoln Eastern Bypass.[34]

Lincoln railway station is operated by East Midlands Railway but is served by other train operators including London North Eastern Railway and Northern Trains. The station is adjacent to Lincoln Transport Hub.[35]

Lincoln offers park and ride for residents and tourists to go up and down Steep Hill, the castle and cathedral and different parts of the city centre. This service is a sight-seeing bus service.[36] A walk and ride shuttle bus service allows walkers to board and alight whenever they wish to around the city centre.[37]

Lincoln currently has a cycling scheme with bikes available for hire through the HireBike scheme by Lincolnshire County Council. However in 2022, this was in the process of being scrapped in favour of a new scheme and could include e-bikes.[38][39]

Education

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The University of Lincoln campus is alongside Brayford Pool and the River Witham.[40][41] A branch of Access Creative College is on Claskengate near the High Street,[42] and Lincoln College is on Monks Road.[43] The city centre also has two schools, Lincoln Minster School (east of the cathedral) and St Faith and St Martin Church of England Junior School on Hampton Street.[44]

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References

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  1. ^ Walker, Andrew (14 June 2002). Aspects of Lincoln: Discovering Local History. Wharncliffe. ISBN 978-1-4738-2672-4.
  2. ^ Carr, Michael (1997). New Patterns: Process and Change in Human Geography. Nelson Thornes. ISBN 978-0-17-438681-0.
  3. ^ Administrator. "Towns Fund Projects". City of Lincoln Council. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Large Lincoln Maps for Free Download and Print | High-Resolution and Detailed Maps". www.orangesmile.com. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Lincoln City Centre Map 2022 by Visit Lincoln - Issuu". issuu.com. 6 June 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  6. ^ Taylor, Louise. "Conservation, archaeology and planning". City of Lincoln Council. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Stunning Lincoln cathedral mansion worth £2m up for sale". The Lincolnite. 12 February 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Homes for Sale in Minster Yard, Lincoln LN2 - Buy Property in Minster Yard, Lincoln LN2 - Primelocation". www.primelocation.com. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  9. ^ "New Theatre Royal Lincoln | Theatres Trust". database.theatrestrust.org.uk. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  10. ^ Fish, Elizabeth. "Museum of Lincolnshire Life". Lincolnshire County Council. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  11. ^ "Uncertain future for old Lincoln church". The Lincolnite. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  12. ^ McAllister, Richard (17 April 2019). "Former Lincoln nightclub to become 'space for worship'". LincolnshireLive. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  13. ^ "Shopping Areas in Lincoln | Shop Lincoln". Shop Lincoln. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  14. ^ "See inside Lincoln Central Market renovation ahead of autumn opening". The Lincolnite. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  15. ^ reporter, Daniel Jaines, local democracy; Maslin, Eleanor (27 July 2023). "New Cornhill Market opening delayed due to wet weather". LincolnshireLive. Retrieved 1 August 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ "Case Study: Lincoln Cornhill Quarter". Minster Group Ltd. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  17. ^ "Work to create Lincoln city centre green space to begin". BBC News. 19 February 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  18. ^ Maslin, Eleanor (7 June 2022). "Ukrainian Cultural Centre will provide 'vital step' of support". LincolnshireLive. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  19. ^ "Map Lincoln City Centre Lincolnshire England". www.towncentremap.co.uk. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  20. ^ Jaines, Daniel; Griffin, Joe (30 May 2023). "Former High Street store to become Airbnb apartments". LincolnshireLive. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  21. ^ "Lincoln church bells removed after century of service". The Lincolnite. 29 June 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  22. ^ "£500k refurb project complete at St Mary's Guildhall". The Lincolnite. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  23. ^ "The early history of Lincolnshire County Council Offices, Newland, Lincoln". Lincolnshire Past and Present Issue 108 Summer 2017. Society for Lincolnshire History and Archaeology. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  24. ^ "Lincoln council claims it won't make a loss as it sells fleet of vehicles". The Lincolnite. 3 April 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  25. ^ "St Hugh's Roman Catholic Church, Lincoln". www.sthughslincoln.org.uk. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  26. ^ "New owners ready to turn St Katherine's Church into Lincoln community venue". The Lincolnite. 29 August 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  27. ^ "St Mary le Wigford". www.stmarylewigford.co.uk. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  28. ^ "Lincoln nightclub to be worship space". www.churchtimes.co.uk. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  29. ^ "Lincoln | Canal & River Trust". canalrivertrust.org.uk. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  30. ^ Hill, Alex. "Lincoln Arboretum". City of Lincoln Council. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  31. ^ "Brayford Pool and Waterfront in Lincoln". Enjoy Lincoln. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  32. ^ "Residents divided over removal of 'eyesore' Lincoln footbridge". The Lincolnite. 21 April 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  33. ^ Mann, Sebastian (9 May 2022). "Life next to one of the busiest roads in Lincolnshire". LincolnshireLive. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  34. ^ "Lincoln: Public events for planned city relief road". BBC News. 12 June 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  35. ^ "Lincoln Station | National Rail". www.nationalrail.co.uk. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  36. ^ "Lincoln Guided Tours". Visit Lincolnshire. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  37. ^ "Walk and Ride Lincoln". lincolnbus.co.uk. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  38. ^ "HireBike Lincoln". Visit Lincolnshire. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  39. ^ "Improved Lincoln Hirebikes to pedal on as contract ends". The Lincolnite. 24 October 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  40. ^ "University of Lincoln". www.lincoln.ac.uk. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  41. ^ "Campus and Facilities | Student Life | University of Lincoln". www.lincoln.ac.uk. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  42. ^ "Lincoln | Access Creative College | Creative & Digital Courses". Access Creative. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  43. ^ "Lincoln College takes over Old Bakery fine dining restaurant with new training concept". The Lincolnite. 13 December 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  44. ^ Maslin, Eleanor (17 January 2023). "School talks on voluntary redundancies to cut costs". LincolnshireLive. Retrieved 28 July 2023.