Dr Caitlin GreenNov 18, 2022
So, I've finally managed to pick an instance and join Mastodon! Today I'm writing about churches--here's one of my favourites, the wonderful medieval vaulted nave ceiling of Lincoln Cathedral :) #Introduction #medieval #archaeology
Show threadDr Caitlin GreenNov 18, 2022
Light patterns from the stained-glass windows in the nave of Lincoln Cathedral.
#medieval #history
Show threadDr Caitlin Green
Worth recalling once more that Lincoln Cathedral was the tallest building in the *world* from 1311 to 1548 (160m), when its central spire fell in a storm! The two smaller spires survived to the 19th century :) https://georgianera.wordpress.com/2016/11/29/lincoln-cathedral-georgian-renovations/ #Lincolnshire #Medieval #History
Lincoln Cathedral: Georgian renovations

All Things Georgian
Nov 18, 2022 at 2:55pmWeb
Show threadDr Caitlin GreenNov 18, 2022
The entrance to the 15th-century prison cell at Lincoln Cathedral. It is located directly under the NW tower & its bells, which must have been 'fun' for the prisoners; the picture shows a visit to the cell by Sir Joseph Banks in the late 18th century (Samuel Hieronymus Grimm, 1773) #History #Medieval #Lincolnshire
Show threadDr Caitlin GreenNov 18, 2022
A face and traces of colour on the 14th-century carved stone choir screen of Lincoln Cathedral. #History #Medieval #Lincolnshire
Show threadDr Caitlin GreenNov 18, 2022
Detail of the vaulted nave ceiling of Lincoln Cathedral, showing some of the bosses and a painted area. #Medieval #Architecture #Lincoln
Show threadDr Caitlin GreenNov 19, 2022
The famous Lincoln Imp in the Angel Choir of Lincoln Cathedral. This sculpture, used by Lincolnshire County Council as its logo, became famous in the later 19th century, replacing the 'Devil looking over Lincoln' on the outside of the church as a character of popular fascination. The latter is first referenced in the 16th century and is nowadays hooded...!? #Lincoln #Medieval #Sculpture
Show threadDr Caitlin GreenNov 19, 2022
The 'Devil looking over Lincoln', early 20th-century postcard of the sculpture and a photo of it as it was in 2017, after it was covered up... It gave rise to a once-popular phrase 'as the Devil looks over Lincoln', recorded from 1546, for a dark or malicious look. This phrase is used by a number of authors, including Sir Walter Scott & Alexander Pope, the latter referring to the Devil who overlooks 'Lincoln Town'. #Lincoln #History #Folklore
Show threadDr Caitlin GreenNov 18, 2022
The area that the top of Lincoln Cathedral's spire (destroyed in 1548) would have been visible from when it was the tallest man-made structure in the world, according to a modified version of Google Earth's viewshed tool...! #Lincoln #LandscapeHistory
Show threadDr Caitlin GreenNov 18, 2022
For contrast, here's the viewshed of St James's Church, Louth, Lincolnshire (the tallest medieval parish spire in Britain)... By and large, you can see one or the other, but only very rarely both! #Lincolnshire #Louth #LandscapeHistory
Show threadPontoonistaNov 18, 2022
@caitlinrgreen I think there is a spot on the Wolds where you can see the Humber Bridge, The Dock Tower and Lincoln Cathedral. Just south of Caistor but I need to prove it.
Show threadDr Caitlin GreenNov 19, 2022
@yoursilentface Sounds plausible to me! Could probably work it out with Google Earth...!
Show threadKatherine BirkettNov 19, 2022
@caitlinrgreen What are Viewsheds?
Show threadDr Caitlin GreenNov 19, 2022
@Kitty_B_Good The areas visible from a spot in the landscape, in this case from the top of St James's spire :)
Show threadKatherine BirkettNov 19, 2022

@caitlinrgreen I wish more of these were available. As someone living in the Lincs Fens, views are uncommon. I'm autistic and one of my special interests is views, and how far you can see from high places such as hill tops. We need more of these!

http://www.viewfinderpanoramas.org/panoramas.html

Panoramas

Show threadDr Caitlin GreenNov 21, 2022
@Kitty_B_Good Oh, a very nice site, thanks for sharing!
Show threadEagle PursuitNov 19, 2022
@caitlinrgreen that's amazing!
Show threadDr Caitlin GreenNov 19, 2022
@Eaglepursuit Quite astonishing, isn't it!
Show threadSteve HollinworthNov 21, 2022
@caitlinrgreen that's very impressive. You can still see the cathedral from the moors to the west of Chesterfield even with the smaller towers. It would be nice to know what the most westerly point Google thinks that you can still see it.
Show threadelizabeth veldonNov 21, 2022
@caitlinrgreen thats an impressive view. how tall was the spire?
Show threadDr Caitlin GreenNov 21, 2022
@elizabethveldon 160m or 520ft or so...!
Show threadelizabeth veldonNov 21, 2022
@caitlinrgreen ooft!
Show threadVelohistorianNov 18, 2022
@caitlinrgreen wasn’t there a serious proposal a few years ago to rebuild the spires? They must have been visible from an incredible distance
Show threadDr Caitlin GreenNov 18, 2022
@velohistorian I know that plotted the cracks in the tower and you could see how damaged it had been by the weight of the spire; I hadn't realised they thought of bringing it back! I think the distance would have been astounding---plugging it into my adjusted copy of Google Earth Pro I get the following 'viewshed' from the top of the lost spire....!
Show threadVelohistorianNov 18, 2022
@caitlinrgreen imagine being a medieval pilgrim travelling across the county for the first time and seeing that. I know when I cycle in the Wolds at Hameringham the towers are visible, but wow what a dominant feature in the landscape. Seen the augmented reality project about them? https://lincolncathedral.com/augmented-reality-will-bring-lincoln-cathedral-spires-back-life/
Show threadDr Caitlin GreenNov 18, 2022
@velohistorian Oh, thanks for the link... That's rather wonderful!
Show threadsallyNov 27, 2022
@caitlinrgreen wow this is a great photograph!