A Day Away

Hello Lovelies,

Last Friday  I had a bonus day off work and had arranged a little grown up away day. I was really looking forward to this return visit to Lincoln....having been so impressed with the city back in February.

Now, with the addition of spring greenery, it looked even prettier.........

I loved this statue of Tennyson and his dog....I think it's the way he's looking down on a chap with his dogs.........

I was visiting with a friend, not to look at that statue, or the pretty houses...though they were adorable........

We were both here with our cameras in hand to enjoy and photograph this place.........

The stunning Cathedral.......

This is the back...if that's what you call it, but it's the prettiest aspect I think.

And how I loved the spring flowers here..........

The trees were just coming into leaf....beautiful shadows and a touch of green....perfect......

It was such a gorgeous morning that it was kind of hard to head indoors, but that's what we had come for.

This is not a building I've ever visited before and my first thought was WOW...........

The sunlight filled this stunning space and my eyes were drawn upwards towards the ceiling and the beautiful windows..........

Remember that flower shaped one...we will be getting a closer look at it soon :0)

Within the cathedral there are many small chapels, we loved this light filled corner.........

and the colours of the stained glass illuminating ancient the stone floor.

The glass really shone on such a gorgeous morning........

And the traditional designs were stunning............



Overhead more colour was added to the arched ceilings.........

But it was the plain stone ceiling of the Chapter House that really entranced me.......

early thirteenth century builders certainly knew how to impress!

I started to get a stiff neck from all the gazing upwards.......

Looking down for a rest, I smiled at more gorgeous stained glass colours on the floor........

By now it was 11am and we had to be back at the entrance to join a tour....of the roof...eeep!

We steadily climbed up through the oldest part of the cathedral....which is Norman and dates back to 1072. It was interesting to get a glimpse of the Norman part, which is now hidden within the Gothic architecture.
But it was this view from a balcony, looking down on the Nave that I loved........

And right behind us was that gorgeous flower shaped window....depicting the first bishop, looking rather forlorn as he holds the early cathedral..........

Up close the stained glass was a delightful sight, with it's intense colour, pretty details, and even the odd tiny hole............

I loved being able to touch it ...........

The tour then took us into the bell tower...........

Where somebody had upset the bells :0)......

Then we were in the roof space....admiring a beautiful model that showed how the cathedral looked when it had it's spires. Before 1548 this building was the tallest in the world, for over 200 years......

Then the tallest spire blew down in a storm.

Our guide was so informative, dates and facts tumbled out of his mouth....but by now I really wanted to see the view from this high place.

In the end we had to hurry outside anyway, It was nearly Twelve and I think being so close to the bells would have been deafening. 

Oh, how I loved being up so high, looking out across the city, towards the horizon......

Listening to the peel of the bells from the tower still high above us.......

It wasn't scary at all....just beautiful........

Soon we headed back inside and  walked along these wooden paths in the timbered space between the ceiling and the roof..........the cathedral's attic :0)

Then out of another little door........

To gaze up at the sooty looking front of the building...........

With it's view towards the castle........

It's a shame the sun had stopped shining......but how I LOVED this view. So many pretty rooftops and so much history.........

Red roofs and trees with intensely green, new leaves...........

Perfect.

After the tour we left the cathedral for a while, stopping to gaze back up towards the place we had just been..........

Then headed down the cobbled street in search of lunch...........

The little shops were looking so pretty...........

And lunch HERE was delightful, sat among the second-hand books listening to classical music.

Afterwards, feeling refreshed, we headed back uphill for a second look at the cathedral. I loved the detailed stonework by the door.........

And the organ..........

Small details made me smile too.......like this pretty tapestry.........

In every direction the building is stunning.........
   

The high altar

St Hugh's Choir

The prayer corner

The East Window

With all it's jewel colours.........

And the green of the grassed Cloister.........

This quiet day, spent appreciating this magnificent building, was such a different sort of day for me. And one that I enjoyed immensely.

Jacquie x