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Your Steep Hill Stories

Dan Pounds
As a student at Riseholme College over 10 years ago my friends and I would go into Lincoln for a night on the town. After exchanging all our money for strong drink we would be penniless (not like modern students) and it was a great challenge to race each other up Steep Hill. Running at full sprint up this hill is exhausting but great fun. I would attempt it now however.Great times walking in to town from Riseholme.Hi to the Class of 1996- 1999

Michael Ball
I went to Lincoln three months ago to visit the castle. I have never been up such a big hill in an urban area before, but the path going up to Gullivers Kingdom in Matlock Bath, Derbyshire comes close.

Lucy
Me and my form at school went to lincoln on a school trip as people say steep hill was as its name.STEEP!A good place to go and spend a day also visit the castle and cathedral aswell...

vivien cain
i love the steep hill,i only been to lincs twice and hopefully going again to see family,i went in november in early evening ,up and down it was enchanting,all the christmas lights ,i never actually noticed how steep it was ,as iwas having such a lovely time,its the best place in the world.i live in the isle of man,and i can tell you lincolnshire is amazing,the people are so lucky,living there,i got photos of my journey this march of the steep hill which i went up and down ,cant wait to come back. the isle of man is a boring tax haven,plenty of banks ,offices,nothing for the kids,no fairs ,only a swimming complex,kids are bored to tears,we have two boring castles,no fun in them for children,not like lincoln castle,absolutely fantastic. vivien

Helen D
I graduated from the faculty of Fine Art and Illustration Lincoln University, located at Greestone and Chad Varah House respectively, and spent 3 years of my degree going up and down the hill. The trick is to go up via Danesgate where the road goes up obliquely and as such is not as Steep as the main tourist route. When I first started University I wished someone would install a cable car. After graduating in the lovely Cathedral I had developed Shins of Iron!!!Come to the Artist's Market on Sunday where you can buy unique Lady of Shalott related art works!!

James , Lincoln and London
I left lincoln a few years ago, but come back every 3 months for visits. Its very tiresome climbing that hill when you have been out on the town. I used to go up and down the hill everyday when i was at school. I found the easiest way to go up the hill was to walk up on tip toes so you don't overstretch your calves. The number of people i pass doing that is impressive. Going down - used to roller blade down if noone was on the path. When it was icy the winter just gone we could barely walk down it so we sat on our coats and went down skidding everywhere.

Nevile Manning
I lived on Steep Hill during the war years. I remember planes going over.My most enjoyable memory is tobogganing down to the High St.My worst memory is sitting in a wire cage in our home during air raids.

Laura Binns
I was born in Lincoln but I live in a village 25 miles south of lincoln, when I was a baby; my dad regulary pushed me up in the buggy up Steep Hill. Now; I just take it steady and make sure I got plenty to drink in my bag, though I do try not to cry with giggles when I hear tourists say this is steep and thought Lincolnshire was flat. Would be interesting to know the geograhpy why Steep Hill is steep.

Molly Wallhead
My grandma used to live in Hilton Cottage on the corner of Christ Hospital Terrace. She pushed all her children up and down that hill for years. When my mother had her children , her first being twins, she pushed her double carriage pram up there regularly. As I got older I walked up that hill every other day to visit her. When I had my second child my husband rode his bike up the hill with our daughter on the back. It has always played a huge role in the life of my family and still does today as my husband works at Harding House gallery on the hill. We just love it.

guy
When i was at college me and friends always up the steep hill go back college and having a race who`s go up fist, i just lie down half way of the hill

Katie C
Steep Hill is best walked up on the weekend of the Christmas Market, when you are swept along by the crowds with the twinkling christmas lights and the smell of roast chesnuts!

Julia Edwards
I walk up here most days of the week as I'm doing Media at Christ's Hospital Terrace. 1 and a half years later and it's only starting to get a tad easier. It nearly killed us when we started there at college! We have a giggle at the tourists on it in summer. I have a big ambition to ski down Steep Hill someday... the only thing getting in the way is Global warming!

Laura
Start at the top, buy a pasty at curtis, have a pint at the lion and snake, get some ice cream from the ice cream parlour, buy some real pork scratchigs frm the butchers, get a pie from the pie shop and eat them all before u reach the bottom, but never ever walk back up, pay the nice man £1 and he will drive you up in the fun bus of dreams!

Ian Pilcher
I love this part of town. The long pull up the hill is always worth the effort.With the independent shops and the old buildings and the narrowness of the street leading to the castle, cathedral and old part of town, it is one of the jewels in Lincoln's crown.

Lauren
It's hard enough to get yourself up it, but it takes myself and both my parents to haul my brother in his wheelchair to the top!We must be a sight, pulling,pushing and somehow running over our own feet... A lot of willpower was required- next time brother can stay at the bottom, us Yellerbellies aren't accustomed ;)

Jane Leach
I lived at Steep Hill House in the 1970's when my Dad was Officer in Charge of what was then a family group home of the National Childrens Home. It was always said that the merchant who originally built the house didn't like children so it seems ironic that it was filled with laughter and antics of many children over the years. I also remenber the little old lady who lived across the hill from us who was over 100 years of age, she could remember horses and carriages going up and down the hill! When the building was sold by NCH it was then converted into smaller dwellings. The Mulberry trees in the garden belong to the Queen and have to be protected. I have not been back for many years but hope to visit again soon.

Martha Vahl
We lived on Steep Hill for 7 years near the end of the nineties. It used to be a very quiet area, with hardly any noisy traffic. It was always a pleasant surprise to open the black gate and to find oneself in the hurly burly of people going up and down, and some the ones going up trying to focus on the waiting bench, fighting their way up using the handrail. I guessed that the reason why we heard so few of the people passing our gate was because they were running out of breath going up, whereas those who would come down were passing quit quickly and their voices would quickly disappear. The history file of the house, including its entries of occupants in the registry has been passed on to the new owners.

Ashleigh
one of the best things about that hill is the milkshake shop near the top, WELL worth the effort!! :)

palcmac
On Saturday nights in early 70s when I was at waddington we always went for a indian meal on the street after a lot of beer falling out of thier late at night brought many laughs.

M. Wilson
Forty one years ago we adopted our son and we had to collect him from Jews Court he was ten weeks old.A lovely baby sadly he died juat after his sevevteenth birthday the result of a car accident

alan
I don't suppose it interest anybody, but in 1899 my Dad was born in a pub called the Black Boy which used to exist at the top of the steep hill - in the shadow of the cathedral, so to speak. The building still stands, and when I found it a few years ago it was being used as a club house. - I wonder if anyone remembers the Black Boy.

Pearl
Pam is right - many folks stop and shop window gaze and pretend they are fit climbing the hill. One shop folks enter is Jews' Court to take a breather before the steep bit. Here you can buy Dennis's book about the hill. I well remember the costume shop owned by Sarah's mother. Did she know her mother donned the costumes and sat outside on sunny days to interest customers? Does Joy know her science master still lives there and the electronic shop is still in business for Caroline.

Marcus (aged 9).
This hill is very very steep! Well,the name gives it away. It's the steepest hill I've ever walked up! :)

Sarah, Manchester
I've lived at two addresses on Steep Hill - the second one was opposite Jews House - so I've had occasion to walk up and down the hill many times. Even then, as a young fit person, I was impressed by some of the local pensioners who could outpace me on the upward climb. There was a clown convention in the city, some time in the 1990s, and I remember watching a steady stream of them struggling to get up that hill, in full costume and sweaty nylon wigs and all. There was one clown, a rather portly middle aged guy who'd definitely had a drink or two, with a stuffed (toy) cat on his shoulder, and his language was something to behold. My mum had a vintage clothing shop near the bottom of the hill and she used to display mannequins outside her shop lashed to the wall with string. Now and then, on windy days, they would break free and roll down the hill, and she would dash down after them in a wild panic to rescue her 'ladies.' I'm sure that spectacle entertained the tourists passing by! And to Georgina Furness - I remember your uncle's joke shop. It was brilliant! In the days I remember it (late 70s?) it had the occasional piece of old stock that seemed to date from years before, which was treasure in my eyes.

Ell. 23. Birmingham
I was born and raised in Lincoln, most of my closest family live there. My dad had his own business no less than five minutes walk from the top of steep hill, directly opposite a little church. My aunti still has her own business up there "Teejay's" while my grandma lived accross the street. I frequently walked up and down steep hill and i quite often carried bags. I always enjoyed the challenge. I even ran up Steep Hill several times, i used to run it as a part of my person fitness training. I spent three years in the royal marines core and let me tell you, nothing i did in there hit me as hard as that hill. So many childhood memories on that hill, such a beautiful city. A perfect example of what i think other people from other countries expect England to be like.

Paul Dickson, Edinburgh
First visited Lincoln in 2002 when my first born was 2 years old. Walked down steep hill from the Cathedral down to the shops and back up, pushing my daughter in her buggy, not sure which was harder. Just glad I didn't let go of the buggy when walking down hill!!Going back to the area this summer, fortunately the 2 year old is now 7, so not having to push any buggy up or down the hill. Have already told my daughter about the hill and how this time around, she'll have to walk it herself.

Joy Stirling nee Heslington
I used to live on Steep Hill,at Steep Hill House. I used to love the smell of the mulberry trees in Summer. As a youngster I never really noticed the incline but my bedroom overlooked the handrail part of the hill and I loved watching the antics of folk after the pubs closed. I think the only down side was living opposite to my ferocious Science Teacher...

Caroline Andrews
My ex husband was in the RAF during the 1970s and he was stationed in or near Lincoln two or three times during his term of service. I remember there was an electronics store at the bottom of Steep Hill and we always had to go there whenever we visited Lincoln. In 1974 (or thereabouts) there was a Doll's Hospital in a little side street to the left going up. I loved poking around in it, so we had a trade-off. He went into the electronics shop and I went into the Doll's Hospital and the other funny little shops in the area then we would meet up again in a tiny cafe halfway up the hill. Unfortunately, I forget the name of it after all these years.

Mark
I find it easier the get the bus from out side Binns this takes you to the castle

Brian Taylor
I live in Scunthorpe but my friend lived in Lincoln prior to me knowing him and his father ran the newspaper shop right at the summit in the 1920's. I don't know if ne actually owned it or not. I think it is still there. He used to tell me what a difficult time they had during the Winter when trying to get the horse up the hill after collecting the newspapers etc, (I guess) from the Railway station. Can anyone add to this?

?Anonomous?
We went on a field trip to Lincoln and we had to walk up and down steep hill in the freezing cold, being quite fit I thought I'd be able t manage it, I couldn't. It was the steepest hill (hence the name)I've ever climbed and boy was it a challenge.

Les Woods
Just wanted to add that the BBC Radio Lincolnshire, Solid Gold Saturday Club Barbecue was brilliant. Veronica Capaldi made us all very welcome. The walk down Steep Hill was a pleasure, after the event - must have been the wine! 005

Georgina Furness South Africa
Many years ago my Uncle Eric had a shop on Steep Hill, he used to sell 'joke' items and it was an Alladin's cave for my brother and I. Anyone out there remember it? The last time I decided to take a nostalgic walk up Steep Hill I set out in a 'bracing' breeze in a borrowed coat (I didn't own my own as I never wear a coat in South Africa). By the time I reached the Stonebow I was frozen to the bone and turned back to Marks and Spencer to buy some thermals! It was Spring by UK standards and they had nothing to offer. As the wind was against me I headed for home! I've obviously grown 'soft' over the intervening years! There used to be a wonderful shop that sold 'loose' tea, is it still there?

Mark - Lincoln
As 6th form students we used to miss sports on Wednesday afternoon and go for a drink down town. All very exciting on the way down but not so on the way back. I'll never forget the day we walked past some American tourists resting halfway up and one commented "Isn't it just great that the Brits named a city after our president!". I laughed hard, very hard.

James Howat
I find the best way to attack steep hill is the same as you would in a car down to 1st gear, ie lean into the hill and take short steps and just plod on at half stride. I'm 53 and it works for me. By the way i'm scottish and its not really a steep hill. Ho! Ho!

Les Woods
Here I go again!. The next BBC Radio Lincolnshire Solid Gold Saturday Club is on June 10th. If I walk up Steep Hill to get there, will I have enough energy to eat the barbecued Lincolnshire sausages?? I'll probably just have a few, and then stick to the wine!!

Matt S
I used to live in a flat just above the post office in the Bail. The sight of red faced, profusely sweating visitors staggering to the top of the hill was a treat. Also have one wonderful memory of walking down into town with mates for a night out when the hill was icy. One guy was wearing leather soled shoes and had to crouch down and use the hand rail on Steep Hill to gently lower himself all the way down - every time he tried to stand up he fell over!

Mark Speaker
When I was a little 5 year old fella, we lived on Waterside North. I can't singularly remember STEEP HILL, but the trip up with grandad to Monks Road was easy! Now after 45 years I still think of just what a haul it was on the other side of the street up almost any hill towards the castle grounds! Grandad, myself, and 2 1/2 yr old brother would make the trek every Saturday morning around that area and I remember looking up at g-dad one of the trips and saying, "your face isn't as red this time grandad! Even at 5 yrs. old I was a little winded, but, like most of the comments, the view at the top was well worth the trip past the shops. Bro' and I looked forward to what was always waiting for us at top, a treat, and that easy, and effortless trip back down the hills! Believe it or not, g-dad never had to carry my brother!

bazza
when i go up steep hill i just imagine theres gona be a pork pie at top,helps me get through tough times aka nerli losing my breath....like the destiny child song....anyway if youve got asthma take ur inhaler,thats my word of warning,other than that its not too bad, nice lil hill for the ladies and gents

Damien
Why all you little girls moaning about how hard the steep hill is? I run up Lindum Hill everyday just for a laugh, so.......beat that!

Robert
Just want to say how 'cream crackered' I get when walking up the steep hill. My weight issue don't help matters either, not to put a downer on things.

bernard
noooooooooo

Liam Hawes
Try going up the hill with large pram during the peak of the Christmas Market.not recommended!!!

Bob
Hill, thats not a hill. Just a gentle incline. The slag heaps of the pit areas are hills.

lara wilkes
try running up the steep!!!! exhausting stuff....

Chris Forman
I find steep hill a good excuse for a good jog it keeps the people of lincoln fit and healthy!

Matt From Lincoln
One Tip...If your ever struggling up steep hill, just think of that nice cold beer you can reward yourself with when you get to the top. Some great pubs in the Bail!!.

Richard and Stephanie Denton and Rocky the dog
Early 1996 after a heavy snowfall we went for a family walk with the dog and sledge, found steep hill the most ideal place to commence our sledge ride, all three of us on the sledge risked it down the cobbles covered in snow and had a hoot! The policeman walking up Steep Hill said he would bring his son down and do the same! Thoroughly enjoyed as the dog tried to abandon sledge midway! As usual Dad had to pull the sledge back up while mum sat on the bench and laughed.

rachel
the steep hill is very steep and very hard to walk up ive only walked up it a couple of times and now i no why! i had to keep stopping cuz i was out of breath and my legs kept huring, people were over taking me i thought " bloody hell i must be so unfit" the hand rails help but you feel yourself pulling yourself up. i wont be climbing back u the steep hill for a while!

RAY
I think that book shop half way up the hill must be the most looked in bookshop, it acts as facesaving when exhaustion sets in.

Charlie
I once meet an elderly lady at the bottom of Steep Hill. It was during the Christmas Market and she'd come from Blackpool in a coach party. She'd set off down hill " to find Woolworths" ( don't they have one in Blackpool?) and found herself unable to get back up. She was in a bad state, so I offered her my arm and said I'd get her back up. By crossing up Well Lane we avoided the steepest bit and eventually I got her back up to the Market. "There you are" I said " some people pay a fortune at the gym to work up this kind of a a sweat". She laughed like a drain and promised that she would never come to Lincoln again "Too many hills", she said.

Les Woods
The last one to tell me what Annette's 'copacetic' means has to run up Steep Hill!! Keep smiling

Kitty
I grew up near Lincoln & used to go up and down Steep Hill in my teens without thinking about it too much. Then I moved to Essex and worked as a conference/seminar organiser all over the UK. About 20 years ago, I organised a seminar at the Eastgate Hotel to which delegates were coming from all over the midlands. On the joining instructions we sent, I put a note for anyone travelling by train that they might prefer to take a taxi from the station, especially if they were carrying cases, etc, as the most direct walking route was up a VERY steep hill. On the first morning, two men were very late arriving and we started without them. About an hour later, these two overweight 40-somethings practically crawled in, grey faced, sweating and gasping. I was seriously tempted to call an ambulance but, fortunately, they recovered quite quickly. Turned out they'd read my warning and decided it must be an exaggeration because "everyone knows that Lincolnshire's flat!". So they'd staggered all the way from the station, carrying suitcases. That's the only time I ever thought someone might be about to die at one of "my" events but I guess those two didn't make that mistake again. Incidentally, I last walked up Steep Hill about 6 years ago. That was the first time in many years. At the ripe old age of 50 something and cosseted by years in the flat part of Essex, I discovered that I'm not quite as fit as I thought I was. Phew!!

callum booth
As a local and lincoln public transport being what it is i find my self walking up and down steep hill very often and no matter how manny times i walk it-it always makes me sweat even on a cool day but veiw at the top is undoubtly one of best this city has too offer.

Ruth Speed
In the Seventies, the fashion then was platform shoes. I owned such a pair. Wearing my brown two inch sole, four inch heeled shoes, I would walk up Steep Hill in my lunch break to visit my sister. Walking up the hill was no problem at all but when it came to coming down again, my steps were taken very carefully indeed. I would practically walk down on my toes. It was a slow process but I was never late back to work. As I worked in an office in Corporation Street, once I had accomplished the task of the Hill, the remainder of my journey was a doddle.

Debbie
One very cold evening just before Christmas 1980, trying to take my wheelchair-bound Mother to a Christmas party in Park Street, I couldn't find anywhere close to park so left the car in Danesgate carpark and set off 'pushing' her down the lower section of Steep Hill. Thank goodness we didn't start from the top! Being pregnant with my second child and carrying the eldest (6 months old) in a sling didn't help, but when we reached the bottom I didn't know whether to aim to hit the bollard to slow us down or miss it to prevent a collision!

Martyn Gaunt
A lovely early summer morning, out on the motorcycle for a run to Linciln. Walked down Steep Hill enjoying the glorious sunshine streaming in across the Witham Valley. Then the thought - "I've got to go back up here again, and I'm wearing full leathers.....!" To misqote a very old slogan used to sell a certain brand of soap, by the time I got back to the top, my best friends didn't NEED to tell me!

Ter
I once skateboarded down Steep Hill with a friend at break-neck speed. He made it made to The Strait but i came off when i hit the cobbles. You never see the local skaters try that very often ha ha.

Veronica Hall
Before I moved from my home in Lincoln to University in Birmingham, I used Steep Hill as part of my power-walking route. I always used to leave Steep Hill til last coz my legs were always like jelly when I got to the top!

Kat Roberts
I go to college at Christ Hospital Terrace - just down the top section of steep hill - i usually avoid having to walk up the hill by getting to bus to bailgate... but i sometimes end up going up and down the hill - sometimes even twice within and hour! and man... I nearly fell asleep on the bus on the way home! I always find steep hill beautiful, it was beautiful with all the xmas lights up this christmas! gotta love the hill!!! *gets pelted with stones from her friends who walk up it every day*

Delanwy Arthur
I'm a student in Lincoln and have to walk up and down Steep Hill every day to get to and from university. Who needs a gym eh? However, Steep Hill, not the greatest insentive to make it to lectures! Hah hah

Annette
Visited from flat and boring LA where we drive to gyms for that kind of workout. But Alex, let's keep things copacetic, dude, (judge that ye be not judged)!

David Mason
When walking to the Christmas market two years ago, I had just gone through the narrow entrance into Steep Hill at the top of High Street, I heard someone say " I don't know why they call it Steep hill, it's not very steep ". I purposely stayed within hearing distance as the going got progressively more difficult, and was not surprised to hear his comments get shorter and less frequent as he struggled for breath.

Daflad
I do it three times a week then walk to Dunholme

Alex
The hill is indeed unusually steep, but the most impressive aspect is surely the fitness of the local octogenarians who take the climb quite literally in their stride - Steep Hill has clearly been providing a more than adequate cardiovascular workout for many years! Oh, and Benjamin Tullis: "shear steepness"? "Passes by"? Learn to spell before making such a conceited entry as that on a public forum. And don't get me started on your use of apostrophes.

Michael H
Given the choice I'd rather go down any day! But coming up is rewarding in a different manner. Either way it's a beautiful sight.

Scott D
Phew, I've just completed another trek up Steep Hill and I can tell you it never gets any easier. I used to take the bus but my friends all began calling me lazy! I thought 'I'll show them' and I've been keeping myself fit and extremely healthy ever since... who needs the gym?

Howard Newcomb.
I love that hill though it gets harder to get up with each passing year when I visit my hometown from Manchester where I live these days. In the early sixties when I used to work for councillor Meldrum in his print works in that alley across from Ruddocks I went up and down that hill on a daily basis to my Grans who made lunch for me each, she lived in Gray Street Terrace off Rasen lane. She could do wonderful things with a pork chop, a truly great cook! p.s. am I the only person to find the entry by Benjamin Tullis very condescending? "Simple folk" hanging on to his every word whilst "desparately" trying to understand him!! I'm pleased I wasn't there to hear it! Best wishes Yellowbellies, see ya soon.

Howard Swift in France
You don't know how steep it is until you've pushed a twin buggy up to the top. Perhaps there could be an annual international challenge to parents of twins?

craig
Some years ago, I lived on Lamb Gdns and worked at St.Johns hosp. My shift started at 7.15 but the first bus was at 7am. To get to the old Roadcar station, I walked via steep hill. On a very cold, icy day, i lost my footing at Well lane, It was the quickest decent I ever made, I toboganed to Neals corner on my bum. The following day, in an effort to curtail my new found sporting endeavor, I wore a pair of trainers with good grips on the soles. It worked! However as I got to work, I received a telling off for wearing 'inappropriate footwear'. Somedays, try as you might, you just can't win.

John Byford
I visited lincoln over Christmas (to do a bit of shopping) and made the mistake of going to the top of Steep Hill after I had been shopping - not before! Silly me. I did enjoy the view though...Now I know Lincolnshire is not all Flat!!!!

Matt
About a year back i did a paper round which covered steep hill. I did it for that long i used to be able to bike up the hill! *phew* it was death in the summer!

Sam Owen
I've seen bigger :D

Adam Robinson
I have very fond memeries of Steep Hill whilst with my girlfriends, it is Brilliant Alreet bah

Mick Pegram
During the war i used to train on this hill. Up and down 4 times was my daily work-out. I dont think i could manage just up now!

Sarah
A friend and I were walking down Steep Hill one Friday evening on a night out. We'd got to Jew's House and heard some rather drunk men shouting '3, 2, 1, GO' and turned around to see about 15 over-aged cub scouts running down the hill. They were a hilarious sight and I'm still not sure exactly HOW they all made it to the bottom in one piece! If you're reading this and you were one of those 'scouts', you made our evening and we still recall it with laughter even though we're going back at leat 10 years!

Benjamin Tullis
I'm a huge enthusiast of tectonic plate movement and the resulting continental drift. With this in mind, when my Lincolnshire girl offered me the opportunity to view one of the finest hills formed by this magnificent process, I jumped high in the air and shouted "whoopee"! I was astonished, amazed at the shear steepness of the aptly named "steep hill". I explained to a few passes by how this was from millions of years, maybe billions, of tiny movements that shunted land together to form this grand hill where we had gathered; it may have only been an inch a year, but my, it made a huge difference! The enthusiasm shown towards me from these simple folk, so desparately trying to understand how the world was made, touched me almost as much as the hill itself. Bravo lincolnshire and it's salt-of-the-earth inhabitants.

CHRIS TAYLOR
Its not that bad really! Two or three years ago when i lived uphill and worked downhill i used to cycle up Steep Hill every day. I was in my mid 30s, and i'm certainly no athlete. I would usually pedal up slowly and surely, trying to maintain a calm and relaxed expression (when really i was praying for the top to appear), whilst onlookers stared at me as if i were either superfit or mad. I'm neither of these, just a glutton for punishment!

Kelly Hirst, Thurrock Essex
It was a nightmare to get up steep hill but so much fun running down it!! I miss that hill now i live back in essex, aint got nothin like it ere

Lewis John Allett
Being Lincolnshire born & bred, I have rather underdeveloped calf muscles, which is why I always find it useful to have someone - ideally from a more rugged county - to gently push me up Steep Hill. Luckily, for my weakling legs, I reside on much flatter terrrain!!

VERONICA BROWN
I LOVE LINCOLN I WOULD LOVE TO COME AND LIVE THERE.MY BEST MEMORIES ARE OF THE CHRISTMASES I HAVE SPENT THERE.WALKING UP STEEP HILL TO THE CAROL SERVICES AT THE CATHEDERAL.I GET THERE WITH DIFFICULTY,BUT IT IS WORTH IT

Fred Aspinall
As a boy I used to race down this on karts. Heaven only knows how none of us every got hurt!

Dennis Mills
Readers of these stories might like to look at my booklet on Steep Hill available at Jews' Court bookshop, 2 Steep Hill. I have been up and down the hill many times, including in the course of researching the subject and taking photos for the booklet: Dennis Mills, The People of Steep Hill around a century ago: an illustrated social study.

Dave J
I love Steep Hill. Sometimes I run up it when I visit Lincoln. It keeps me fit... mind you the beers I drink at the top probably make me fat, but then again God keeps me pure. Lots of Love, Dave J...T'Ra

Joe Noble, Hull
For almost five years during the eighties I used to walk up Steep Hill on my way home from work. We lived just over the top of Bunkers Hill, and I worked at Ruston Bucyrus. I used to ride my bike to the High St then push it up the hill to the Cathedral, then get back on for the rest of the journey. The trip to work was a reversal, I never had the nerve to ride down the hill, I think it was the cobbles and the railings that put me off. Winter was always interesting if it was icey, also snow used to slide off the roofs along Steep Hill with no warning. At least it made me fit in those days, unlike now.

jack bradshaw
mega easy hill!

Diana Greenhalgh- Grantham
When I was a little girl (many years ago!) I was visiting Lincoln with my Parents and brothers, we had walked to the top of the hill, when I, aged about 5 or so, decided to roll down it again, in my nice new pale blue coat with velvet collar and cuffs. I never lived it down in the family. I cannot remember how far I got, but my Mother was very annoyed with me.

jim
lincoln & district runners train on steep hill, it's not that steep!

Rosalie Ryan
As a New Zealander I'm quite used to hills but Steep Hill really had me puffing and I'm fairly fit. An octogenarian in our party scaled it like a mountain goat and really put us to shame.

Rev. Richard Celley, Minnesota, USA
While vsiting Lincoln last June on a trip during my wife's sabbatical she arranged a meeting at the cathedral library to do some research. My eldest daughter, then 14, and I were leisurely shopping and browsing our way down the hill after lunch while my younger daughter stayed with mom up in the castle area. I lost all track of the time and about when we reached the Stonebow I glanced at my watch and told her, "We only have ten minutes to meet your mom and Jennifer at the cathedral gate, RUN!" So I made her run all the way up Steep Hill on a hot summer afternoon and she has not let me forget it. We laugh and share it as a very fond father-daughter moment. I also was quite grateful that there are some lovely dark and cool pubs up at the top. We look forward to visiting Lincoln again someday and happily consider ourselves honorary, though only occasional, Yellowbellies.

David Cartwright
As a young boy I walked up and down Steep Hill many times. I did not live in Lincoln, but we used to visit my grandparents who lived on Manor Road off Nettleham Road. I used to walk with him and most times when we went downtown we used to walk and of course took Steep Hill rather than the bus home. I have great memories of the area. David Cartwright.

Jan Burrows (Leicester)
My late aunt often told me of the time during the war when she had to go up Steep Hill to an army office. It was during the winter and the path was very icy and she said that she took 2 steps foreward and slipped 5 back!! She made it eventually but with a great deal of difficulty. I have been up the hill many times and I think the advice of one of the other contributors is correct: stop and look in all the shop windows and get your breath!! It's well worth the climb when you get to the magnificent cathedral at the top!

Simon Caunt
always best after a sunday lunch at browns pie shop, it keeps the weight off and its good for the kids

kurdy
its a right nightmare, because i go on skatebord its a near death experience going down but i have no fear, going up is a whole other ball game,its hard work and if you want a new year workout go up there twice a day

Dean Johnson - US
My wife and I have made the trek twice. I’m thinking now she maybe in cahoots with our English friends. They climb the hill ahead of me just to laugh and take pictures of the fat, old American blowing wind and staggering. Someday we’ll do it again to see if it got any smaller. I'll be at the top with the camera.

Pamela Kirby
It was the Christmas Market last year, we have never missed one,over the years I have become disabled with Arthritis of the knees, we are pensioners and live south of the city. We could'nt face going to the showground to park, so we parked in the town. Went up the hill on the bus but had to walk down. I am afraid it is the last time I will do this. it was agony. Please would it be possible in the arrangements that must now be on the go for this years market include a park and ride from say the South Common, I am sure there would be a lot of takers. So no I did not conquer the hill it conquered me.

Les Woods (005) of Lincoln
I attended the BBC Radio Lincolnshire Solid Gold Saturday Club Christmas Eve party (lovely to meet Vron and All). I got a lift up the hill but agreed to walk home. Going down Steep Hill was easy. It was the Tritton Road 'hills' that got me eventually - a blistered toe three-quarters of the way home. I'm hoping the Easter Party will be downhill Lincoln!!

dave - perth wa
love steep hill 2 bits - as an x grimsby guy with all my family in lincoln i've spent a lot of time around lincoln and love it. when i get back, not as often as i like, i do the pilgrimage 2 steep hill and the castle - christmas time the best. - the walk up? who cares! too busy soaking up the atmosphere! full credit 2 all involved in its upkeep - thankyou

Paul Sinclair
I raced my 16 year old nephew up steep hill. We both made it to the cathederal without stopping, but I had to sit down because I was seeing stars, and no it wasn't Tom Hanks!

Kevin H, Lincoln
when I broke my leg I found I had to walk backwards up this hill on my crutches to make it easier - I did get a few laughs!

Katherine, Lincoln
The best way is just to go for it - don't stop or you'll lose your momentum. I've been walking up the hill on my home every day for the past 2 years and it's only just started to get easier, but it certainly beats going to the gym!

Anonymous
Steep Hill is best to go up if you are drunk after a full night out drinking. It is surprisingly easy then- though it is an activity I wouldn't recommend doing sober. Steep Hill is also great as tourists are very surprised at it's difficulty to walk. I heard one say "Boy, this is steep". I had to hold back the sarcastic comments.

Mitch, Cherry Willingham
Quite a few years ago now my friend and I were running down Steep Hill - far easier that going up. It's loads of fun and you just let gravity take control. The only thing was, at the bottom of the hill there was some work being carried out on a gas pipe or something of that sort, so there was a huge hole protected only by a bit of netting. No problem if you are taking a gentle walk down the hill, but when you're racing at speed it's a bit of a nightmare. My friend looked to be heading straight for it, but at the last minute just managed to avoid it. Such was her relief that she didn't notice the lamp post in front of her and ran straight into it. Being the kind and helpful friend I am I collasped with laughter. It still makes me smile. (She wasn't badly hurt by the way!)

Michelle, Lincoln
Once, and I have to say I might have been fuelled by alcohol, I managed to run up Steel Hill. Not only that but I was carrying someone else on my back at the time. Still not sure how I did that and have never managed to repeat the feat!

Pam
I find the best way to tackle it is to carefully check out all the window displays on the way up, thus giving yourself several rest stops without looking a wimp.