Local History

Abbie discovers Lincoln's Roman history

Radio Feature:

Use the link below to listen to Abbie's audio tour of uphill Roman Lincoln. This is Abbie's first ever radio feature. You may find out some interesting facts you didn't know about the historic city of Lincoln.

Joe and Abbie filming

Film Feature:

Joe, from the Priory Academy LSST, was on work experience with the C1 MEDIA team for the Lincolnshire Young Journalist Academy. This short film on Roman Lincoln is his first edited and filmed feature he has ever produced!

The Tour

Though born and bred in Lincoln, I have walked past the city's Roman ruins on a daily basis without even paying them a second glance - up until this week that is!

Joining the C1 Media team, myself and work experience student Joe toured the streets of uphill historic Lincoln to take a closer look at the Roman relics standing on our very doorstep. We asked how 'Old' Lincoln and 'New' Lincoln stands alongside each other in the present-day (all whilst trying to get to grips with recording equipment for the very first time).

The Bailgate

Our journey began at the top of Bailgate, close to Newport Arch, once the North entrance into the great walled city of 'Lincolnia' - Fast-forward two thousand years, and the armed soldiers that marched through its gates have been replaced by a constant stream of traffic and pedestrians. On one side of the archway there are apartment blocks approximately twenty or thirty years old - On the other are the doors to a popular Chinese Restaurant.

Watertower

Walking up East Bight we started filming the remains of a Roman water tower, only to be lead through the gate by a local man whose house backs onto the remains. Through getting up-close and personal with this Ancient relic, the juxtaposition between Roman and present-day Lincoln became clearer. Not only can you sample a piece of history by walking through the city, but by simply looking out into your own back garden.

East Gate Towers

The next stop was the Eastgate Hotel, a large modern building that accommodates and entertains Lincoln's tourist population. What many locals perhaps fail to realise, is that at the front of the hotel lies the excavated remains of one of the East gate towers of the Roman city. My own ignorance was exposed when we travelled to the centre of Bailgate and spotted a row of cobbled circles in the middle of the busy road marking where the columns of the Forum once stood.

Slow down and enjoy every last minute

Though I don't expect to see myself sharing airtime with Look North's Peter Levy anytime soon, Joe and I had become more confident by the time we reached our last destination, Castle Hill. Here, Lincoln's rich history and ongoing evolution is perfectly illustrated through the mixture of Roman and Medieval buildings, and contemporary shops and restaurants. What we have learnt from our tour of Lincoln past and present, and our first foray into local journalism, is to slow down, to take in our surroundings, and most importantly, to enjoy every last minute.