Lincoln siege-works

Has been described as a Certain Siege Work

There are no visible remains

NameLincoln siege-works
Alternative Names
Historic CountryLincolnshire
Modern AuthorityLincolnshire
1974 AuthorityLincolnshire
Civil ParishLincoln

Stephen turned St Mary's church into a siege castle in 1140-41 (William of Malmesbury, Historia Novella, p. 48); this may have been either the cathedral, St Mary Crackpole or St Mary le Wigford. The munitio of his siege of 1144 ( Henry of Huntingdon p. 277) is said to have been the square earthwork outside the westgate of the castle (J.W.F. Hill, Medieval Lincoln, pp. 177-80). (Renn)

In 1144, when Stephen made an attack on Lincoln Castle, he constructed a square earthwork, three sides of which are clearly marked on nineteenth century maps, within the ground of the Lawn Hospital (SK 9728 7191), opposite the western gateway of the castle. The earthwork is now difficult to discern (Hill).

All but a few fragments of slope have been obliterated by development (F1 FRH 22-APR-63). (PastScape)

Gatehouse Comments

This earthwork is no longer visible on aerial photographs. This was probably not finished according to King. See also Thorngate, which may have been a pre-existing fortified house of the Condet family in the south-west of Lincoln used during one or both of the Anarchy sieges and which was ordered to be demolished in 1151.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSK973719
Latitude53.2358207702637
Longitude-0.543519973754883
Eastings497310
Northings371980
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Osborne, Mike, 2010, Defending Lincolnshire: A Military History from Conquest to Cold War (The History Press) p. 32, 50
  • Salter, Mike, 2002, The Castles of the East Midlands (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 54 (mention)
  • Higham, R. and Barker, P., 1992, Timber Castles (Batsford) p. 133
  • Renn, D.F., 1973 (2 edn.), Norman Castles of Britain (London: John Baker) p. 227
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 265
  • Hill, J.W.F., 1948, Mediaeval Lincoln (Cambridge) p. 177-80

Primary Sources

  • Potter, G.R. (ed), 1955, William of Malmesbury Historia Novella (London: Nelson and sons) p. 48 (An earlier edition is available online; Hardy, D.H., (ed), 1840, Willelmi Malmesbriensis monachi gestis regum Anglorum atque Historiae novella (London) p. 740 online copy both are superseded by King, Edmund (ed), 1998, William of Malmesbury Historia Novella The Contemporary History (Oxford University Press Oxford Medieval Texts) p. 82, 83)
  • Arnold, Thomas (ed), 1879, Henrici Archidiaconi Huntendunensis Historia Anglorum (London: Rolls series 74) p. 277 online copy