An impish trip to Lincoln
Tuesday, 5 November 2024
I thought I'd be exciting and spontaneous today and jump on the train to Lincoln. I love Lincoln, I think it's a beautiful city with so much to see and do. I took my little Canon Sure Shot 105u and a spare roll of film and set off.
I have dragged my sorry self up Steep Hill more times than I can count, but this time I wasn't having it. I didn't fancy sweating and panting like a crazed animal once I got to the top, so I opted for the bus which dropped me off right outside the cathedral doors. And I wasn't out of breath or miserable!
I stopped by Primark first because I have been on the hunt for some oversized scrunchies for weeks and I finally found two that I actually like, but then I headed to Silver Street to catch the Walk & Ride up to the cathedral (sometimes known as the Steep Hill Shuttle).
I have dragged my sorry self up Steep Hill more times than I can count, but this time I wasn't having it. I didn't fancy sweating and panting like a crazed animal once I got to the top, so I opted for the bus which dropped me off right outside the cathedral doors. And I wasn't out of breath or miserable!
I walked around the perimeter and took a few snaps (mostly with my camera). I really love Lincoln Cathedral, it is so breathtaking to behold, and the weather was so moody and somber. It made for the perfect gothic backdrop.
I always have to stop and admire the gorgeous houses on Minster Yard. I am profoundly jealous of whoever gets to live there. To top it off, I spotted the sweetest cat perched on one of the windowsills.
On my way down Steep Hill (because going down is far easier), I passed The Lincoln Imporium.
I absolutely had to go inside and find out more.
The Imporium tells the tale of two imps who were sent by the Devil to spread chaos in Lincoln many centuries ago. When they were caught causing mischief inside the cathedral, an angel ordered them to stop. The braver of the two threw stones at the angel, and in return was turned to stone. You can see this imp in the cathedral.
The remaining imp roamed the streets of Lincoln trying to find a way to free his companion. He eventually struck a bargain with the angel. The imp promised that if he dedicated his life to capturing other imps and returning them to where they came from, the angel might set his friend free.
This task was too monumental for the imp to carry out alone, so he partnered with the Ancient Order of Fabled Imp Catchers to find and capture imps wherever they were causing chaos.
Once they're caught, the wild imps are brought back to Lincoln where they are taken across the boundary of the sacred Cathedral Quarter. It is said that when an imp crosses this threshold, its soul returns to where it came from, leaving behind a solid stone form.
The stone imps are a reminder of the imp's original promise to the angel - to capture its fellow imps in exchange for his frozen friend.
The Imp Catchers at The Lincoln Imporium are inviting the public to learn the story of the imps, choose one to rehome, and keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn’t get up to any more mischief.
Read more about the Imporium here.
Obviously this is all a bit of fun, but I absolutely lapped it up. And of course I had to buy one...
This is my imp! They have this little photo op by the till where you can take pictures of your imp in a little Lincoln-themed diorama. I'm positively obsessed. He now lives on my bookshelf where I can keep an eye on him.
I smell a new thing to collect(!)
Once I found myself back on the high street, I nipped into a few more shops (thanks Waterstones for this excellent book - the paperback was only £5.99) and then caught the 2:15pm train home.
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