This book is a thorough description of the findings Lincoln Castle Revealed project and the history of the castle. The Lincoln Castle Revealed project was undertaken between 2009 and 2014 to conserve the buildings within the castle, increase understanding of the castle’s history, and prepare space for an exhibition to mark the anniversary of Magna Carta (an original copy is housed in Lincoln castle). The findings presented here show a significant development in our understanding of the castle’s layout and development. This book is written to be accessible to the lay reader, with all terminology explained and all features explained, but there is also sufficient information for professionals to gain the details they might require and link to full online reports. It is also well illustrated, with many plans and photographs throughout the text.
The main body of the book is organised chronologically, starting from the Roman foundation of the town, through the middle ages to the Victorian gaol and courthouse. Study of the castle was undertaken through relatively limited excavations and more extensive building surveys. Despite these small windows on the past, there were many new discoveries within the castle.
The discovery of the early medieval church and cemetery within the castle compound was the most unexpected finding of the project. Analysis of the burials within an annexe of the church indicated that at least one of the individuals was from eastern Europe or the central mountains and that several were from outside Lincoln. It is possible that most of these people were related or connected in some way, hence their burial together.
Another significant discovery was that of a 12th-century midden pit near the observatory tower. This pit revealed many details about feasting and elite lifestyle within the castle. Finds included bone dice, a bone flute, bine headdress pins, and a Roman seal box, indicating gaming and entertainment. Diet consisted of domestic animals as well as a wide selection of wild birds and fish. The evidence from the midden provides us a view of life within the castle and shows it as a home, rather than a purely military building during the high middle ages.
This is an excellent discussion of the development and evolution of Lincoln Castle. The evidence of each period is described and supplemented by the findings of the restoration project. There are many interesting details and new discoveries throughout the work that will be of interest to researchers of all periods, from Roman to Victorian. It is particularly interesting to understand the development of a strong medieval castle into an essentially private park within the Victorian city. This book will be of particular interest to medievalists and building historians as these are its key foci, but there is also much for those interested in earlier and later periods.