The story
Welcome to Bailgate, the historic spine of Lincoln’s "Uphill" district. As you stand here, you are positioned directly between two of the most formidable structures in England: the soaring towers of Lincoln Cathedral to your east and the sturdy ramparts of Lincoln Castle to your west. But beneath the soles of your shoes lies an even older story.
This cobblestone street follows the exact line of the Cardo Maximus, the main north-south road of the Roman city, Lindum Colonia. For nearly two thousand years, this has been a place of arrival, and for at least six centuries, it has been a place of rest. Look down at the road surface.
Do you see the circles of contrasting stone set into the pavement? Those marks indicate the positions of the massive Roman columns that once supported the great Forum. This was the marketplace, the seat of government, and the social hub of the Roman colony.
It is only natural that as the Roman Empire faded and the medieval city rose, this street remained the primary destination for weary travelers. Take a look at the Lion and Snake. This pub occupies one of the most historic sites on the street.
While the current building has seventeenth-century roots, people have been eating and drinking on this exact spot for over six hundred years. It stands right over the site of a Roman well, and local legend suggests it was named to commemorate a heraldic battle of wits. Imagine the scene in the 1400s: the air thick with the smell of woodsmoke and roasting meat, horses being led to the stables, and pilgrims resting their feet after a long journey to see the shrine of Saint Hugh in the cathedral nearby.
A few steps further, you’ll find the White Hart Hotel. This establishment represents the more sophisticated side of Bailgate’s hospitality. During the dark days of the Second World War, the White Hart became an unlikely center of innovation.
In a small room upstairs, engineers and military minds met in secret to discuss the development of the very first tanks, which were being built down the hill at William Foster’s smithy. Further along, the Duke of Wellington reminds us of the Napoleonic era, its name a tribute to the "Iron Duke." Throughout the centuries, these inns were more than just businesses; they were the gatekeepers of the city.
Because Bailgate sits within the old Roman walls, the gates were locked at night. If you didn’t make it through the Newport Arch or the Exchequergate before sunset, these inns were your sanctuary. Today, as you hear the Great Tom bell strike the hour from the cathedral, you are part of a long procession of visitors who have found warmth, ale, and a bed in the shadow of the towers.
Enjoy the walk, for every step on Bailgate is a step through six hundred years of hospitality.