Boston to Lincoln
We spent the evening in Cambridge after visiting Fenstanton and Henlow. The next day we traveled to Boston, where the Pilgrims first attempted to flee to Holland then went on to Lincoln where we spent the evening.
Our first stop in Boston was at St. Botolph's Church, locally known as "The Stump." The main church building was started in 1309, completed in 1390. The most prominent feature, the tower was not begn until 1450 and completed sometime between 1510-20. The church has survived political, religious and environmental upheaval. Those Pilgrims who traveled to Boston would have seen the church, even larger, with some attached chapels and outbuildings making the overall structure even bigger than it is today. No one is sure why it is called "The Stump."
In the lower right photo our guide is pointing to the height to which the water rose the last time the river Haven flooded. (The river is just to the left over the dike out of view of the photo and connects Boston to the sea.)
The tower of the "Stump" is 267 feet tall. There are around 365 steps in the small circular space used to reach the height of the bells. The center photo in the images below is looking east past the old town out toThe Wash, a deep bay on the east coast of England, a hub of transportation and commerce.
The Guildhall in Boston, not far from The Stump, has a direct connection with some of the Pilgrims. It is here where those who attempted to flee England in 1607 were detained when they were betrayed by the ship captain that had agreed to transport them to Holland.
The picture on the lower right are the very cells said to be where some of the Pilgrims were held for nearly a month after being caught trying to flee England. The image in the middle on the top is the actual document signed by Henry the VIII dealing with the incorporation of the town of Boston. The upper left image is a document allowing taxes to be collected on goods imported via the Wash. (the deep bay on the coast). The document was produced during
Elizabeth I's reign. (That's her in the illustration). The image in the upper right is the Blackfriars Friary built in the 13th century. It was rebuilt in 1963 (note the new brick end) and is now a theater space.
Our last stop for the day and the town in which we stayed the night was Lincoln. We had a chance to walk up the hill to Lincoln Cathedral. Impressive is an understatement. It is over 54,000 square feet and 520 feet tall. When the tower was completed in 1311 it was considered the tallest building in the world.
