Burton Road And Bailgate Walking Tour
Burton Road And Bailgate Walking Tour – Museum Of Lincolnshire Life
Around Me In Lincolnshire – Burton Road & Bailgate – Museum Of Lincolnshire Life – Front entrance. This picture was taken in 2017 so the Lincoln Knight won’t be outside the gates anymore but there will be a new trail soon for the ‘Lincoln Imp’ so it’s worth checking out and putting in your diary.
Burton Road and Bailgate walking tour. There really is far too much to know about the museum to put in one blog so click on the picture above for a link to the website or click here to go straight to the same website Museum of Lincolnshire Life
If you’re interested in discovering more blogs by LincsConnect go to www.lincsconnect.co.uk/blogs The museum covers Lincolnshire culture and life through the ages from 1750 right up to the present day. The exhibits (over 250,000 of them) even include a world war one tank. For those of you who weren’t aware, the tank with its caterpillar tracks was actually developed in Lincolnshire. Lincolnshire has a very strong engineering history and many of its historic pieces are displayed here. I have no doubt that some of the pieces may well still be in operation around the world today. As you can see, the red brick building has a rather grand looking entrance. It is actually an old Victorian barracks and was home to the Royal North Lincoln Militia.
The Walk
If you’re interested in the idea of a Burton Road and Bailgate walking tour the museum is a good place to start. As far as I can tell this is a suitable route for wheelchairs but be aware that Mill Road is a bit narrow so you may need to take to the road in parts. It’s a one way road and if you follow my route you’ll be facing oncoming traffic.
Make Time
Make plenty of time for your visit to this museum as it really is fascinating. When you’re ready to leave, turn right out of the entrance and right again at the crossroads. You’ll now have the museum and its car park on your right. Walk down Upper Long Leys Road and stop at the right turn to Mill Road.
Wartime History In Lincoln
The picture is deceiving. When you get up close you’ll realise that the wall isn’t just built around a corner, it is actually ‘that’ thick!
Before turning onto Mill Road take a look at the wall on your right and notice how thick it is. It’s not until you take a proper look that you realise that this wall is actually solid!
I’m reliably informed that there was another wall on the other side of the road and a chain would have been strung between the two. Believe it or not, this was part of our WW II home defence; had Britain been invaded by Germany this chain will have acted as a tank trap. The chain will have been pulled tight to stop the tanks thus enabling the home guard to execute an ambush. Continue onto Mill Road…
Ellis Mill Built in 1798
Burton Road And Bailgate Walking Tour – Ellis Mill
For those of you in the Lincoln area this’ll be an unmistakeable landmark. It’s easily visible from the Grandstand and West Common area of Lincoln as it stands proud on the Cliff Top to the left of Lincoln Cathedral. I wonder how many of you have actually visited it though.
The normal opening times are Saturday afternoons from 2.00pm until dusk during the months of October to March and Saturdays & Sundays 2.00pm – 5.00pm from April to September. The entry fee is ‘free’. If you don’t manage to get there at the right time to look inside it’s still worth a visit for a photo opportunity. The picture above was taken from the footpath using my iPhone so in case you were wondering, ‘yes you can get that close!’
Built in 1798 the mill has seen a few owners as you can imagine! It’s currently owned and run by Lincoln County Council and is maintained by some dedicated volunteers. It survived a fire (just) in 1974, was restored and re-opened in 1981 and is still producing flour today.
Unsurprisingly you’ll find the mill on Mill Road, Lincoln. Parking is difficult in the area as the streets are narrow so I suggest walking from the Museum of Lincolnshire Life. Entry is free (check before you go to make sure it isn’t closed for maintenance) but the visit won’t take you long so I suggest you make it part of a general sight seeing trip. Next free entry will be 17 Sep 22. Follow @VisitLincoln on twitter for updates
Mill Road To Burton Road
Continue walking along Mill road and note the different ages of the buildings and their architecture. The road is quiet but very narrow so be careful if you’re forced to walk on the road. You will however, be facing the oncoming traffic on the one way system. When you reach the end of Mill Road turn right and cross when it’s safe.
Mill Row
A sneaky picture of me taking a picture of the chimneys on Mill Row
If you look at the old outhouses along Mill Row you’ll notice that they all have chimneys. They may well have been where the household washing was done. I can imagine it must’ve been quite smokey in that area on wash day! Continue along Burton Road to the award winning Burton Road Chippy on your left. If you have time and are feeling peckish I can highly recommend a visit.
Award Winning Burton Road Chippy. Click on the picture to go to the website.
Since originally writing this blog the restaurant has had to close due to the economic downturn during the pandemic. However, make a note of the sign because the business has re-opened a little further up the road as a takeaway Fish & Chip shop. The fish is traced as is the local potatoes so you can be sure of freshness and quality. How they keep turning out such a high quality is beyond me but I guess that’s why they are award wining!
Burton Road And Bailgate Walking Tour – Burton Road
You can be mistaken for thinking you’re in a village when you walk down Burton Road. With its local shops and thriving community it really does take on that village feeling. Do stop to browse and buy in the local shops then carry on towards the Museum of Lincolnshire Life.
Keep walking past the museum and carry on to the mini roundabout then turn left onto Westgate. Historically this is where the gallows were housed. You’ll notice the pub on the opposite side of the road called ‘The Strugglers’ – apparently named after the people who were hanged but didn’t die instantly. We do have quite a gruesome past in the UK!
Carry on walking (the Castle will be on your right) until you reach The Castle Hotel then turn immediately left onto the cobbled street (Westgate Bight) at the side of the hotel.
Just a short walk on the cobbles will take you to a notice at the entrance to a small passageway. The notice informs you about the history of the Roman wall directly behind you. If my memory serves me well, this section of wall is the highest standing section of Roman wall in the city. I could be wrong though as I’m going from memory (which is notoriously bad) but the site is worth a visit nonetheless.
Burton Road And Bailgate Walking Tour – Bailgate
I hope you’re enjoying the Burton Road and Bailgate walking tour so far. You’ll now be entering the Bailgate area so allow some time to explore.
Double back on yourself from the cobbles then turn left onto Westgate again. You’ll be entering the Bailgate area which has a whole history all of it’s own. Turning right in the Bailgate will take you towards the Castle and Cathedral. Once you’ve had a look around this area make your way back through the Bailgate walking past Westgate (where you came in) and carry on to the Newport Arch.
Newport Arch – Part of the Lincoln Roman wall
Carry on through the Newport Arch then turn right onto Church Lane. After just a few paces cross the road at the island then stop and look back. You’ll see the Police Station and City Fire Engine building.
City Police Station & Fire City Fire Engine building.
City Police Station
The City Police station and City Fire Engine building was under construction in 1881 according to the census. However, it may have been a police sergeants house. The first police sergeant in charge of the station was Robert Richardson. More information is difficult to find but It’s likely that the building was closed as a police station/sergeants house in 1967 but continued as a stores building until around November 1981. Apparently this is where new recruits would have picked up their uniform. It would have ceased to be used as a store when the
City Fire Engine
The building pre-dates petrol driven appliances hence its small size. Horse drawn appliances would have been used at the time so it’s unlikely that there are some stables near or around the back of the station. It’s likely that the police officers also doubled up as the local fire service too.
BBC Radio Lincolnshire
Formerly the Radion Cinema, then a supermarket before becoming BBC Radio Lincolnshire
Cross back over the road and head back towards Newport Arch. Keep walking and follow the road round towards the right on the road called ‘Newport’. after just a few paces you’ll see BBC Radio Lincolnshire on your right. This building has had a long history with previous guises being both a supermarket and a cinema. To many locals it’s still known as the Radion Cinema. It was built in 1939 as a 850 seat cinema but closed in 1960 and was re-commissioned as a supermarket. It again changed use in 1980 when it became the home of BBC Radio Lincolnshire.
In the roof space above the BBC Radio Lincolnshire is the air conditioning fittings but you can still clearly see the remain s of the old Radion Cinema screen and decorative wall patterns (Credit BBC Radio Lincolnshire for the photo)
Above the radio station and offices parts of the original Radion Cinema screen still remain intact.
Turn left onto Cecil Street and stay on the left side of the road. Part of the way down you’ll notice that the old terraced houses give way to a newer red brick building with a large arch into the car park. Immediately in front of you (inside the car park) you’ll see a remaining section of the roman wall that links the Newport Arch to the largest section of Roman wall that you will have seen earlier.
Carry on to the end of Cecil Street then turn left onto Rasen Lane. At the end of Rasen Lane you’ll find yourself back at the Museum of Lincolnshire Life. Congratulations, you’ve just done a mini walking tour of the Burton Road & Bailgate areas of Lincoln.
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