Editing Lincoln Cathedral (section)

== Features ==

=== Lincoln Imp ===
{{Main|Lincoln Imp}}
[[File:Lincoln imp.jpg|thumb|The Lincoln Imp]]
A carving in the Angel Choir is known as the Lincoln Imp, and since the late nineteenth century it has become the symbol of the city.<ref>{{cite web|last=Santos|first=Cory|title=Tracking the mysterious origins of the Lincoln Imp|url=http://thelincolnite.co.uk/2013/04/the-mysterious-origins-of-the-lincoln-imp/|publisher=The Lincolnite|accessdate=7 July 2013|date=19 April 2013|quote=the imp has come to represent Lincoln as its mischievous mascot.|archive-date=24 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524145026/http://thelincolnite.co.uk/2013/04/the-mysterious-origins-of-the-lincoln-imp/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="L2">{{cite web|last=Williams|first=Phil|title=A History of the Lincoln Imp|url=http://lincolncathedral.com/2011/12/a-history-of-the-lincoln-imp/|accessdate=7 July 2013|publisher=Lincoln Cathedral|date=16 December 2011|quote=Lincoln’s imp is a well known emblem of the Cathedral and the city, to the extent it has been adopted as the symbol of Lincoln|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120528004554/http://lincolncathedral.com/2011/12/a-history-of-the-lincoln-imp/|archivedate=28 May 2012}}</ref> The carving dates from the 13th century<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.ribapix.com/lincoln-cathedral-the-angel-choir_riba91991| title = Lincoln Cathedral: the Angel Choir| publisher = RIBA| access-date = 19 April 2024}}</ref> but received little  attention until the late 19th century, when it figured in Arnold Frost's poem, "The Ballad of the Wind, the Devil and Lincoln Minster".<ref>{{cite book |last=Frost |first= Arnold |date=1898 |title=The Ballad of the Wind, the Devil and Lincoln Minster: A Lincolnshire Legend |url=https://archive.org/details/balladwinddevil00frosgoog |location=Lincoln |publisher=Boots Limited}}</ref>

=== Wren library ===
{{Main|Lincoln Cathedral Library}}
The Wren Library houses a rare collection of over 277 manuscripts, including the fifteenth-century "Thornton Romances" found in the [[Lincoln Thornton Manuscript]].

=== Rose windows ===

[[File:The Bishop's Eye - geograph.org.uk - 713975.jpg|thumb|upright|The Bishop's Eye rose window]]
Lincoln Cathedral features two major [[rose windows]], which are a highly uncommon feature among medieval architecture in England. On the north side of the cathedral is the "Dean's Eye" which survives from the original structure of the building and on the south side is the "Bishop's Eye" which was most likely rebuilt {{circa|1325}}–1350. This south window is one of the largest examples of curvilinear [[tracery]] seen in medieval architecture. Curvilinear tracery is a form of tracery where the patterns are continuous curves. This form was often done within pointed arches and squared windows because those are the easiest shapes, so the circular space of the window was a unique challenge to the designers. 

A solution was created that called for the circle to be divided into smaller shapes that would make it simpler to design and create. Curves were drawn within the window which created four distinct areas of the circle. This made the spaces within the circle where the tracery would go much smaller, and easier to work with. This window is also unique in that the focus of the tracery was shifted away from the centre of the circle and instead placed in other sections. The glazing of the window was difficult as the tracery for many of the same reasons; therefore, the designers cut back on the amount of iconography within the window.

Most cathedral windows during this time displayed many colourful images of the Bible; however, at Lincoln there are very few images. Some of those images that can be seen within the window include saints Paul, Andrew, and James.

=== Vaults ===
[[File:"Crazy vaults" at Lincoln cathedral quire.JPG|thumb|left|upright|Lincoln Cathedral "crazy vaults"]]
One major architectural features of Lincoln Cathedral are the [[Vault (architecture)|vaults]]. The varying vaults within the cathedral are said to be both original and experimental. They demonstrate the experimental aspect seen at Lincoln. The vaults differ between the nave, aisles, choir, and chapels. Along the North Aisle there is a continuous ridge rib with a regular arcade that ignores the bays. In the South Aisle there is a discontinuous ridge rib that puts an emphasis on each bay. The North West Chapel has quadripartite vaults and the South Chapel has vaults that stem from one central support column. The use of [[sexpartite vault]]s allowed for more natural light to enter the cathedral through the clerestory windows, which were placed inside of each bay.

Saint Hugh's Choir exhibits a series of asymmetrical vaults that appear to almost be a diagonal line created by two ribs on one side translating into only a single rib on the other side of the vault. This pattern divides the space of the vaults and bays, placing the emphasis on the bays.

The chapter house is a [[decagon]]al building with a single, central column from which twenty ribs rise producing unusual vaulting.

Each area of Lincoln can be identified solely by the different vaults of the space. Each vault, or each variation of the vault, is unique. The vaults are attributed to French-Normand master mason [[Geoffrey de Noiers]].<ref name="oda527">{{cite book |last1=Curl |first1=James Stevens |last2=Wilson |first2=Susan |title=Oxford Dictionary of Architecture |date=2016 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-967499-2 |page=527}}</ref><ref name="acland1">{{cite book |last1=Acland |first1=James H. |title=Medieval Structure: The Gothic Vault |date=1972 |publisher=University of Toronto Press |isbn=0-8020-1886-6 |pages=134–135}}</ref> de Noiers was succeeded by [[Alexander the Mason]], who developed the nave's more elaborate, but symmetrical [[Lierne (vault)|tierceron vaulting]], the crossing vaulting, Galilee Porch and western facade screen.<ref name="oda16">{{cite book |last1=Curl |first1=James Stevens |last2=Wilson |first2=Susan |title=Oxford Dictionary of Architecture |date=2016 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-967499-2 |page=16}}</ref><ref name="acland2">{{cite book |last1=Acland |first1=James H. |title=Medieval Structure: The Gothic Vault |date=1972 |publisher=University of Toronto Press |isbn=0-8020-1886-6 |page=135}}</ref>

<gallery>
File:Vault of Angel Choir.jpg|Vault of Angel Choir
File:Crossing of Secondary transept.jpg|Crossing of Secondary transept
File:Vault of Entrance to Chapter House.jpg|Vault of Entrance to Chapter House
File:Vault of Secondary Transept.jpg|Vault of Secondary Transept
File:Vault of Main Transepts.jpg|Vault of Main Transepts
File:Vault of Nave - Lincoln Cathedral.jpg|Vault of Nave
</gallery>

=== Tower clock ===
[[File:Lincoln Cathedral Nave 1, Lincolnshire, UK - Diliff.jpg|thumb|The nave]]
[[File:Lincoln Cathedral Choir, Lincolnshire, UK - Diliff.jpg|thumb|The choir]]

A clock by [[Thwaites & Reed|John Thwaite]]<ref>{{cite book |last=North |first=Thomas |date=1882 |title=The Church Bells of the County and City of Lincoln |url=https://archive.org/details/bellscountycityl00nort|location= |publisher=S. Clarke |page=[https://archive.org/details/bellscountycityl00nort/page/542 542] |isbn= |author-link= }}</ref> was installed in the north west tower in 1775. This was later improved by [[Benjamin Vulliamy]] and moved to the broad tower around 1835. It was replaced in 1880 by a new clock built by [[Potts of Leeds|Potts and Sons of Leeds]], under the instruction of [[Edmund Beckett, 1st Baron Grimthorpe|Edmund Beckett QC]]. [[Cambridge Chimes]] were a feature of the new clock.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!-- Staff writer(s); no by-line. --> |title=New Clock and Bells for Lincoln Cathedral |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000176/18801217/072/0011 |newspaper=Nottinghamshire Guardian |location=England |date=17 December 1880 |access-date=20 August 2017 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription  }}</ref> The machinery, featuring a double three-legged gravity escapement to Beckett's designs, weighs about {{convert|4|LT|ST}}, with the driving weights being {{convert|1.5|LT|ST}}, suspended by steel-wire ropes {{convert|270|ft|m}} long, and the pendulum weight of {{convert|2|long cwt|kg}}. The beat is 1.5 seconds. 

The hour hammer is {{convert|224|lb|kg}}, striking upon the Great Tom bell. The striking trains require winding daily, when done manually it took 20 minutes. The going train required winding twice per week. The clock mechanism contains the inscription ''Quod bene vortat Deus Opt. Max., Consiliis Edmundi Beckett, Baronetti, LL.D., Opera Gul. Potts et Filiorum, civium Leodiensium, Sumptibus Decani et Capituli, Novum in Turri positum est Horologium, A.D. MDCCCLXXX''.
[[File:Lincoln Cathedral Chapter House.jpg|thumb|The [[chapter house]]]]

=== Bells ===
[[File:Angel Choir Details.jpg|thumb|upright|Angel Choir Details]]
The South West tower of the cathedral contains a fine ring of 13 bells, all cast by [[John Taylor & Co]] in Loughborough. The back 8 bells were cast in 1913, with 4 new trebles being added in 1927. In 1948 a flat 6th was added to allow for ringing on the middle 8 bells. The treble bell weighs 5cwt 0qr 2lb (281 kg), with the tenor weighing 23cwt 3qr 23lb (1,217 kg) and striking the note D (nominal 600.0 Hz). The bells are rung from the section of the tower just above The Great West Front, with the ringing chamber having three windows on all but one side. The bells themselves are hung below the louvres to minimise tower movement as much as possible.